I’ve been looking at garden carts, because hauling mulch, branches, dirt, and other stuff can be a pain without one.
I don’t really need a large wheelbarrow. I could probably use one, but I don’t want to store one. Garden carts seem to be a little smaller, and they’re more stable.
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I’m looking at the Gorilla Carts GOR4PS, which has a poly (plastic) container, dumping feature, steel frame, 10″ pneumatic tires, and 600 pound load rating. It’s pretty inexpensive too – currently $70 shipped from Amazon.
There are steel-bucket garden carts, but they’re larger, heavier, and more expensive. I could always step up to one if or when needed. I have seen convertible metal frame or cage carts, with removable sides. There are also other brands, but Gorilla Carts seems to be widely available and reasonably well-reviewed.
Pros
- Inexpensive options
- Different bucket styles available
- 4 wheels for greater stability
- Easier to turn
- Lower to the ground, easier to store under a workbench or shelf
- Can be disassembled for storage
Cons
- Some reviews complain about assembly and tire quality
- Lower to the ground, might require more bending?
- Shallower than wheelbarrows
What are some of the other downsides I might not be seeing?
If you have a garden cart, would you recommend it?
htxclf28264
We have the larger model and it is invaluable. It can roll with heavy weight over very soft ground and not destroy your yard. Between mulching, planting various pots, garden box maintenance, and hauling gravel I cannot recommend the gorilla carts enough. Your back will thank you if you do any meaningful amount of yard work.
Steve
I have a green metal frame one with a rubber roll up surface cover, without the sides. I use it primarily to haul mulch by the bag around the property (I prefer purchasing it by the bag). I really like it and I hang it up and away on the wall when not in use. I like that they are easier to store than wheelbarrows and I don’t like the ease of tipping wheelbarrows. I’d say go for it, the dump carts are great if you plan to handle loose material.
Rhue Ivan Cole
Poly cart hitch pin under the bed .
Steve
Oh, and don’t worry about the wheels, there are plenty on the market.
RL
I have the 1,200 heavy duty version and I love it. I originally purchased it for one specific project and didn’t think i would use it after but I use it all the time now. I’ve used it for stuff like yard clean up, hauling softener salt to the back of the house, off road tool cart when doing repairs, rolling cooler transport, and I even cut a piece of plywood to the size of the top, cut it in half, put some hinges on it and drilled some holes so now I have a portable short workbench with storage.The dump feature comes in handy quite a bit. The assembly was not an issue and I haven’t had a problem with the pneumatic tires. Not sure on the height of this model but the model I have is quite high. Only issue I have is the short wheel base makes it a bit of a pain maneuvering it when its loaded up.
Ken
Grew up with an Oregon garden carts hauling lots of branches, firewood, and what not. Not sure exactly how old it is but has to be over 20 years old now. Mom and Dad still use it. Handle design seems to have changed some though.
The yeti
I bought a lawn tractor and a trailer for it. Wow what a difference. Get a cart . Better yet get a tractor
Nathan S
If you have a lawn tractor, I’d recommend the model a step up, since you can pull that one or flip the handle and tow it. I think the model number was GOR6PS. You can usually get it for $100 on sale.
fred
I don’t know how big your property is – but even for large properties – where you move around on your Kubota (as an example) – having a smaller cart is great. In Florida – my wife keeps one of the old kid’s red wagons under the porch – and its handy. Up north we use a wheelbarrow and the tractor. In between – she has a Rubbermaid thingy that looks a bit like a concrete buggy – with 2 big bicycle wheels. Its advantage is that you can dump things out – like a wheelbarrow.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-Commercial-Products-7-5-cu-ft-Plastic-Yard-Cart-FG564200BLA/100344354
They make one with a higher weight rating – but with smaller diameter tires
JP
I have the upgraded one – gorilla GOR6PS, get it instead.
It has slots on the sides and I’ve been meaning to make a little “cage” with them so I can haul bigger loads that are light, e.g. – pruned branches.
And…this “soon to be made” cage might have tool holders on the outside, like gardening trailers.
And…it might have flames painted on the outside
And… you get the idea – why buy a simple cart when you can buy a cart plus a whole new “project platform” at the same time.
Win. Win. Win.
🙂
The tires are indeed crap (2 out of 4 go flat constantly), but that can be fixed.
good luck.
John
There are a couple different wall-mount brackets that make storing these monstrosities a little easier. I found a two-piece bracket system that mounts to a wall stud. You hook the front edge of the wheelbarrow into the lower portion of the bracket and then tip the wheelbarrow up until the rear lip clicks into the top bracket. This system lets you flush-mount your wheel barrow on the wall. If you decide to purchase a cart with a rolled steel edge, you could probably use the same mounting bracket to get it off the floor and out of the way.
michaelhammer
I use one of those on the outside of my workshop. It works great. Just roll up tilt and store.
Mark Shelton
I have one from Northern Tool. It has sides that fold down and it can steer. I bought it to move my hot tub off my trailer and onto the deck I built for it. Everyone thought I was nuts, but it worked like a champ. I have used it for lots of other tasks now that I have it. Get one you won’t regret it.
michaelhammer
I have the same one. I was going to recommend it for the fact that it has sides that drop, so you can carry large loads for unwieldy things like branches logs.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200640326_200640326
firefly
I think I have that same cart as well. I love the fold down sides and the fact that it’s towable is a plus.
Nathan
I’ll second getting the next size bigger gorilia cart. I got one last year. I do have a garden tractor which is partly why I got the next size up. The GOR6PS (-C) model.
I didn’t want the next size bigger because I was afraid it might be too hard to move by hand for the wifey. If she tried to .
Eitherway it’s plenty of size.
One thing that is also nice about it – those pockets on the side hold a 1×4 (or 3) – so you can put staves in there and use it to hold taller stuffs. I don’t take mine apart to store it and I don’t put it under a bench. I hang it on 2 hooks in a board screwed to the wall on the side of my garage. It’s not that heavy and I lift it up and hang it on the hook by the front axle.
building a fence a while ago I used one of these my neighbor had – hauled some 200 or more pickets stacked on top contained by the staves in the pockets. That sold my on buying it. And yes I also cart the kid around on the thing too – she loves it
Had I not bought that model I was considering getting the GOR1000PS (-C). Steel mesh sided device. and buying a tarp or 2 for when I need to haul dirt or leaves etc. But the poly cart really makes more sense.
JR
I have the cart you mention (Gorilla Carts GOR4PS) and I highly recommend it. It’s so useful that my younger, healthier neighbor has borrowed it a few times. The downside is it can sometimes be harder to maneuver in tight situations vs. a traditional wheelbarrow. It can also tip if you are not careful because you can not lean it into the slope.
Joe Smith
I have wheelbarrow and lawn tractor cart. Using the tractor really makes hauling stuff around your yard a lot easier.
AngryDrumGuy
I looked at Gorilla carts for a while, but took a chance on the Rubbermaid 5642 big wheel cart and it’s been great. Stable with a low center so tipping while standing or moving has never happened to me and would be difficult to manage. While they’re almost $200, I was able to get mine for way less and likely wouldn’t have tried it otherwise. Being almost completely poly, it lives outside. The only negatives are, unlike the Gorilla carts, you have to tilt it to move and unlike a wheel barrow, rolling it up into the bed of a truck doesn’t happen on just one plank.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2295793
fred
This one looks like what we have at one place – and it looks to be $50 cheaper at Home Depot (see my link above to compare)
AngryDrumGuy
Fred- same cart! HD has it for almost the same as I paid.
I’m always amazed, particularly with dirt, how much I can get in it. Right now it’s holding debris from a wooden deck demolition. We have a rugged terrain in our yard and the big wheels are nice moving over it.
ShawnB
I went with the 1200 lb version since it’s a bit larger, beefier, and can hookup to my UTV or mower. I’d recommend getting the largest one you have room to store. Generally, I find it more convenient than a wheelbarrow for moving things around the yard.
I’m not sure how practical the extra weight capacity is if you’re moving it by hand and dealing with any sort of inclines. We have moved around loads of 3-6″ stones, and on anything other than a flat surface it can be tricky to get it started and stopped rolling on your own… definitely would be useful to have a hand brake on the handle.
Frank D.
Depends on the size of your property and the the amount of gardening you do. I have multiple garden trailers, with quick hitches and handles:
Poly deep tub, with dividers, organizers and tool tubes for all garden tools … just tow to where you need all the stuff
Poly deep tub with offset tub for true vertical dump ability (most just tip a bit and you have to shovel it all out) for moving soil, compost, mulch, …
Flatbed 3×6 for moving bulky items, cut tree logs, brush, …
Craig
I own both a nice wheelbarrow and one of these Gorilla carts. I’d say there are pros and cons of each.
Pros (Garden Cart):
Easier to store: We actually have to keep our wheelbarrow around the back of the garage because there is just no great way to store it in the garage. I had a wall mount, but even then the frame sits about two feet away from the wall. The garden cart has a smaller footprint and when not in use as the handle folds up. In theory, the garden cart could even be stored on a shelf if you took the time to replace the bolt on the handle with some type of quick disconnecting clevis pin.
Less effort to use: Although I have no problem loading the wheelbarrow up with topsoil and hauling around the house, the wife just can’t handle that amount of weight. She has more luck with the garden cart although it should be said that the size of the cart means you can’t haul as big of a load… so the weight is always less than what would likely be in the wheelbarrow. It should also be noted that the cart can be used by two people. I’ve had one kid pulling the handle and another pushing from the back. Two people can’t exactly use a wheelbarrow.
Can be pulled behind a garden tractor: The model we have (same as the unit pictured above) came with a standard handle, but I was able to adapt a hitch-type mechanism for my mower which allowed me to pull the trailer. Some of the larger carts come with a handle that can be swapped to a traditional hitch which is more versatile. Wheelbarrows simply cannot be pulled due to their design.
Stability: A full load on the cart is stable. If you are on an incline it isn’t as likely to tip over and if you lose your footing your load won’t end up dumped on the ground where you didn’t want it to be. This is an even bigger advantage for the wife and kids where they simply cannot balance a wheelbarrow when loaded.
Cons:
Dumping: When you tip the cart via the mechanism, it essentially dumps the material at ground level. When we were dumping loads of compost into a raised garden bed this simply didn’t work. The wheelbarrow on the other hand could be tipped forward and the lip would go over the edge of the raised bed. Then you simply pivot upwards to dump. The cart just isn’t as quick or easy to dump.
Rolling resistance: I find that even when empty the cart seems to be much harder to pull through the lawn or up an incline as there are four rubber tires adding resistance. An unloaded wheelbarrow is much easier to push through the yard. That said, it is easier to handle the cart when loaded since there is no need to balance the load.
Capacity: The cart simply doesn’t have the same amount of capacity as the wheelbarrow. Granted you could get a bigger cart but then you start losing the advantages associated with ease of storage and they become heavier to move around. Also the sidewalls of the cart are short so although it works fine for hauling mulch or planting materials, if you think you can use it for hauling piles of leaves in the fall you’re going to be very disappointed. Also – this particular cart isn’t wide enough to hold a traditional 50gal trash can so that is worth considering (we have found using a tarp for leaf cleanup is more efficient anyway).
Also I have had a couple of issues with my cart that are worth mentioning:
Plastic bucket: The plastic is nice because it won’t rust, but ours hasn’t held up all that well. It developed a small crack on the dumping end and it is flexible enough that I don’t have a lot of optimism for longevity. A metal tray would have been a worthy upgrade as it might dent but it would be more rigid and would hold up better against heavier loads.
Tires: The tires included on these units simply don’t hold air well. With moderate use, we find the need to fill up the tires several times a season. When the cart sits over winter, the tires will be essentially flat by spring. I think they would benefit from some tubes – or alternatively a foam filled semi-solid tire would be a great upgrade.
Handle: The handle leans against the bucket but it lacks any mechanism to keep it in place and it falls over constantly. This can be remedied with a fabricated clip or spring to hold it up when not being used. Also, the foam covering on the handle lasted about a week before tearing. I found wrapping it in electrical tape was a fair solution. Finally, the handle is a bit shorter than is ideal. I know this because if I pull the cart behind me when empty (or when loaded with a light load) it tends to lift the front wheels as I pull. So I’m essentially pulling up at the same time I’m pulling forward. With a longer handle I suspect this could be addressed.
Overall quality: These units are cheap imports and it shows. The frames are thin metal and the plastic is thinner and more flexible than it should be. After one season I found most of the bolts holding the tires could be removed by hand. Do yourself a favor and factor in the price of a tube of Loctite for use when assembling, and don’t be shocked if you find yourself needing to add a few pieces of metal reinforcement to the bucket if hauling anything heavier than balsa wood shavings.
I’d probably buy a cart again (and am considering donating my wheelbarrow to Habitat for Humanity as we rarely use it anymore), but I think next time I’d probably pop for a cart that had some type of a metal bucket and was built better. That said – for the price of these entry-level carts you really can’t expect much more, so the overall value is fair.
Toolfreak
In terms of use, sure, carts are great, or really anything that lets you pile stuff in it and move it around rather than carrying it.
The downside comes when these carts get damaged or something breaks. I found out the hard way that replacement parts are not available. At all. If you break or lose anything you will be stuck trying to make universal stuff work, and it often won’t work well enough long term, leading to just having to buy another cart.
Of course it’s possible to modify these things enough to make them way more durable than what they come with, but then you’re getting into spending more on modifying them than what you can buy one for new.
The weak points on these seem to be the wheels/axles/supports, if they are ever overloaded or pushed sideways with enough force, stuff bends or breaks and it never goes back to how it was.
I really don’t understand the need for such tall ground clearance at the expense of strength. Every time I see one of these bent or broken, it’s obvious that if there was simply a brace between the right/left wheels/axles, it’d be a LOT stronger. It doesn’t even need to be welded – even just bolted-on braces would add a lot of strength and prevent damage.
If I ever get one of these myself, the first thing I will do is reinforce it so it’s stronger and less likely to bend/break.
Koko The Talking Ape
I used this guy or something very similar to help a friend landscape his cabin.
– It is low, but I don’t know why it can’t be lower. The front wheels need to clear the bin, but they used a dual-pivot mechanism with a tie rod for steering (rather than a single pivot in the middle of the axle), that wouldn’t be a big issue. Of course, that would add a tiny bit of complexity.
– The lot had a fairly steep slope, which made me wish there was some way to lock the wheels on the cart. As it was, we’d have to jockey it a little until it found a spot where it would stay. (If you have a flat lot, then you probably don’t care about that.)
– In fact, I spent a little time idly wondering how I might build a cart. Wouldn’t be hard if you can weld mild steel. You could buy a bin separately.
– Ours didn’t have a dumping function, but it wasn’t hard to dump stuff out using the rear wheels as the pivot.
Koko The Talking Ape
[Edit] Or just use swivel wheels up front.
Philip
I’ll throw in another vote for the Gorilla Carts. Got one a few years ago that has the metal flat frame but can add walls and a poly tub, so it covers just about any heavy hauling.
Last year I found on sale a small cart, the Plus One Mighty Max. It is great for smaller hauls and fits easily in the back of the car so I can haul things elsewhere. It has several options and a modular design. I like it very much, too.
adam
I like my Gorilla Cart, but make sure to check all the wheel bearings for poor quality out of the box. The wheels are identical to those found on hand trucks.
Tony Davis
I’ll pile on with everyone else and say that I bought the bigger model so I could pull it with my riding mower for the really heavy/long hauls.
I also built a cage around it so I can pile a good amount of stuff in there.
The tires suck. 2 blew out in first season. I bought some never flat tires and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
ktash
In case anyone has problems with the tires. I have a decent quality hand truck that used to have inflatable tires that always went flat. I ended up buying solid rubber tires of the same dimension. It’s a bit bumpier, but never goes flat, no need to get out the pump.
fred
This is one of those debates that have no right answer. With wheelbarrows (most common ones have one wheel) – you can get pneumatic tubeless, pneumatic with an inner tube, so called never-flat semi-pneumatic, or solid tires. The pneumatic types can go flat – but they cushion “the ride” – transferring less of the bumping to your hands. We sort of liked the inner-tube style – for providing fewer flats (running over debris can still result in a puncture) and a good feel. We also tried a two-wheel wheelbarrow once – less tippy – but also less maneuverable.
Arethur
1. Buy bigger – the GOR6PS. It’s much more useful for light stuff like mulch, for heavier stuff just don’t put as much in it.
2. Pneumatic tires are a pain. Figure on replacing them with non-pneumatic “no flats” type; shame Gorilla doesn’t have them as an option.
3. A heavy duty steel frame cart is still useful, you’ll want one eventually (the GOR1001 or competitor’s equivalent) as a companion to the plastic dump bin one. Pro tip: a sheet of 3/4 plywood cut to fit the bottom is extremely useful (very handy bracketry can be easily attached, fold-flat cargo handles are especially useful), and removing the sides opens up all sort of options for carrying odd stuff. Done right, a second plywood sheet can attach to the fitted-in-the-bottom one to provide a large flat platform for carrying things (pro tip: a 3/4 plywood platform hinged in the center works fine, takes up less storage space, and if it’s 4X4 when folded it’ll fit inside the steel frame for ease of transport)
Troy
I have the cart pictured. A wheelbarrow is still better for dumping mulch and dirt, but for moving anything else, the cart tend to be easier. My wife also uses it as a garden cart and pulls it along with her.
All this being said, I wish I got the bigger, stronger one. The poly tends to bend and warp when you put anything heavy in it. The frame and wheels are fine, but the poly base is not that great. I would also have loved to get one with drop down sides., which would make moving heavy awkward items much easier.
Craig
I’ve got one of the Gorilla Carts and had to haul quite a bit of heavy dirt/clay (must have been mostly clay) when I built my shed in my back yard. It absolutely worked like a champ. The quick release handle to dump was a great feature. Plus it was stable and I could fit through my chain link fence gate easily. I had no issues with it at all and would recommend it.
processwrench
Gorilla cart all the way, i’ve got two, the small one that was supposed to get retired when I got the Gorp10. Wagons are better than carts for me because there is no tongue weight associated with hitching and un hitching a wagon plus i can manuever by hand if needed. Pretty much anything you can do in a wheel barrow you can do in a wagon; haul dirt, mix mortor etc. Sure there are things wheel barrow does better, but not many. I also built giant sides on my large one that lets me pile in the leaves in the fall. They are stable on slopes to which is important to me. The giant one is heavier, more suited to being pulled by tractor, the small one is nice when weeding cause you can just move by hand, though its easier to flip the small one over to empty rather than using the dump. Often both are in use, large carrying the big stuff in or out (mulch, logs, gravel, leaves etc) small one for weeds, tools, beer etc
Josh
I have a gorilla cart. I also have a wheelbarrow. Sometimes it’s easier to pull the cart or because it can hold less than a wheelbarrow. I have had my cart for close to 8 years and only this year has a tire gotten bad enough that I will need to replace them. Or if you have multiple things going on in your yard. It’s a lot thinner than the wheelbarrow, so it get’s into tight spots, and you have to work to tip it over side to side. The one thing that I would suggest you look at is if it has that dumping backwards feature. I totally bent the shit out of that part of the cart at some point. As a result, it no longer dumps, but oh well.
HV
I have the GOR6PS. Overall, it’s great for my yard work. For my light duty work, it’s still better than a wheelbarrow.
PROS:
I loaded it up with a bunch of small landscaping rocks collected from my back yard to my front yard. I like how it sits lower, so I could easily reach into it to grab handfuls for finer placement.
It’s got a deep enough bin that I could load 4 full yard bags full of dirt and tree clippings and roll it to the curb.
When loaded, it’s eaiser to maneuver and move materials than a wheelbarrow. You just pull and push, no lifting or balancing needed. It reminds me of steering a hand operated forklift.
CONS:
Although the cart can tilt to unload, forget about it if it’s a real heavy load. There are no stable grip points on the bin. So you can’t really use leg power like a wheelbarrow.
The smell! It took a good couple months for it to stop exuding the chemical/plastic smell. Not a problem if you store outdoors.
It takes up floor space. You can’t simply tilt it up and lean it against the wall. Forget about dissaembly since it requires tools and time. Though you can stack things in it for storage.
My tires deflated after a year. But they’re still full almost a year later after being pumped.
The handle tends to drift downwards when at rest. So I have to make sure the handle props against something else.
Joe
Worx airocart. …Home Depot….great small cart, that can do much more. Quality made.
Matthew Johnson
I have an older model of the cart you refered to, and use it for all kinds of things, it’s much more convenient then a wheel barrow.
Sonny
I have the GOR6PS and have no complaints, so far.
A W
We got one of the smaller plastic two wheeled carts.
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Smart-Garden-4-5-cu-ft-Poly-Yard-Cart/1000003332
For our needs with a rather steep back yard it has worked out well.
Scott H.
If you can afford it, USA made Ursa wagon with no flat tires and contractor tub blows away any gorilla cart. Take it from someone who had a couple of the Chinese made “Gorilla” type carts fall apart with any heavy use
Nathan
who’s was first.
The Ursa isn’t that much more expensive thought it is roughly double depending on what you end up paying for a gorilla cart. On the tires bit – when you bust one buy something else. There are plenty of tires or even different wheels that fit.
My issue with getting the Ursa – was actually getting one. Buy the time I bought want I wanted and paid for shipping I was upwards of 400 into one – for just at 200 with tax I had my gorilla cart from Lowes. Admittedly with a coupon – but still. Weight ratings differ greatly but volume wise I think they are close.
Only Buy Quality
I have 2 wheelbarrows and 3 carts (two steel, one Gorilla). Of those 5 tools, the Gorilla cart is used the least. Actually, it’s not used at all. My wife used it once and refuses to touch it ever again – I was stubborn enough to use it twice, before I also gave up. The Gorilla cart is too small to be useful as a cart, even with the sides extended up (came with some cheesy wooden extenders). The dump mechanism is almost unusable. It doesn’t tow well going forwards (not particularly stable), and being “wagon steer”, you can’t back it up when attached to the tractor. The tires are the absolute cheapest Asian junk imaginable, and are usually flat.
A better solution is a two-tire wheelbarrow. Mine holds a lot, and is stable. I use it all the time. If you own a garden tractor, get a real cart.
Ken
Have had the Gorilla cart GOR6PS, the 1,200 lb model that is a step above the GOR4PS that is pictured here.
The convertible handle from hand pull to hitch is a great idea. The cart can be towed by any riding mower with ease. Lighter loads are easy to pull by hand.
A nice feature is that the entire bin will hold water and doesn’t leak. Use mine for everything from concrete to dirt to branches and everything in between.
The two cons I have with this cart is that when the handle is in the hitch position, the lower metal piece bends very easy. Just dropping the handle after removing the hitch pin will bend it. The other irritating problem is that it does not empty material completely when dumping and have to use a flat shovel to get the last three inches out.
Ed
We have a small nursery and I can’t tell you how many carts like this we have gone through. Most rust away in a couple of years which become very frustrating. The industry made models are usually aluminum and last forever but it comes at a steep price. We are slowly moving to the aluminum carts.
Eric
I am going to pile on recommend the next size up, the 6 cuft “1200lb” cart. I have easily picked up and carried it in rare times that it gets stuck behind other things in the garage.
I have a 10 cuft two-wheel one axle cart that the lawn tractor tows (added wooden bars to hold more lightweight things like grass and leaves), so the smaller four-wheel cart is generally only used for pulling by hand (although I have rarely pulled it with the lawn tractor if there is something that would have too much “tongue weight”).
I use the 6cuft cart to carry bricks, pavers, dirt, gravel, even water (you can just fill it right up). If something ever happened to mine I would get another in a moment.
Eric
Kind of garden cart related, but I’m having a helluva time trying to find a wheelbarrow with this criteria that doesn’t cost $400.
* Metal tub
* Dual wheels
* Solid rubber wheels
* Wooden handles
JR
I looked for the same and ended up with my lowly Gorilla cart. Two-wheeled, metal tub wheelbarrows are made of gold these days, it would seem.
JR
Wow, this escalated quickly. What with all the “spend more and get” type comments. Most recommending contractor or farm carts which seem to be a different (but related) beast to a simple garden cart.
I like to belong, so I will add my own “if you can afford it” recommendation so here goes! If you can afford it, just get a John Deere 6×4 diesel Gator utility vehicle with a dump body. So much better and easier to use! 😉
SteveP
I bought the same one as shown for my wife and she loves it for gardening and yard work. Two of the tires developed leaks pretty soon, so I put several ounces of sealer in each tube and that took care of the problem, There are also solid tires if you live in Thornville.
The downside for me is lower capacity than my big metal wheelbarrow. And when we had some big rocks to move it was obvious that while you might be OK with 600 lb of sand in the poly cart, a big sharp rock would not be a good idea