The Complete Guide to help you choose the Best Power Barrow
by the Real Experts of Transportation and Construction Work

    1. Introduction

The power barrow is a wheelbarrow powered by an engine or an electric motor that can have numerous applications in both the hobby and professional field. Of course, compared to the traditional wheelbarrow, the power barrow is a completely different machine, sturdier, more performing and with significantly higher load capacity. The power barrow is an extremely versatile tool that can be employed for example in:

• agriculture
• gardening
• timber or construction material transportation

Power barrows have gained a large market share over time. Their popularity is mainly due to their versatility. In fact, the advantages that these machines can bring to the user are many:

• they allow for the transportation of heavy and bulky materials
• they can be moved around on uneven and sloping terrain
• they allow for total work safety and comfort

    2. Wheeled or tracked?

Power barrows can be divided into two large families:

• with tracks
• with wheels

    2.1 Tracked power barrows

Obviously, tracked power barrows are mainly recommended for heavy-duty, demanding work. If the job to be performed makes it necessary to operate on difficult or rugged terrain, then a tracked machine will provide a superior grip and higher work safety. Tracked models belong to the more professional range of machines and stand out for their efficiency, power and sturdiness. Of course, they have a higher cost than power barrows with wheels.
For example, if the power barrow is to be used in construction environments, where therefore significant loads of material are required, then a tracked machine turns out to be an essential tool in the work area because of its load capacity that is significantly higher compared to wheeled models. Moreover, a tracked power barrow is always recommended when transporting wood on difficult and sloping terrain, where a strong grip on the ground, that only tracks can provide, is required.

The best power barrows, the most professional and expensive, are equipped with tracks made with steel or cast iron idler wheels and tilting self-cleaning rollers. These tracks allow manual adjustment of their tension and guarantee very high performance on terrain in all conditions.

    2.2 Wheeled power barrows

Wheeled power barrows, on the other hand, are suitable for more hobby, less demanding work. Models equipped with wheels are therefore ideal for gardening or small-scale agricultural work, but are not recommended for construction. This is because wheeled power barrows guarantee a lower load capacity than tracked models, and are also not suitable for long stretches of rough terrain.

PROS: wheeled power barrows leaves fewer wheel marks on the ground compared to a model with tracks. Tracked power barrows have a more “abrupt” steering action which inevitably leaves marks on the ground, for this reason on delicate surfaces, it is always advisable to use a wheeled power barrow.

    3. The engine

Power barrows are generally equipped with 4-stroke engines and feature displacements ranging from 125 cc in hobby use power barrows, and up to 200 cc in heavy-duty and tracked models.

    3.1 4-stroke Power barrows

The best wheelbarrows mount 4-stroke engines manufactured by the most renowned brands such as Honda and Briggs & Stratton, and. to a lesser extent, Kawasaki (fitted on “forestry” models), Mitsubishi and Subaru. Machines featuring these engines are top of the range in their category. Not to be overlooked are the engines by Loncin: a leading Chinese manufacturer of quality motors for gardening and DIY machines. Loncin, in fact, has marketed its new 270 cc engine, one of the most powerful engines ever mounted on a power barrow.

• Power barrows with Honda engine
• Power barrows with Briggs & Stratton engine
• Power barrows with 270 cc Loncin engine

    3.1 Battery-powered power barrows

In recent years, as is the case with almost all gardening equipment, battery-powered motors have become increasingly popular. Most of the time, battery-powered power barrows are wheeled machines that belong to a hobby level.

Electric power barrows feature cutting-edge lithium batteries: they are practical, useful and versatile tools whose strengths are comfort and ease of use. They generally come in the traditional shape of “manual wheelbarrows” with a steel truck, but combine the convenience of dumper truck tipping with the traction of a battery-powered motor.

Compared to the 2/4-stroke engine models, these machines are more practical to use, less noisy and require no maintenance. On the other hand, they feature some disadvantages in terms of power and performance for heavier work. In fact, electric battery-powered power barrows are suitable for garden and horticultural tasks, disposal of grass cuttings and pruning waste, transport of timber, earth or building materials that are not too heavy.

Nonetheless, it has to be said that professional battery-powered and tracked models are becoming increasingly popular on the market.

PROS: battery-powered power barrows can be operated in closed environments such as GREENHOUSES, as they do not release fumes.

    4. Truck types

The load capacity and the type of truck vary depending on the type of power barrow, wheeled or tracked, and therefore on the uses for which the power barrow was built. There are essentially two types of truck:

• Extendable truck
• Dumper truck

    Extendable truck

Power barrows with extendable truck are generally tracked models. The extendable side panels of the truck allow to considerably increase the size of the loading space and consequently the load capacity of the power barrow. Therefore these trucks are ideal for transporting larger and more voluminous loads, such as large wood: the side panels of the truck prevent the timber from falling to the ground.

The power barrows equipped with an extendable truck are usually those equipped with 2/4-stroke engines and can boast load capacities ranging from 100 kg up to 600 kg. The minimum dimensions of the extendable truck are 850 x 620 x 400 mm, however, the so-called power barrows for forestry can feature larger trucks and are able to carry up to 800 kg of timber.

    4.2 Dumper truck

The dumper truck is the most suitable type for the construction industry. It allows the transport of small, granular materials, and is even suitable for the transport of liquids. Power barrows with dumper trucks are mostly employed in the transport of:

• stones and earth
• pebbles and concrete
• bulk materials

Some peculiar models of tracked power barrows have been built exclusively for construction and, in addition to the dumper truck, they feature a self-loading shovel. These are robust machines, equipped with powerful 2/4-stroke or diesel engines, and hydrostatic drive. The loading shovel allows operations to be carried out very easily and effectively and, above all, without any effort. The shift is controlled by the hydraulic system.

    4.3 Garden shredder on power barrow

One particular type of power barrow that is unique on the market is the GeoTech Pro BMS 155 LE. The GeoTech Pro PCS145 LE wood chipper or garden shredder is specifically designed for shredding medium and large-sized branches and small logs reducing their volume up to 5/6 times. The wood chipper is mounted on a tracked engine unit, also compatible with the power barrow unit supplied.

This makes it possible to transform your mobile garden shredder into a practical power barrow with a tipping truck for transporting freshly shredded material, or loads of up to 300 kg.
Ideal both for the private user who needs a mobile and versatile tool, and for forestry and public green maintenance companies who need to quickly remove and grind biodegradable waste from the ground. This is an extremely useful machine for grinding branches in the middle of olive trees or in an orchard, as it can process pruning waste directly on the working area.

    5. Manual or hydraulic tipping

The mechanical tipping is activated manually via the dedicated rubberized release lever equipped with spring, and made easy (in case of heavy loads) by the long truck lifting lever located on the side of the machine.

Hydraulic tipping is definitely a plus function compared to the mechanical one. The truck with hydraulic lifting has a powerful hydraulic circuit, characterized by:

• oversized hydraulic pump
• distributor equipped with a lever to start the pump
• sturdy hydraulic cylinder.

    6. Accessories on heavy-duty power barrows

• A power barrow can also come with a loading shovel that allows to carry out operations in a very simple, effective and effortless way. The shift is controlled by the hydraulic system. For the movements of the shovel it will be enough to use only the specific lever on the control panel. Power barrows equipped with self-loading shovel are usually tracked models, with a large load capacity and mainly employed in the construction field. Normally, power barrows with shovels are dumper models with a load capacity ranging from 600 to 1000 kg, the shovel ensures easier loading and unloading even in tight or inaccessible spaces.

• The snow plough is a tool that contributes to making a power barrow even more structurally elaborated and functional. Easy to assemble and adjust, it allows to clear roads, driveways or squares from snow that prevents vehicles from passing through. It has a dual function as it is equipped with a plough suitable for gravel, earth or sand. The snow blade, on the other hand, is characterized by special strips of very thick and sturdy rubber coated canvas.

• The power barrow can be also fitted with a comfortable transportation platform which allows the operator to climb aboard the machine. The rapid hydraulic platform lowering system, with which heavy-duty machines are equipped, will also raise the handlebars accordingly, resulting in a more comfortable ride. Unlocking of the platform and subsequent automatic adjustment of the handlebars is possible after the release lever has been unlocked. When reversing, unlocking of the platform is usually prevented by the transmission system for safety reasons, as is engaging reverse with the platform down. The operator platform is available on large machines with a load capacity of 500 to 600 kg or more.

    7. Possible slopes

For safety reasons, the maximum slope recommended is 25%. This is not due to a limitation of the machine, but purely for safety reasons: the operator, proceeding behind the machine, is in a condition of maximum UNBALANCE.

Warning: DO NOT rely exclusively on the handles of the power barrow otherwise you may run the risk of tipping over, it is best NOT to put force on the handles of the machine.

Of course, tracked power barrows would be able to work on terrain with over 25% of slope, but it is always good to stick to that threshold.