A while back there was a COTH thread on "items that have made your life easier at the barn," and it made me realize I can't believe I haven't shared my barn's Smart Carts on the blog, because I'm kind of obsessed with them.
I had never heard of them until I moved to this barn, but I'm a total convert now. Smart Carts were originally designed in the 70s by a horse husband whose wife had health issues that made normal wheelbarrows challenging and painful to use in her barn.
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| From SmartCart's website. Pictured: a SmartCart frame (looks the same today!) with the tub removed |
They are:
...incredibly lightweight. Our model weighs 44lbs empty, and when it's empty I can move it with a single finger. When it's full I can still move it with one hand.
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| One finger |
...easy to move even when completely full. You know when you have one more stall to do and you really don't want to take the time to dump your almost-full wheelbarrow, but you know if you put one more stall's worth of manure on top it's going to be really hard to push? I don't even blink at putting 4 or 5 stalls in the SmartCart and filling it to the top, even with a 200m or so walk around the barn to the manure pile
...able to be spun 360 degrees in place even when full
...made of entirely interchangeable and replaceable parts. Did you initially buy the bicycle tires but now need a heavier carrying capacity for your Competitive Wet Sand Hauling Competition? Buy the 600lb beefier turf tires and swap them out. Want to upgrade to the bigger bucket? It fits on the same frame as the smaller bucket.
...impossible to tip over sideways
...made with a snap-in snap-out bucket that makes dumping manure and getting that last little bit out of the bucket super easy
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| There's a bump out on the bucket just underneath the silver crossmember that holds the bucket very firmly in place (and another one on the front of the bucket), but you can press on it and pop it out easily. I often pop it out at the manure pile to dump it and then pop it back in. |
...backed by a lifetime warranty on the aluminum frame and a 5 year warranty on the tub
...easy to push or pull through snow or mud
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| We get both here, of course |
I realize I probably sound sponsored by these guys, but I'm not, I'm just that much in love with these wheelbarrows. I can't believe how much easier they make chores than a single- or double-wheel traditional wheelbarrow.
The only downside is the price, but given the lifetime warranty and easily obtained replacement parts (most of which ship free), this is one of those things you'll spend more on up front but less on over time, since you'll never have to replace it.
Bottom line: These. Are. The. Shit. And if you shovel shit, you need one. That is all.
What: The Original Smart Cart
Sizes: 7 cubic foot or 12 cubic foot (tubs are interchangeable on the same frame), plus a muck bucket cart size is available as well
Price: $364-596 depending on the options you choose
Where: smartcarts.com
Disclaimer: The one SmartCart I've purchased (for my parents) I've purchased with my own hard earned money and I am not sponsored or associated with them in any way. Views are my own.
When I read your title I was thinking, "There's no way that SmartPak made a better cart than the one I have!" It turns out you were talking about the my cart–I just didn't remember the name! We've had it for over 15 years and it really is as amazing as you described. The only down side I have found is that it's too wide to fit it into the stalls at my barn. I also use it constantly in the garden. Worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, they fit into our stalls but it's borderline so I can see that, and that's a good call out. Do you have the big bucket or the smaller one? The big bucket is much wider than the small one iirc. Glad yours has held up, you can tell by the construction they're built for longevity.
DeleteI have the big bucket and it's just a bit too wide to fit into the tall. I prefer to bring the wheelbarrow into the stall so I don't have to sweep afterward ;) The smaller bucket fits into the stall, and I placed my order! Now how about some good hose and hose reel suggestions????
DeleteYour product reviews always make me want to buy stuff!! lol This cart sounds like what I need around here. Navigating deep snow and mud with a regular wheelbarrow is tough. I've contacted them to see about Canadian distributors...lol
ReplyDeleteLol, sorry! My love language is problem solving for those I care about and I think it comes across in my enthusiasm to share things I like with people. I hope you can get one! I will say I've never pushed it through truly deep snow like I'm sure you get, but up to 4" it's been fine (and we have the bicycle tires).
DeleteLet me know if you find a Canadian distributor Laura!
DeleteYou couldn't have written this a month ago when I was looking for a new wheelbarrow? LOL. I was desperately looking for a new wheelbarrow that was 1. light weight. 2. easy to handle 3. could handle my terrain (super hilly depending on where I dumping manure/bedding -- currently using it in the woods where I need to fill holes from fallen trees...) and 4. can handle living outside. While I probably wouldn't have bought the smart cart because I'd have been scared off of the price and I wouldn't have been sure of the design, maybe next time? I ended up with this: https://shop.polartrailer.com/cub-cart.html and it has some of the features you mentioned (and it stays upright when I pull/push it sideways on a hill). So, when it dies (hopefully not for a while, since I like the design, I think I'll upgrade to the smart cart. That handle is a game changer... My husband will even be on board as he's convinced now he only wants this type of cart from here on out so I think he'll be willing to invest in something like that. That said, hopefully it won't be for a while.
ReplyDeleteThose look good too! Yeah the handle is a game changer, makes two handled wheelbarrows seem silly. I can literally send text messages while pushing this one to the manure pile, lol
DeleteI love that horse people have passionate opinions about carts and wheelbarrows. I don't like the ones I've used in the past at all!
ReplyDeleteOf course we do! Haha. Yeah they've never seemed like a particularly well thought out implement to me before. The single wheel ones are often small and I've tipped WAY too many of them over, and the double wheel ones are hard to dump and push. I also just like how this is such a great example of inclusive design benefitting everyone.
DeleteVery timely post. Val tipped over my overly full, not very smart, rickety-a$$ wheelbarrow just this morning. The only thing that I wonder about is how the narrow wheels would work in our 100% sand soil. Totally going to check it out - thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteGood deal! The narrow wheels shown on my model are just one of the wheel options available. You'd probably be better off with the big wide turf tires also available. And I've heard nothing but good things about their customer service if you'd prefer to call and ask.
DeleteYesssss - there's a solid turf wheel version on the way. Thanks again!
DeleteWow it must be wheelbarrow week. My brother wanted to convince me a $500+ battery powered wheelbarrow would be a good gift for my mom. Had to tell him width was important since we dump between trees, down a hill. Maybe I should tell him about this kind.
ReplyDeleteHa! This barn does also have a DR Powerwagon as well, the BO bought it specifically for getting manure through deep snow. Says a lot about the Smartcarts that we've never used it though.
DeleteI would have loved to have this in college when I worked off some of my board cleaning stalls!
ReplyDeleteRight? I think back to literally falling off the ramp to the manure wagon with a single wheeled wheelbarrow in college and wish I had something like this.
DeleteI've been looking at wheelbarrows for gardening, hmmmm. The "residential" ones are a bit cheaper. 1-wheel barrows are completely useless, for sure!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the residential ones are cheaper, but I don't have any experience with how they hold up to the abuse of a horse barn personally so I didn't feel I could mention them. Do let me know if you get one though, I'm very curious!
DeleteThank you for your organized, thorough reviews complete with photos. They're so helpful - I can't tell you how frustrating it is to read product reviews that only say 'it's good' or 'I haven't tried it yet.' I've actually used a similar cart for years and one time I mucked stalls at another barn with a single-wheel wheelbarrow and I could barely do it! :D
ReplyDelete