SearchBrentwood began manufacturing plastic wheelbarrow pans in 1989, at the request of a farm-owning customer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Leading up to that, Brentwood’s shop was filled with small, custom plastics jobs. That experience helped our team to develop a very intentional, streamlined approach when it came to product design. For that reason, each wheelbarrow component serves a functional purpose, whether it’s improving ergonomics, durability, or efficiency.
HDPE Pans for Wheelbarrows
We started by focusing on the pan, the most important element of a wheelbarrow. It is constructed of heavy gauge high density polyethylene (HDPE), making it lightweight, rust resistant, and UV-stabilized. All material is sourced in the U.S., and the pan is secured to the chassis with smooth, recessed bolts and premium lock nuts. Whether you’re hauling concrete or mulch, our durable pans will last 3-5x longer than average wheelbarrow pans and won’t weigh you down on the job.
North American Hardwood Wheelbarrow Handles
The wheelbarrow handles are made from North American hardwood. This is important, not only because they’re made in America, but also due to the difference in the growing season of the wood. North American hardwood has a shorter growing season and produces a ring every short summer. The closer the rings are, the denser the wood is, which results in a stronger wood. The sustainable hardwood Brentwood uses ensures efficient lifting, and we’ve added rubber grips for comfort.
Structural Steel Wheelbarrow Frame
The undercarriage, or frame of the wheelbarrow, was engineered to support the heaviest of loads. For that reason, we chose powder-coated structural steel, all of which comes from local suppliers in Pennsylvania. The frame’s design also makes it unique: its extra-wide stance adds stability and helps to prevent tip-overs and spills.We have incorporated bent front braces to provide superior bend resistance, as well, eliminating the need for additional support between the front braces or the need for side braces.
Additionally, the shin plate is positioned to be both shin and heel friendly. Other wheelbarrow designs often place the plate too low or add kickstands for support. These can easily get in the way when maneuvering the wheelbarrow on the job site and should not be necessary to support the load.
The steel nose piece was also designed very specifically since it handles a significant amount of pressure each time the wheelbarrow load is dumped or poured. When mounted on the sides, the repeated dumping motion can cause friction and allow the nose piece to swing/wobble. So, Brentwood’s nose piece is bolted through the top of the handles for better strength and stability.
Turf Wheelbarrow Tires
To complete the design and prevent heavy loads from weighing down the wheelbarrow, Brentwood offers a turf tire option. The turf tire is six inches wide and allows the wheelbarrow to move across any terrain with ease. It can be pushed over grass, rocks, concrete… you name it! The design of the tire makes it feel like it is “floating” over the ground.
I enjoyed reading about the different components of the wheelbarrow, and I really learned a lot. It’s great to understand the differences between different wheelbarrow and what distinguishes a great wheelbarrow from the average wheelbarrow; now I know what to look for when comparing wheelbarrows thank you for a great article.