About Wagons
Wagons are useful for all kinds of yard work and gardening. They come in assorted designs, from the traditional kid's little red wagon to giant industrial all-terrain wagons.
Be sure to check the dimensions of any gates and doorways your wagon will need to go through before selecting a wagon.
Here are a few tips to help select a wagon perfect for your needs.
Function
Garden wagons are used to haul heavy or bulky supplies from your car to your garden shed and anywhere around the yard. They can carry multiple plants, loads of pots and bags of dirt. A low flatbed wagon can be used as a seat.
An attractive wagon can be cleaned up between jobs and used to haul small children to the park or zoo.
A coupling device can convert your wagon into a trailer for your lawn tractor.
Types
Wagons vary in type. Among them are:
Little red wagons. Normally a children's toy, these wagons can be borrowed or shared with your child. Once your child outgrows the wagon, it can be dedicated to the garden.
Flatbed wagon. With no sides to lift over, a flatbed wagon is good for bags of dirt, tools and anything that doesn't need to be contained but not for loose dirt or rocks. It can be used as a traveling seat.
Wagon with rails. This is like the little red wagon but has removable wooden rails to contain taller objects. It also can be shared with children.
Industrial wagon. Larger and more sturdy than the little red wagon, this one is built for heavy materials.
Dump wagon. It has a container that can be tipped like a dump truck and is great for hauling loose soil. Can be used in place of a wheelbarrow.
Features
Wagons have four wheels for stability and a handle for one-handed pulling. The front wheels should be able to turn for better steering and handling, but it can't be easily pushed. Some have sides that can be removed. Wheels can be solid or inflatable.
Some are made of steel mesh for easy cleanup. Wagons come with different hauling capacities, from less than 250 pounds to more than 1,000 pounds.
Size
A classic little red wagon for kids is 3 feet long, about 18 inches wide and rides on 10-inch wheels. A large industrial grade wagon can be about 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and mounted on 13-inch tires.
Benefits
Wagons are useful for gardeners who can't lift and carry heavy bags of soil and other items very far. They can load a wagon with several trays of plants and move them to their garden bed in one trip. They can be used to carry tools into the garden and vegetables out of the garden.
Warning
Wagons meant for children should be designed without sharp edges and no-pitch ball joint to keep little fingers safe.
