Ot, rant.

I have 4 Jackson wheelbarrows, and a few other brands. I bought 2 Jackson's in the 90s they are great, I bought 2 more in 2005 and the handles were smaller diameter, both of them broke, one last July just as we're were getting ready to pour concrete.!! All the tires rotted and keep going flat, what I don't understand is why don't they tube them or make a lamated tire like a brush hog has? I have 4 brush hogs and never ever had a tail wheel problem!?? I got some new china made tires today for the wheelbarrows and looked at new Jackson 6cuft ones, the handles are bigger again! and $99 vs $97 in 2005!????My brother has a tru temper all steel with a never flat tire, problem is the tire is spongy with any weight on it?? Harder to push! Good idea but not good enought! What do u use for good wheelbarrows?

Replace the tire with one from a trailer. 4.80X8 use a tube and it will be pretty permanent. I have made ash handles from patterning old non broken stock handles. Jim

I don't like a lamated tire on a wheelbarrow - makes it harder to push especially through dirt, gravel or grass. You can buy tubes to put in them old tires. I filled one with green slime and it held for awhile.

Here's a link to one with a flat-free tire
wheelbarrow

I did the same as Jim did with the trailer tire about 15 years ago. Still up and running. Even handles better with the flatter part of the tread.

Slime works wonders for wheelbarrow tires!

Local Princess Auto carried solid rubber wheelbarrow tires on rims years ago. Bought some and have had no wheelbarrow tire issues for the past decade. They push as well as an air filled barrow tire, and never go flat.

That is really ironic, I too am a bit fussy about wheelbarrows! I have found old era Jackson's or Jackmanco wheel barrows, M11 models, the tried and true folded pan, thick wood handles, old school ash I think, and the steel legs, frame and bracing is an A.I.S.C. shape, bent C-Channel not stamped metal. I think the current models in a folded pan are fine, but there is more to the old models, they were just built with quality. I have 2, both one owners, latest one I just got in town here with the original "Jackmanco" - Jackson Manufacturing Company labeled tire on it, I think its original. The man who owned it was the sellers father, deceased, seller said he built all the stone work of his house with it and though the pan or tray looks perfect from the outside, the inside is depressed around the wood handles under the tray floor, this man mixed some serious mortar or concrete with it, the hoe depression between the handles is incredible, most light weight homeowner ones would not stand a chance to this abuse, but these are a tried and true design, got
one for $30, then the other for $40, locally, both for firewood. I saw another, same era on CL but did not go after it, was priced the same, these old ones are well built and I think they both have their original tires, which are checked, but both were kept under cover. Not to brag but I really needed some good ones, and these are a favorite, I have one other to rebuild, I land all my split wood in them, and can stack from them to keep from bending down all the time, works great, have an authentic gardenway cart I can load with enough rounds to keep the splitter going, these are a back saver to me, couple of good finds, the old ones are a black or real dark blue that looks black now, one has the Jackmanco logo on it.

Keep an eye on CL for these old ones.

Friend just bought a wheel barrow for 10 bucks at a yard sale.It has steel handles.Saw a new pair of steel handles at a general store here.I put a tube in when the wheel barrow is new.The tires leak thru the side walls when they get old.

To make wheel barrow handles, I take a piece of oak 2 x 4 and, using the old handle including the little wedge shaper spacer that goes under the bed, draw out a pattern that will make a one piece pattern. Using a band saw and a table saw, I cut out the handles and cut the handgrip area down with an ax or hatchet, then smooth it with a belt sander. Its not a piece of furniture being made so it dosen't have to be precise.

If I have problems with a tire leaking I put a tube in it, if leaks develop later I put fix a flat in it. At the end of the tire's life the tube will be trashed anyway, so I don't worry about the mess fix a flat makes in the tube.

KEH

They threw an old wheel barrow away at work several years ago. Handles and tire rotted off but the tub was heavy and still good. Made handles out of heavy 1 1/2" pipe and put on a trailer tire and tube. 14 years later, still using it. Better than any new ones they have bought.

I love my old antique wheelbarrow that I got when I acquired my mining claim back in 1969. It has the old, heavy duty pipe frame & handles with the spoked steel wheel. The bucket was worn out from hauling rock so I replaced it with a little bit newer "contractor" bucket that has the folded corners and the rod-reinforced lip.