THE CONTEMPORARY TIP CART

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A yard and garden cart you can build for all seasons.

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There are several good reasons why a two-wheeled yard cart is a better choice than a conventional wheelbarrow, at least for most of us. For one thing, the cart's additional wheel shoulders the burden of side-balancing a cumbersome load. For another, the axle is located more toward the middle of the box, to distribute that weight more evenly. And the wheels are bigger, to reckon with rough, unmanicured terrain.

Even if you're not hauling a lot of weight, consider that the cart will hold perhaps 8 or 10 cubic feet of bulky material (twice the common barrow's capacity); that its end gates are removable, to accommodate long and odd-shaped loads; and that its flat bottom platform makes a fine field bench or planting work station.

These days, quality handcarts are available everywhere, thanks to the convenience of mail order. And you can be sure that reputable manufacturers have taken care to equip their products with utility-grade wheels, heavy-duty framing, and durable wooden panels, to give customers every penny of their money's worth.

So chances are you'd spend as much trying to duplicate a quality cart as you would simply buying it. It's for exactly this reason that MOTHER researcher Dennis Burkholder took a fresh approach when he put together a garden cart designed as much for the enjoyment of the home-shop builder as for the use of the home-scale grower.

One of the cart's nicest features is that it can be made almost entirely from one sheet of B-C exterior plywood, a 48" X 71" section of 1/8" tempered hardboard, and a couple of 8-foot 2 X 4s. Another is that you'll need only basic hand tools and a few power tools (a jigsaw, a drill, and a circular or table saw) to complete the job.

What's more, because the spindles are individually mounted to the fenders, there's no need for an oversize axle or the costly specialhubbed wheels that fit it. The 20" molded nylon bicycle wheels Dennis used came, complete with axles and ball bearings, from a discarded BMX bike, , and can support several hundred pounds comfortably. They're also tucked beneath the fender wells so an overflowing load can't tangle up in them.

And if you've ever maneuvered a jam packed barrow downhill, you'll surely appreciate this cart's caliper brakes. They control momentum and help in turning, too.

Making the Most of It

Willing to give this weekend project a try? Start by locating a set of bike wheels and cable-operated caliper brakes. Use both wheels from one bike or find a pair with the same diameter and tire size. Wire spoke types are OK, but may not support as much weight as would nylon or plastic designs.