You just purchased a new yard tractor and you want to do more with your new tractor than just mow grass. You know a yard card will be handy for picking up sticks, leaves and landscape work.
So you go to Sears.com and they have 59 different models listed. Which one do you pick? Plastic? Metal? Push & Pull? 8 cubic foot?, 10?, 15?
If you have been wanting to purchase a cart to move items around your yard. Let me help you decide.
Yard tractors like the Craftsman LT 1500 and LT 2000 are not designed to pull heavy loads. I know, the dealer said you could pull any non-ground engaging attachments but in my experience you want to only pull light loads. What happens if you pull heavy loads? You will stress the transmission, wear the drive belt prematurely and possibly bend or break the main frame of your tractor.
If you keep your loads to under 300 lbs your lawn tractor won’t be abused too much and your tractor will last you many years. Don’t have a Craftsman? Riding mowers with 30 to 42 inch decks, 12 to 18 hp and small tires can all be classified as a yard tractor. Yardman, White, Toro, Simplicity, and John Deere all make this type of tractor. They are designed to mow smaller yards and do light work around your property. Usually riding mowers of this size cost between $800 and $1400.
Right now there are three basis types of carts on the market. Metal, Poly and Push & Pull. Each one has it’s advantages and disadvantages. I’ll go through each type first and then help you decide the best size.
Metal:
Advantages. If you scratch or dent it just take a hammer, pound out the dent and spray the fix with a little outdoor spray paint. The metal ones are durable, dependable and last a long time. Most have tailgates so you can load the cart without lifting the material over the sides. The larger ones come with tie-down bars so you can tie the load down. Works great for hauling huge loads of limbs and sticks back to your burn pile.
Disadvantages. Easily scratched. They rust. The paint fades on most of them so you will have to repaint it every few years. The cheaper ones are made of fairly thin metal so if you haul a lot of rocks or firewood the bottom of the cart will deform over time. I hauled enough dirt in one that thee bottom deformed enough so that the tailgate would not fit anymore. If you leave dirt and debris in them the cheaper ones will usually rust out after a few years.
Poly:
Advantages: Most of today’s poly carts are rugged, they don’t rust, and the cart itself will take much more of a beating than the steel ones. If you can’t decide always go with the poly one.
Disadvantages: A good one will cost a little more than the metal ones. It you load it too heavily with rocks or dirt the side may disform and your load may fall out. A heavy duty one like the Craftsman Professional costs a lot more than the inexpensive ones but will give you years of use. I can easily compare the (model) to my 30 year old John Deere cart.
Push/Pull:
Advantages: You can pull these carts or retract the hitch and use them as a wheel-barrow. Every one of these I’ve seen are poly and are very rugged, they don’t rust. You can load these full with rocks and dirt and not worry about over loading it.
Disadvantages: It is a little heavier than a wheel barrow and a good one will cost a little more than a poly cart. If you don’t have a lot of storage room or don’t like using wheel-barrows this is a great option.
Buy:
I’ve included a few carts here specifically rated for lawn tractors
8 cu ft Poly Cart With Handle.
A couple of owner reviews:
“I recently purchased this product for hauling dirt, debris, mulch, and anything that will make it easier to do yard work around my 1.3 acre. I was a little apprehensive about assembling this product. To my surprise after reading the instructions, I actually beat their suggested time for assembling this product….20 minutes versus their suggested 30 minutes. I only needed about 2 minutes from my daughter while I attached the axle-plate to the cart body with my Craftsman socket/ratchet wrench the only tool needed. From that point it was was a one-man job. After assembly was completed, I hooked it up to my Craftsman riding mower…no fancy hitching, just drop the pin into the holes. Also the dumper works very easy. This Craftsman model is a well-built product and should provide expected service for many years with regular care after use. Also, this product has grease zerks (valves) in the tire hub to keep the bearings greased. Pay attention to the instruction guide.”
“I purchased this cart to replace the metal cart I owned for three years. Which cost about the same but never seemed as sturdy and rugged as this one. This cart was super easy to put together. My wife helped me for about five minutes with some awkwardly placed nuts and bolts and the rest was simple. In the five months I have owned it I have put it through the ringer from hauling dirt, stone, and tools to mixing cement in it to pour footings for a deck. This cart has taken everything I have thrown at it and has performed admirably.”
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