Load capacity
Wheelbarrow / trolley capacity — the maximum weight of the load that can be constantly carried on it.
In this case, a load capacity
of up to 150 kg is considered small; wheelbarrows in this category are intended mainly for gardening, and carts for relatively small loads like a sack of potatoes or a couple of sacks of cement. Models for
150 – 200 kg can be attributed to the middle category, among them it already makes sense to look for cars for construction work of a relatively small volume. And in the most durable and "hardy" products, this figure can
exceed 200 kg, reaching 500 kg or even more.
It is worth noting that most modern wheelbarrows / carts (especially at the beginning of operation) can easily carry short-term loads that exceed the claimed carrying capacity without visible consequences. However, overloading the structure is highly discouraged: in such cases, it will experience off-design stress, which reduces the overall service life and increases the risk of failure at the most inopportune moment.
Body capacity
The total volume of the body of a wheelbarrow or trolley (if any, see "Type"). The larger the body, the more cargo can be placed in it, especially when it comes to liquid or bulk materials. At the same time, it should be noted that manufacturers usually choose a body for a particular model taking into account its carrying capacity; therefore, when choosing, it makes sense to look first of all at the weight of the cargo being transported, and only then — at the volume of the body.
In addition, note that the volume is measured to the upper edge of the body — this means that loose or other materials that can be loaded “with a slide” can fit more in a wheelbarrow than stated in the volume specifications.
Body thickness
The thickness of the material from which the body is made.
Large thickness - more than 1 mm for metal bodies - has a positive effect on strength and reliability. On the other hand, it increases the dead weight of the product. In addition, do not forget that the overall quality of the wheelbarrow/trolley also depends on the specific body material (see below) and assembly features; and a durable body in itself does not mean high load-carrying capacity (see above).
Galvanized body
This feature means that the wheelbarrow has a bare metal body (see "Body Material") with a protective zinc coating.
Galvanized nowadays is the majority of unpainted metal bodies. The presence of such a coating is practically guaranteed that the body is made of steel (for aluminium, inferior to steel in terms of performance, a special coating is not required). And the meaning of this feature is to protect against corrosion: a thin oxide film forms on the surface of zinc, which prevents the occurrence of rust. However galvanized metal is more demanding to care for and more sensitive to scratches than coated with a special paint (and scratches break the protective layer and lead to corrosion); on the other hand, paint is noticeably more expensive.
Weight
Total weight of an empty wheelbarrow/cart in standard working configuration (if equipped with detachable support legs — with legs installed, see above). This parameter allows you to estimate how much excess weight you will have to carry with you in addition to the actual cargo. However it doesn't always make sense to chase light weight — it can mean less strength.
