Best Dump Cart
A dump cart looks like a scaled-up version of a kid’s cart toy. However, the capabilities are fully grown up! These are designed to carry loads of over 1,000lbs and to be attached to trucks and trailers for easy towing. They’re mostly used by landscapers and other contractors who regularly have to move debris around. Increasingly though, people are buying them for home use. This guide will talk you through the best options available on the market.
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Our #1
Pick
Brinly-Hardy 10 cu. ft. 650 lb. Tow-Behind Poly Utility Cart
Budget
Pick
Powercare 10 cu. ft. Lawn Mower Dump Cart with Wheels
High-End
Pick
Ohio Steel 12.5 cu. ft. 1250 lb. Professional Grade Swivel Dump Cart
Topic Description
Dump carts are large, heavy-duty trucks that are towed behind tractors for heavy-duty yard work. If you’re chopping logs, and want to transport them, or removing soil debris as part of a landscaping project, you’ll use a dump cart. There’s a wide variety of types available on the market, so you’ll need to pay careful consideration to your specific needs before buying (for help with this, see our Product Buyers’ Guide at the bottom of the page.
Methodology
Because there are so many different options available online, creating a list of our top 5 was tricky. However, across the board, there are certain indicators of quality products. We used those to narrow the field, considering the following features: Overall build quality, Price, Wheel and tread design, Axle, Hitches and attachments, Size (both pure size and also load capacity), and Ease of dumping
These all help to build an overall sense of the quality of the product and to create some universal categories. After selecting those that had the highest scores in those categories, we narrowed down the field to pick our top five, including a top-three based on overall strength, as well as a ‘budget’ and ‘luxury’ option. This guide is therefore designed to be as useful as possible regardless of the specific needs you may have.
Our #1 Pick
Brinly-Hardy 10 cu. ft. 650 lb. Tow-Behind Poly Utility Cart
Description:
The ultimate reason why this was our top pick was because of the robustness of the design. The elements are built to last, from the oversized pneumatic tires to the solid steel axle, this is a seriously strong cart.
- Size: 67 in x 27.25 in x 38 in
- Capacity (cu. ft.): 10
- Warranty: 2 years
What We Like:
- We like the fact that everything on this cart feels strong.
- The castle tread on the tires is built to ensure you don’t lose grip, and everything else feels dependable.
- If you want something strong enough to do the job you need, and well-built enough to do it for years, then the Brinly-Hardy is the model for you.
PROs
- Heavy Duty. The compression-molded design won't dent or rust, the tires are pneumatic and oversized, and the axle is solid steel.
- Frame. The frame of the cart is powder-coated steel, offering lasting, durable use.
CONs
- E-Rings. Some of the online reviews mentioned that the e-rings for the tires aren’t well-designed.
- Heavy. The way the weight is dispersed in the cart, when it is full, the back of the cart is extremely heavy, making it difficult to move.
Budget Pick
Powercare 10 cu. ft. Lawn Mower Dump Cart with Wheels
Description:
This model gets our nod as the best budget option despite the stiff competition. The reason for our choice is that this cart comes with two key added features that mean it stands alone. The first of these is the bed lock, which prevents accidental dumping. The second is the universal hitch, so as to allow it to attach to all tractors. These features aren’t even present on more expensive options, making this even better value.
- Size: 58.11 in x 26.77 in x 31.26 in
- Capacity (cu. ft.): 10
- Warranty: 2 Year Limited
What We Like:
- As mentioned above, it’s the attention to small details on this cart that makes it a best-in-class option.
- The rust-resistant finish and the removable tailgate are examples of this. Overall, this is just a quality piece of equipment.
PROs
- Finish. The rust-resistant powder coat finish means this cart will stand the test of time.
- Convenient. A removable tailgate for convenient loading and unloading makes life much easier.
CONs
- Quality. Some of the components don’t have the same quality feel as many of its competitors.
- Hard to Assemble. This model is tricky to get going with as its assembly out of the box is not straightforward.
High-End Pick
Ohio Steel 12.5 cu. ft. 1250 lb. Professional Grade Swivel Dump Cart
Description:
We hesitated to include this as a luxury option since it’s really an industry-quality model. However, it does come in at just under $500, making it a seriously more expensive option than others on the market. However, what you get for your money is truly astounding. The strength of the truck means it can handle a huge capacity; moreover, the swivel action means you can dump in a 100-degree radius. If you are serious about using this, it might be worth the price tag.
- Size: 72.75 in x 33 in x 47.25 in
- Capacity (cu. ft.): 12.5
- Warranty: 2 Year Limited
What We Like:
- For serious users, this is an impressive cart: the load capacity is 1,250 lbs, in a 12.5 cubic foot bed.
- A really nice feature is the release pedal, which allows you to dump without using your hands.
PROs
- Rotating Hitch. This hitch means you can easily tow on even the toughest terrain.
- Hands-Free. The step-on dump release pedal for hands-free activation is a truly great feature.
CONs
- Height. This cart is a low rider, which can make it tricky to dump topsoil.
- Expensive. There’s really no getting away from the fact that this is three times more expensive than others on the market.
Pick #4
Polar Trailer LG7 600 lb. Poly Dump Trailer
Description:
If you’re looking for a cart that does the job with minimal fuss, then the polar trailer is for you. This cart is well built, with solid features, and is simple to assemble. The fewer components also mean that there’s less likely to go wrong. If you want something reliable that you can use for years with no worries, you’ll struggle to find a better option.
- Size: 65 in x 28 in x 31 in
- Capacity (cu. ft.): 7
- Warranty: 5 Year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty
What We Like:
- In general, what we like about this cart is the unfussy way it goes about its business.
- However, the one ‘flashy’ feature is the quick release tipper latch, which helps to dump quickly. Over the course of a day’s labor, this can make a huge difference.
PROs
- Warranty. A five-year warranty period makes a huge difference.
- Assembly. Remarkably, this model comes with only 8 bolts, demonstrating how simple the assembly is.
CONs
- Wheels. Unlike other models, the Polar has small wheels, which can struggle on rocky terrain.
- Small Capacity. With only 7 cubic feet of space in the bed, this isn’t for you if you’re planning on serious hauling.
Pick #5
Agri-Fab 17 cu. ft. Poly Cart
Description:
Toughness is a central feature of the Agri-Fab cart. It’s built to withstand multiple uses without losing any of its sheen. Priced slightly more expensively than other mid-market options, this model is designed for people who are going to use it regularly. None of the other models we surveyed seemed like they were so explicitly designed to be put through the wringer.
- Size: 72 in x 32 in x 42 in
- Capacity (cu. ft.): 15
- Warranty: 3-Year Limited
What We Like:
- We love the durable poly bed and steel frame with scratch-resistant powder coat paint to keep the cart looking as good as new, even after years of use.
- Also, the foot level dump mechanism makes it really easy to unload.
PROs
- Assembly. This is so easy to assemble, you can almost use it straight out of the box.
- Attachment. It’s also extremely easy to attach to almost every tractor hitch imaginable.
CONs
- Cost. At over $300, this may be slightly overpriced, particularly compared with other options on the market.
- Weight. This model really isn’t designed for serious industrial use, lacking the weight capacity of other models.
DUMP CART BUYER’S GUIDE
Why buy a dump cart?
If you’re planning on any sort of regular yard work, then you should give serious consideration to a dump cart. To put it another way, if you have a tractor, you probably have a large enough space to warrant a dump cart. Sure, you can move the objects yourself; however, a dump cart makes a one hour job a ninety-second job, and you can’t really put a price on that time (not even accounting for any soreness or fatigue you’d be avoiding).
Industry professionals in the tree surgery, landscaping, and contracting industries all use dump carts, for the exact reason you should use one.
Tips for buying a dump cart
If you do decide to buy a dump cart, the first thing you need to do is take an honest inventory of the occasions in which you’ll use it. If you need to move yard waste from inside your yard, you’ll most likely not need a large weight capacity. If, however, you regularly move topsoil (which is heavy), you’ll need to look at a weight capacity up around 1,000 lbs.
You also need to look at the terrain you’ll be moving the cart over; if the ground is uneven or rocky, then you’ll need a cart that sits lower to the ground and has tires with a strong tread. If, however, you’ll be moving your load over a lawn, you’ll need wider tires to spread the weight and avoid cutting up the surface.
Finally, you’ll also need to make sure that your cart can hitch to your tractor. Most of the time, carts have flexible hitches and many hitches are standardized; however, look up in your tractor’s manufacturer’s guide to see the name of the hitch, and cross-reference it with the cart’s hitch attachments. Once you have bought the cart, it should be the first thing you check.
Key components of dump carts to consider
When you are shopping for a cart, there are three main features you should look for: the axles, the beds, and the wheels.
AXLES
The axles determine how well the wheels turn, how strong the cart is, and is a general indicator of the overall build quality. You should look for axles that are made of a strong material like steel. Ideally, you will find tempered or stainless steel options.
BEDS
The bed of the truck needs to be robust in order that you won’t destroy your cart through regular use (and abuse). The best beds are coated in some form of poly coating, which helps to prevent scratches. Again, this is also a strong indicator of attention to detail. If the bed is not coated, scratches can very quickly become rusty areas, which can compromise the strength of the entire truck.
WHEELS
Like buying a car, the wheels are central to the overall drive quality. The key things to look at when it comes to wheels are the tread (which should be deep), the width (which can be wide or narrow depending on your specific needs), and the size of the wheels. You should also pull the cart in the store to ensure the wheels are aligned, as any non-alignment will tip over the cart when you tow it.
For a couple hundred dollars, you can get access to a piece of equipment that will last you years, and make your life easier every step of the way.