Vermont Cart

meancoyote · #1 02/03/08, 05:06 PM

I am thinking of buying this cart, Anybody else have this? I am looking at the large cart for $282. I want to haul compost, manure, dirt, firewood and other stuff with it.
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_...tem_no=PS16785

Scrounger · #2 02/03/08, 05:07 PM

I have one of those and it is excellent for carrying stuff around. Handy thing to have.

meancoyote · #3 02/03/08, 06:22 PM

Thank you, I am gonna order one soon. im also looking at the precision garden seeder, I want to use it to plant sunflowers and amaranth, anyone have any experience with this?
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_...item_no=S17198

Wildcrofthollow · #4 02/03/08, 06:51 PM

I have one very similar, seems to me it was called the "norway cart" they are both taken from the design of the old "gardenway" carts of the '60s. Mine is great, i use it constantly. named it "betsy". doesn't eat as much as a mule and not as recalcitrant. Course, on the other hand, mules do PULL the cart. I, unfortunately have taken the mule's place. I do eat and am very recalcitrant.

Stephen in SOKY · #5 02/03/08, 06:56 PM

I like my Earthway seeder, but that's by no means the low price on one.

meancoyote · #6 02/03/08, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen in SOKY

I like my Earthway seeder, but that's by no means the low price on one.

I see northerntool has them for $69.95,and they have a cart for $89.99.

GrannyG · #7 02/03/08, 09:47 PM

Hey, that is MY CART !!! I have had it for years and years, more than 23 in fact. I wore the tire tread completely off and ran it on the rims until I could find new replacement wheels. The wheels were very expensive, but will last my lifetime I bet. I could not ask for a greater friend, hauls tons of wood over the years, lots of weeds and junk out to the critters, tons of feed in sacks....You will be a winner with this cart...go for it !!

EDDIE BUCK · #8 02/03/08, 11:00 PM

I agree with like them both, If you see the cart at a hardware store, ask the person there to throw 4or 5 bags of sand or concrete in the cart and take it for a spin, you will be sold. I've had mine the 26inch cart, for atleast 20 years. Its been through two floods, 1st one, cart under water a week, 2nd under water for 6 weeks. Its still going strong, the plywood on the cart, after being under water 7 weeks, theres no separating between the plys. Only thing I would do different,would be, getting the 20 inch size, reason being it would fit between my rows better. The planter, I have that to, 25 years never had a problem, except the handles are a little short for a tall person, but I solved that problem with a couple of alum, flat bar 6 inches long. I've been trying to wear out the cart and the planter to no avail, cause the way its looking now, they are going to wear me out first. Eddie

Helena · #9 02/04/08, 05:12 AM

Have the large one and bought a smaller metal foldable type one from another company a few years back. Like the larger original cart just fine but the smaller version the handles came apart but like the small size for being in the barn and getting through the stall and goat pen doors. The large one is just too large to tight spaces. Haul wood and everything in ours. Buy the original one..you won't be disappointed at all.

WisJim · #10 02/04/08, 07:54 AM

We have a couple of similar carts that we bought locally at hardware stores or home centers. I think the first one came from Menards about 25 years ago. They might be a bit cheaper made than the expensive ones, but we have less than $200 in the 2 carts, including sealing the plywood with water repellent and replacing the tires twice on the old one. I am not sure that the expensive ones are worth the difference in price, but perhaps someone with experience with more brands of them than I have can tell us more.

Other sources:
http://www.cartsvermont.com/
http://www.homesteadhelpers.com/get_...rden-carts.htm
http://carts.cartsvermont.com/

Windy in Kansas · #11 02/04/08, 08:17 AM

I really like the looks of this convertible cart. NO, not one without a top, one that converts from a push cart to a towable cart. http://www.agri-fab.com/dump45_0345.html

I frequently see it in farm stores. Made by Agri-fab which make a lot of handy products. http://www.agri-fab.com/products.html

**Cabin Fever** · #12 02/04/08, 08:28 AM

Looks like something a person could easily build with a $10 used bicycle purchased from the local Goodwill store.

goatsareus · #13 02/04/08, 08:33 AM

we bought this seeder many years ago. It is a hugh help when planting seeds, we would not be without one. It evenly spaces all kinds of seeds, you can plant in minutes, saves back breaking work, truely a blessing to us gardners.

Nancy · #14 02/04/08, 09:34 AM

We have a similar cart made by Agri-Fab. Bought it at the local farm store. I really love it. Not as expensive as the vermont cart and no shipping either. I've had mine for years.

huisjen · #15 02/04/08, 10:41 AM

I've got one from the Chinese consulate, er, I mean Harbor Freight. It's junk. The axle and wheels seem good, but the plywood is really thin, and the trim metal that holds the box together is sized for it so you can't just substitute heavier ply.

Otherwise, a moderately well made one is an essential tool. I've got several and use them all the time.

This cart...

Vermont Cart - Homesteading Questions

... is the small one, and not worth getting. Notice it has the landing gear running side to side, and the handle is in the way of things. You want one that has the landing gear running fore and aft. If you trip and it rolls over you, you don't want the legs crunching your ankle. With the big cart, the handle will be at bed platform level, which is good. The other big difference between my old Garden Way carts and my Shineing Path cart is that the chinese one has a removeable end, which means it falls off at random intervals while I'm trying to haul stuff. There exists corner latch hardware that would make the removable end work, but that's not how this one went together.

wy_white_wolf · #16 02/04/08, 10:54 AM

There are plans for those that would like to build a garden cart. just a few from a google:

http://www.vintageprojects.com/home-...arden-cart.pdf
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/sanders45.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/shopp...ItemNumber=780
http://stilesdesigns.com/garden.html

wy_white_wolf · #17 02/04/08, 10:56 AM

Do a good job of buildin this one and you could win free seeds

http://gardencartblog.blogspot.com/

T Rice · #18 02/04/08, 11:02 AM

http://gardencartblog.blogspot.com/2...ok-update.html

meancoyote · #19 02/04/08, 11:48 AM

I am going to get the model 26 from cartsvermont.com $239 with free shipping. The cart from northern tool is from china, I'd rather buy American. I'm still shopping around for the best deal on the seeder.

Hooligan · #20 02/04/08, 11:58 AM

Great cart.

Cheaper here: http://www.gardeners.com/Large+Garde...efault,cp.html

Ours has held up fine in ten years or so of abuse.