Gorilla Carts is a Minnesota-based company known for its rugged garden and utility carts. The company’s 4-cubic-foot GOR4PS (-C) Poly Garden Dump Cart is built to be a compact, easy-to-use alternative to a regular wheelbarrow. We wanted to test whether or not it lived up to its reputation, so we took it home to Colorado and used it for four weeks as we got our gardens and landscaping in shape. We evaluated its performance, its quick-release dumping feature, its load capacity, and its durability, as well as its overall value compared to similar products.
Performance: Small, maneuverable, and easy to dump
The Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart is like a rugged, all-black version of an old red Radio Flyer wagon. The concept is the same: a pull-behind cart meant to haul whatever you want to put in it. We used this cart exclusively in the garden during our testing, hauling rocks away from a new garden bed, carrying plants to it, and carting tools to the end of the driveway and back while building a new planter. (However, we should note that we also saw vendors use this exact cart at street festivals to haul their equipment.) The Gorilla Carts GOR4PS (-C) performed its tasks admirably. It never tipped over, lost its contents, or got stuck despite our rocky and occasionally steep terrain. Unlike a wheelbarrow, which requires you to push it over obstacles and uphill, the Gorilla cart allows you to pull it behind you with its wide handle. On the other hand, we also thought that the cart was difficult to control while descending steeper hills. At least once, we found ourselves running down our driveway with the fully loaded cart to keep up with its momentum. The cart has no brakes, and unlike a wheelbarrow, you can’t set its legs down to stop it. However, we did discover a solution: that walking the cart downhill backwards—with the cart handle in your hand while the rear of the cart leads—was a simple way to control it. Otherwise, maneuvering this cart was a breeze. Its extremely tight turning radius allowed us to wheel it 180 degrees in even the tightest spaces and on awkward hillsides. Plus, we still found it easy to keep it rolling straight when we wanted it to.
Design: Black and rugged like its namesake
The name “Gorilla Carts” conveys a certain strength, and this product lives up to that. Its one-piece black poly form has enough give that it doesn’t feel brittle when you’re throwing large rocks inside, but enough structure to hold a full load of soil without flexing. The size, while not huge, is adequate for small garden jobs, but we found ourselves reaching for the larger 6-cubic-foot Gorilla Cart when moving larger volumes. I prefer fewer, heavier trips, but it’s worth noting that my significant other felt most comfortable using the company’s 4-cubic-foot cart as her maximum load. Aesthetically, the cart is fairly rugged, which means it might look out of place in a manicured garden. The good news, though, is that it’s compact and easy to tuck away in your shed or garage.
Setup: Some assembly required
The cart comes partially built but requires you to connect its four main parts: the chassis, wheels, cart, and handle. To do this, you’ll need at least a crescent wrench and Phillips screwdriver, but it’ll go faster with a cordless drill and socket set. With the right tools, it took us about a half an hour to assemble this cart. The instruction manual has step-by-step directions that are mostly visual, and the required nuts and bolts are labeled per each step in an included blister pack. Overall, everything you need is included and the process is straightforward enough if you’re familiar with basic hand tools and hardware, but it could be a negative mark for someone who just wants a ready-to-go cart.
Price: Lowest price in its category
Gorilla Carts GOR4PS (-C) vs. Gorilla Carts GOR6PS (-C)
While the Gorilla Carts GOR4PS (-C) is a well-built and convenient option, it may be small for some tasks, as mentioned above. If you like the Gorilla Cart design and functionality but anticipate higher-volume jobs, such as moving lots of soil, you may want to consider this cart’s larger sibling, a 6-cubic-foot model from the same brand, which we also tested. The only caveat is that this larger version can be tough for smaller gardeners, kids, or older folks to move when it’s fully loaded with rocks or dirt, so be sure you can handle the larger size before you spend the extra $60. That said, this version does have a removable handle that allows you to hook it up to an ATV or tractor if you so desire. The Gorilla Carts GOR4PS (-C) Poly Garden Dump Cart offers a great mix of stability and convenience for any gardener, caterer, or anyone needing to move small amounts of cargo relatively short distances on foot.
