GARDEN STAR Tow Barrow Dumping Lawn and Garden Utility Trailer, 6.5 Cubic Foot

Why I added a tow cart to my yard setup

Weekends at my place usually mean moving something: mulch, brush, firewood, or bags of soil. I wanted a small trailer I could hitch behind a riding mower for the bulk of the hauling, but that I could also pull by hand when maneuvering around beds or tight spaces. The Garden Star tow cart checked those boxes: a 6.5-cubic-foot poly tub on a powder-coated frame, rated to 600 pounds, with pneumatic tires and a removable handle for manual use. After a month of steady yard work, here’s how it’s performed.

Setup and first impressions

Assembly was simple and refreshingly drama-free. With a socket set and a wrench, I had it ready in about 30 minutes. The instructions were clear, the hardware count matched, and nothing required forcing or re-drilling. The poly tub is thick enough to inspire confidence without ballooning the weight, and the frame welds and powder coat are tidy. I did make one small tweak during assembly: I added wide fender washers under the bolt heads inside the poly tub to spread the load. It’s a cheap, five-minute upgrade that helps prevent localized stress if you regularly haul gravel or other dense materials.

The hitch tongue uses a standard pin-and-clip setup, so it fit the drawbar on my mower without any fuss. The removable handle adapter is clever—slide it on, drop in the pin, and the cart becomes a hand-pulled barrow in seconds. No tools needed to switch between modes, which I appreciated when I wanted to park the mower and do a few hand trips into tighter spots.

Before the first use, I inflated the 4.00-6 tires using a hand pump, stopping at the sidewall rating. With small lawn tires, it’s easy to overshoot with a compressor; a hand pump gives you a finer touch and helps avoid a harsh ride.

Hauling performance

For its size, the cart hauls well. The tub is right in the sweet spot: large enough for real work, small enough to keep loads reasonable. I’ve used it for:

• Two to three bags of mulch per trip (fits easily)
• Firewood rounds, stacked to the lip
• Five 40-pound bags of soil (manageable and stable)
• Brush and prunings piled high

The cart tracks straight behind the mower, even on rutted sections of my yard. The pneumatic tires help—air-filled rubber smooths out chatter over washboard terrain and allows the cart to roll through thick grass and small roots without bouncing uncontrollably. I haven’t attempted the full 600-pound rating; at this size, you’ll run out of volume before you hit the weight limit with most landscaping materials. But the frame and axle haven’t flinched at the loads I’ve thrown at them, and the hitch tongue hasn’t shown any flex.

Dumping and clean-out

The dump mechanism is straightforward and familiar: a simple release that lets the tub pivot on the axle. The balance point is well chosen. With mulch or leaves, a quick pull and a lift from the front lip sends most of the load out in one go. Heavier, damp materials need a little encouragement—tapping the back of the tub or lifting higher to get the last bit over the tail. The poly surface sheds material better than painted steel and won’t rust. I also like that the top rim has enough rigidity to grab firmly when lifting the front to dump.

If I had a small wish list item, it would be a slightly more aggressive taper at the rear of the tub to speed complete emptying of dense soil. That’s nitpicking; in practice it gets the job done without cursing or contortions.

Manual mode matters

The removable handle turns the cart into a beefy garden barrow, and I’ve used that a lot. It’s incredibly handy when you’re working around garden beds or moving loads into spaces where a mower would be clumsy or cause turf damage. The cart’s weight is manageable, and the balance point when hand-pulling keeps the tongue weight reasonable. On flat ground or mild slopes, it’s easy to control with one hand. On steeper sections, I switch to two hands and keep loads modest for safety.

Tires and stability

The 4.00-6 tires are the right choice for mixed terrain at this price point, but there are trade-offs to understand:

• Ride and traction: Good. The pneumatic setup cushions the load and keeps traction in thicker grass or light brush.
• Durability: Adequate for residential use. They’re not heavy-duty ATV tires, so avoid sharp debris. Keep a plug kit around just in case.
• Inflation: Respect the sidewall pressure and check it monthly. Overinflated tires ride harsh and increase bounce; underinflated tires squirm and make the cart feel vague.

The wheelbase is a bit narrow, which helps maneuverability but means you should take sidelong slopes with care. With heavy loads, keep speed down and favor straight-up/straight-down lines on hills rather than traversing across them. Load heavy items low and toward the axle to limit the leverage that promotes tipping.

Durability so far

Poly tubs are quiet, don’t rust, and shrug off superficial dings. After multiple trips with soil, stone, and firewood, the tub is scuffed but intact. The powder-coated frame hasn’t chipped, and the hardware hasn’t loosened (a quick once-over with a wrench after the first few outings is wise). The axle and hubs roll smoothly without grinding or wobble. If you plan on lots of gravel work, those fender washers I mentioned are a good preventive measure; they spread force where the bolts meet the tub.

One thing I always advise with carts like this: rinse after hauling corrosive materials (fertilizer, salt) and tip it to drain. A minute of care keeps the hardware and frame looking new.

Compatibility and use cases

The hitch design is universal enough to work behind most lawn and garden tractors, including electric models. I towed it behind a mid-size mower and later behind a small electric tractor, and it was equally well-mannered in both cases. It’s a great fit for:

• Homeowners with 0.5–2 acres who regularly move mulch, soil, or brush
• Small homesteads and hobby farms moving feed bags, bedding, or tools
• Nurseries or garden projects where manual-handling mode saves time

It’s not for highway use (it’s not road-legal), and it’s not the right choice if you need to tow long distances at speed or over very rocky terrain on a daily basis. For those scenarios, a heavier trailer with larger wheels and bearings would be a better match.

What I’d improve

No tool at this price is without compromise. My shortlist:

• Slightly wider track for stability on side slopes
• Tires with a tougher casing (or include puncture-resistant tubes)
• A more pronounced rear taper in the tub for sticky loads

None of these are deal-breakers for residential work, but they’re worth noting if your property is exceptionally hilly or your material mix leans heavily toward dense, wet soil.

Value and alternatives

Between the poly tub, steel frame, and pneumatic tires, you get a capable hauler without the weight or maintenance headaches of a full steel trailer. It occupies less space in the garage, and the manual-handle option effectively gives you two tools in one. If you’re considering a wheelbarrow upgrade, this cart covers that need and adds towing convenience for larger projects. Heavier, larger-capacity carts exist, but they cost more, weigh more, and are overkill for many homeowners. This strikes a sensible balance of price, capacity, and versatility.

Recommendation

I recommend the Garden Star tow cart for homeowners and small-property managers who want a light, reliable hauler that can switch between tow-behind and hand-pulled duties. It assembles quickly, tows smoothly, dumps cleanly, and the poly/steel build holds up to routine landscaping work. Keep loads sensible on slopes, treat the tires with care, and consider the simple washer reinforcement if you plan on heavy, dense materials. For the price and size, it’s a practical upgrade that makes weekend yard work faster and less tiring without demanding a lot of storage space or maintenance.