Rubbermaid Commercial Products 8.75 Cubic Foot, All-Weather, Big-Wheel Cart/Yard Cart/Lawn Cart/Wheelbarrow, Yardwork/Landscaping/DIY Projects, Durable/Weather Resistant, Black

The first job I gave the Rubbermaid yard cart was a messy one

I rolled it straight into a weekend of mulch, wet soil, and stray branches. By Sunday night, I had a good read on what this two-wheel hauler does well and where it asks for a bit of compromise.

For clarity, I’m talking about Rubbermaid’s big-wheel yard cart—the 8.75 cu ft, flat-free, two-wheeler. It’s designed for high-volume yardwork, landscaping, and barn chores, and it leans more commercial than consumer in build and feel.

Build quality and setup

Out of the box, mine needed only a quick check of fasteners. The seamless high-density polyethylene tub is thick, rigid, and evenly molded, with no sharp seams or rivets to snag bags or gloves. The frame is stout, the handle tube feels properly braced, and the overall fit is tighter and more squared-up than most consumer wheelbarrows I’ve used.

The tub’s black plastic might suggest “big plastic toy,” but in use it’s quiet, solid, and doesn’t oil-can. The material choice has obvious advantages: it won’t rust, it shrugs off fertilizer/manure, and it doesn’t dent. I’ve scraped it against rock and concrete; you’ll get scuffs, not structural damage. The whole rig is rated to 300 lb, which matched my experience—no flex or wobble under a full load of damp soil.

It’s also made in the USA (Winchester, VA), and it carries that no-nonsense, jobsite-ready vibe.

Capacity and hauling performance

At 8.75 cubic feet, this is a genuinely high-volume cart. For light materials like mulch, leaves, straw, and brushy clippings, it’s easy to heap it and cut trip counts dramatically. For dense material—soil, gravel, wet compost—you’ll hit the 300 lb weight limit before you run out of tub space, so plan your shovels accordingly. The rectangular shape is efficient for stacked loads; a couple of short logs nest well, and bagged materials sit flat without teetering.

One thing I appreciated is how the center of gravity sits low between the big wheels. With heavy loads, the cart doesn’t fight you. I could keep a steady, comfortable gait without that forearm-busting, constant correction you get with single-wheel barrows.

Wheels and maneuverability

The 20-inch flat-free wheels are the star here. They roll easily over roots, ruts, gravel, and grass, and the large diameter smooths out bumps that would jar smaller casters. Because they’re flat-free, I stopped thinking about tire pressure or thorns entirely, which is a relief if you haul through hedges or barn aisles.

The wheel track is wider than a standard single-wheel wheelbarrow, and that’s both a strength and a limitation. Strength: outstanding lateral stability—excellent on side slopes, uneven lawns, and when moving tall or awkward loads. Limitation: it’s not a narrow machine. If you have tight gates, narrow shed doors, or stairs, measure first. I could angle it through most garden paths, but I wouldn’t choose it for snaking up tight stairs or threading between closely planted beds.

Turning radius is larger than a one-wheel barrow. In open areas, that’s irrelevant; in tight patios, plan a three-point turn now and then. Empty, I could push it one-handed; loaded, it tracked predictably.

Ergonomics and handling

The handle height and angle are well judged. With work gloves on, I had a sure grip and felt minimal wrist strain compared to traditional straight handles. The balance point is forgiving—lifting the nose over a curb or pivoting to line up with a dump spot felt natural.

One subtle advantage: two-wheeled support means you’re not holding up the entire load. You guide, rather than carry, which keeps longer sessions from turning into a back workout. On the flip side, without a single front contact point, you lose the ability to thread through extremely tight pinch points.

Dumping and cleanout

Dumping is clean and controlled. The tub’s smooth HDPE interior encourages sticky materials—wet clay, manure, compost—to slide rather than smear. I didn’t need to bang the underside; a firm tip and a quick shake cleared most loads. The front lip is sturdy, and I could rest the cart on its nose without worrying about crumpling a metal tray or chewing through paint. On abrasive gravel, expect scuffs, but the plastic holds up.

The two-wheel design means you tip forward rather than roll over a single pivot. It feels natural, but for heavy, cohesive loads, the last 10% sometimes benefits from a quick rake pull. Minor note: because the tub’s front is taller than a shallow metal tray, shoveling directly from a pile into the cart asks for a touch more lift per shovel. Not a dealbreaker, just worth noting if you’re moving tons of material in a day.

Hose-down cleanup is quick. There are no seams or corners to trap grime, and the black plastic doesn’t discolor easily. I let it sit in the rain and sun between uses to see what would happen; so far, no warping, chalking, or UV fade.

Stability on slopes and rough ground

Side-to-side stability is excellent. I took it across a sloped backyard with a full load of bark and never felt on edge. Going cross-slope with gravel inside was drama-free. Downhill, like any two-wheeler, it wants to roll, so if you stop on a steep grade, chock a wheel or turn sideways. There’s no parking brake.

On saturated turf, the narrow profile of the wheels can leave tracks. The large diameter helps prevent sinking, but if you routinely work on boggy ground, plan your path or lay boards for really soft spots. For typical lawns, it’s gentle enough.

Storage and footprint

This is a big cart, and it’s honest about it. The good news is it stands upright on its nose, which cuts the floor footprint dramatically. In my garage, it slid in against a wall behind a mower and took up less space than I expected. There’s no folding handle or removable wheel option, so your storage plan is vertical parking or a roomy bay.

Durability considerations

Plastic tubs don’t rust, and that alone is a major longevity advantage. The hardware is well-coated, and after muddy work and a rinse, I saw no corrosion starting points. There are very few moving parts to fuss with, and with flat-free tires, maintenance is essentially: keep it clean and tighten bolts occasionally.

I do wish the front lip had a sacrificial wear strip for serial gravel dumping, but the plastic has proven tougher than it looks. If you’re routinely dumping crushed stone onto sharp-edged rock, consider dropping a mat where it makes contact.

What could be better

• Width: It’s wider than a traditional single-wheel barrow. Measure gates, sheds, and side yards before committing.
• Turning radius: Excellent in open spaces, a bit clumsy in tight alcoves or terraces.
• No brake: On steep grades, you’ll want a chock.
• Accessory storage: There’s no built-in small-tool tray or rake clip. I added a simple handle strap for a shovel and rake; it’s a low-cost upgrade.

Who it suits best

• Landscapers and avid DIYers moving lots of mulch, soil, and debris who value stability and volume over tight-quarters maneuvering.
• Property owners and barn users who want a rust-proof, hose-cleanable hauler for manure, hay, bedding, and feed.
• Anyone tired of flats or fighting a tippy single-wheel barrow on uneven ground.

If your work area involves narrow gates, stair runs, or threading through tight garden architecture, a single-wheel or smaller-capacity cart may be more practical.

Recommendation

I recommend the Rubbermaid yard cart for users who prioritize capacity, stability, and low-maintenance durability. It hauls more per trip than a standard wheelbarrow, it’s easier on your back thanks to balanced two-wheel support, and the flat-free, large-diameter wheels make rough ground feel routine. The seamless HDPE tub cleans quickly and won’t rust, and the frame feels up to daily use. The trade-offs—added width, a larger turning radius, and no parking brake—are real but manageable if your workspace isn’t constricted.

If your workflow is open yards, driveways, and barn aisles, this cart is an excellent long-term tool that should outlast a stack of metal barrows with fewer headaches along the way.