Homemade Load-Centered Wheelbarrow

Unlike a standard manual wheelbarrow (i.e., cargo tray with wheel in front and handles behind), this Homemade Load-Centered Wheelbarrow is a rectangular frame made from narrow lengths of any available material (in this example, bamboo) joined together by straps, cords, or wire and with a bicycle tire affixed in the middle of the frame. The cargo is carried in 5-gallon buckets resting on the frame on each side of the wheel. Whereas the wheel-in-front standard barrow places about half the load weight on the operator, this wheel-in-center barrow places most of the load weight off the operator and onto the wheel. (The website below provides both a materials-needed list and step-by-step building instructions-including pictures.)

Cost: Less than $15 if a bicycle rim and tire can be salvaged from another source

Limitations Addressed: Back, Upper extremity