There were some complaints about the short handle. This model has a lock on the handle rod that allows it to telescope to different lengths. See video.
Also, it was posted that all four wheels moved from side to side on this model but it appears that with this one the back wheels are locked and the front ones move. See video.
Storage: several others have commented that the only way to store this is resting on its side. Because of the way that the wheels work now, I am able to adjust the front wheels to get it to stay up against the wall. See the picture attached.
Quick test in the garage and it seems to be working pretty well. I'll try to update this with future usage.
Love this thing. It's durable, holds a lot, and is easy to roll. I live a few blocks from Times Square, NYC. There are about a billion people walking around at any given time. I took this thing and returned a 42" TV to Best Buy on 5th Ave. right through 43rd St. I almost ran over a few Elmos, the Cookie Monster, Batman, fake minions and Chewbacca, but they all got out of the way for me and my little blue Wagon with a TV in it. I even walked back through Times Square with my new TV from Best Buy, and the wagon endured all the potholes, bings, bangs, and run-ins with the variety of moving creatures in Times Square. It's a fantastic little Wagon with easy manoeuvrability. Rolls fast too...
First, some things you should know...
There are a LOT of cheap knockoffs out there. It's apparent by reading some of the reviews that some third-party sellers (non-Amazon) have been selling fakes instead of the real thing. Real ones come fully assembled and packaged in a box that says "MACwagon". I have included pictures of the box. I purchased it at Dick's, so I know it's authentic. If you bought one on Amazon from a third-party seller and received one without the box or needing assembly, YOU GOT A FAKE.
Anyway, here's my review...
I was torn between the Macwagon and the Ozark Trail collapsible wagon from Wal-Mart. Ultimately I decided I preferred the handle on the Macwagon, and the flat shape made it easier to slide behind the seat on my extended-cab pickup.
I bought the Macwagon to haul my fishing stuff down the trails, and to ferry groceries when I walk to the store. I fish a lot and sometimes the parking area is a long way from the spots I want to fish. I also have a frameless inflatable pontoon boat and needed something to carry it (deflated) along the path. The Macwagon holds all my gear and a small cooler. When I launch the boat, I either run it back to the truck or leave it chained to a tree or other heavy object with a bike lock.
The Macwagon serves both purposes equally well. The wheels are big enough that going up over large rocks and curbs is not a problem, and the bars on the front and back make it easy to lift over taller obstacles. The tag warns not to use it on uneven ground, but I think that's more of a liability thing and because the large wheels make it rather tall. If you distribute the load properly, help it over obstacles by lifting it by the front or rear bar and take it easy going over gravel and rocks it will be fine.
A few reviews mention it is difficult to steer, but apparently older models had a handle that could pivot left and right, causing the steering instability. Now the handle only pivots up and down, so the turning is totally controlled by the wheels. I've included an image of the handle attachment point. If you need to start a turn when the wagon is loaded and stopped in soft dirt, grab the bar at the front and pull to get it started. This will prevent too much torque on the attachment point.
The front wheels are welded to the front crossbar, but the welds are VERY solid. They will not bend backwards like I've seen happen on cheaper folding wagons. I've also included a photo of the front wheel attachment.
The only thing I really wish it had was some kind of brake or wheel lock. Bring a couple of doorstop wedges for chocks if you need it to stay in one place on an incline.
Just to be fair, I assume that on a beach with "fluffy" deep sand you may have some problems. But I'm already working on some ideas on how to make some thick cheap wheel covers in case I come across this problem.
PROS:
- the folding part is absolutely great - it fits in a quarter of my 2004 Ford Taurus trunk
- the capacity is perfect for my fishing needs
- it is sturdy, reliable and practical
- very easy to fold and unfold
- the frame is perfect for attaching PVC pipes for rod holders
- it has two useful water bottle pockets (I use them for my shoes, though...)
- not too light to be flimsy but not too heavy
- materials are good and strong
- price is a fraction of the price for a fishing cart
CONS:
- wheels could be thicker for beaches with deep sand (haven't tried yet but it looks like they are too thin for that kind of beach)
- it doesn't have a remote - just kidding:)
All in all, may the engineer who invented this be blessed :) It saved me many trips to the car and I can change spots on the beach really easily!
Should anything change in time, I'll make sure to post an update.
UPDATE: Shortly after writing this review, we decided to go fishing in an area that has very deep sand. In preparation for that, I considered making some wheel covers, which is impossible, because the wheels are closed in by the wheel support. I ended up returning this cart and getting one just like it, but with huge wheels for sand, also on Amazon and, unfortunately, $30 more expensive. Oh, well...
FINAL UPDATE, 1 year later: I ended up, after 2 weeks of testing, getting a Walmart cart that has wheels roughly twice the thickness of this one. It is the most common one at Walmart (Ozark trail - $50-ish) and I've been using it for a year now. That Walmart one has two cons - 1. in very deep sand you will struggle. There is no cart with "regular" wheels that will perform well in deep sand. You need one with jumbo wheels but the one that I have was fine for the 400 yards I needed to go. If you need to go down the beach, just choose the shortest path to the wet sand near water and it goes just fine there, parallel to the water. 2nd problem - the handle is way too short, which makes it: a. difficult to drag and b. wheel keep hitting your heels. Solution - I cut the handle in half and extended it with a small curtain pipe by 10 inches. Works great now.
Feature Product
- LARGE CAPACITY - Sets up in seconds, No assembly required! Outside Dimensions Approx: 35" x 20" x 23". Size (inside)- Approx. 32 L x 20.1 W x 17.4 H inches. Size Unfolded- Approx. 35.5 L x 20.1 W x 22.5 H inches
- CONVENIENT COMPACT STORAGE - Wagon folds to only 8" thick! Folded size approx. 29.5" x 20" x 8" and includes a convenient carry case. Product Weight- Approx. 22.5 pounds
- LIGHTEN THE LOAD! - The heavy duty frame allows loads up to 150 lbs., and the Durable 600D Fabric can be easily cleaned. UV and mildew resistant
- FUNCTIONAL FEATURES include an adjustable handle for effortless transport and 2 Mesh Cup holders to keep your beverages secure.Handle Length:Approx. 30.5 inch
- EASY TRANSPORT - Perfect for hauling gear to outdoor sporting events, concerts, trips to the park or beach and great for use around the house. Please note that it is not made to transport children
Description
Easily haul your gear with the MAC Sports Folding Utility Wagon. It opens in SECONDS! The lightweight durable design has a 150 lb. capacity and is a must have to transport heavy bulky loads. Great for trips to the park, camping, outdoor sporting events, gardening and much more! The accordion style floor makes set up and break down a breeze. It folds easily into its own carry bag for compact storage. MAC Sports is a trusted brand since 1993!
Best purchase I've made in a while! Love the size and color and it literally took me 30 seconds to take it out of the shipping box, out of its case, and set up ready to roll. If you don't count taking it out of the packaging, set up time is maybe 5-6 seconds. It holds everything we need for the beach. I love the feature of the cup holders in the front, and the bottom/seat area is comfy enough for my daughter to sit in. The handle couldn't be easier to pull up and out, lock/unlock, and put down and away. It steers nicely as well. It's also very easy to close and put back in it's case unlike most tents, pack n plays, hammocks, etc...
If you're in the market for a wagon, I literally couldn't recommend this one more.
Will update review later for wear and tear/ease of continued usage.
Update: after one month of use, no major complaints, still very satisfied. So easy to use, load and unload, and pull around. Only thing I would change: I wish it had some type of brake for the wheels.
This is a wonderful wagon. My husband and I use it to haul groceries from our car, through the garage, into the elevator, down the hallway, and into the kitchen of our condo. It easily carts a week's worth of groceries eliminating heavy lifting and multiple trips to bring in the groceries. Everything comes up in one trip. The wagon has a wide wheel base that adds stability and strength. The wagon saves us time and energy. It is ironic that a playtime vehicle for children is a life enhancing vehicle for seniors.
I've been using this wagon for a few weeks and really do like it.. but in that time I've also come across a few issues that may be a dealbreaker for some.
I see a lot of people comment about using it to carry groceries, children (even though its not recommended) or bulkier stuff around the house and to/from car.. for that, it does work very nice. It's a very spacious area that can hold a good amount of weight.. but when dealing with hills, stairs or trying to stand it up (when folded) make it much trickier.
For the positive side.. it folds up very compact, folds very easily (a pull string in the center of the wagon.. no weird unlocking/folding required).
The handle is a bit iffy.. it only extends about 16" past the wagon, and can either lock (upright) or release (pull-type). If you're taller, the handle might not extend enough to comfortably pull. There is a locking mechanism on it to lock the length of the extension.
The wheels are big and work fine over different types of ground (sidewalks, dirt, hills).
The wheels, however, are not locked to the handle in the front. This was used as a selling point (you can turn the wheels without having to turn the handle -- great for tight spaces, but not the best when pulling it as it tends to move around a lot when carrying heavy items in the wagon.
The wagon itself folds very compact but weighs about 25LBs.. unfortunately it's hard to store any way but laying-down when packaged (leaning it against anything, because of the wheels, tends to have it fall over).
The cart can be heavy to pull when loaded -- moreso than I was expecting it to. Nowhere near as bad as carrying the items yourself, but it requires some strength.
This leads to problems when pulling it uphills. There are no brakes to lock wheels in place, so if you set it on a hill, it's going to roll down (and fast). With the wagon filled, it speeds down hills, so keep an eye on it.
The other problem is with stairs.. going down stairs is a little easier, but going up was very difficult (with everything inside wanting to fall outside when going up stairs). I wouldn't recommend doing this if possible, and assume doing so can lead to some broken welds that people have discussed in reviews.
I found it to be easier to just lift the entire wagon and take it down the stairs (obviously not the preferred solution!).
A few other things: There are 2 small mesh holders on the front of the wagon (where the handle is).. great for holding a coulple drinks or smaller items.
While they say its only a pull wagon, you can actually push it if you lock the handle in the upright position.. I found this easier to use at times (especially if hauling around more expensive equipment in public areas)
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