Gorilla Carts have a cult following among gardeners and homeowners. The brand basically created the “dump cart” category and their distinctive green and black carts show up in yards everywhere. I have owned both the GOR4PS (4 cubic feet) and GOR6PS (6 cubic feet) for over 2 years. Here is my honest experience with both.
The Gorilla Carts Design
All Gorilla Carts share the same basic design: a poly (plastic) bed on a steel frame, two large pneumatic tires near the front, and a handle at the back. The key feature is the dump mechanism. You pull a latch and the bed tilts forward to empty its contents. No lifting. No tipping. Your back never strains.
The two-wheel design means the cart never tips sideways. You can load it completely lopsided and it stays upright. You can park it on a slope. You can let go of the handle at any time. For anyone who has wrestled with a tipping wheelbarrow, this alone is worth the price.
The poly bed never rusts. It is lighter than steel. Material does not stick to it the way it sticks to a metal tray. Wet soil slides right out. The bed is rated to hold weight without cracking – Gorilla claims the poly is “impact resistant.” In my experience, it has held up well to rocks, bricks, and the occasional dropped shovel.
GOR4PS Review – 4 Cubic Feet, 300 Pounds
The GOR4PS is the smaller model. It holds 4 cubic feet or 300 pounds. This is the size I recommend for most homeowners. It is big enough for serious work but small enough to store in a shed and maneuver through a 36-inch garden gate.
The 10-inch pneumatic tires roll well on grass, dirt, and gravel. They struggle a bit in deep mud but so does every wheeled tool. The handle is a simple T-bar design with a padded grip. It is comfortable for extended use. The cart can be pulled by hand or towed behind a lawn tractor (hitch pin sold separately).
After 2 years of use, my GOR4PS shows almost no wear. The poly bed has surface scratches but no cracks. The steel frame has one small rust spot where the powder coat chipped (I touched it up with spray paint). The tires hold air well. The dump latch still works smoothly.
Best for: Typical suburban yards. Moving mulch, soil, plants, and light building materials. Fits through standard gates.
GOR6PS Review – 6 Cubic Feet, 600 Pounds
The GOR6PS is the big brother. It holds 6 cubic feet or 600 pounds – double the capacity of most wheelbarrows. The tires are larger (13 inches) and the frame is heavier. This cart handles gravel, concrete bags, firewood, and anything else you can physically fit in the bed.
The dump mechanism on the GOR6PS is the same design as the GOR4PS but scaled up. With 600 pounds of gravel in the bed, the dump latch requires a firm pull but it works. The bed tilts forward and the material slides out. It is genuinely impressive to watch a half-ton of gravel empty itself in 3 seconds.
The GOR6PS is wide – about 36 inches across outside. It fits through a double gate but not through most single garden gates. It needs more storage space. It is noticeably heavier to pull when fully loaded (600 pounds is a lot even on wheels).
Best for: Large properties, heavy materials, frequent use. If you regularly move gravel, concrete, firewood, or bulk soil, the GOR6PS is worth the extra space it takes up.
The Dump Mechanism – How It Holds Up
The dump mechanism is a plastic latch at the front of the bed. Pulling it releases a pin and the bed tilts forward on a hinge. There is a spring that helps the bed return to the upright position after dumping.
After 2 years, the dump mechanism on both of my Gorilla Carts still works perfectly. The latch has not gotten sticky. The hinge has not loosened. The spring still snaps the bed back into position. I lubricated the hinge points with spray grease once, which probably helped.
My only concern is the long-term durability of the plastic latch components. Plastic in outdoor conditions eventually becomes brittle. After 2 years, mine is fine. After 10 years, I am less confident. The good news is that replacement parts are available from Gorilla Carts.
Assembly Process
Both carts arrive in a flat box and require assembly. The GOR4PS took me about 45 minutes. The GOR6PS took closer to an hour. You need basic hand tools – wrenches, screwdrivers, and a rubber mallet helps.
The instructions are mostly pictures with minimal text. They are adequate but not great. Pay attention to the orientation of the frame parts – it is easy to bolt things on backward if you are not careful. The bolts are decent quality but I recommend adding a drop of thread-locker to the critical frame bolts so they do not vibrate loose over time.
Assembly is a one-person job but an extra set of hands makes it easier, especially when attaching the bed to the frame.
Gorilla Carts vs Traditional Wheelbarrow
| Feature | Gorilla Cart | Traditional Wheelbarrow |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Excellent – never tips | Moderate – tips easily |
| Dumping | Pull latch – effortless | Lift and tip manually |
| Maneuverability | Good – wider turn radius | Excellent – tight turns |
| Rust resistance | Poly bed – never rusts | Steel tray – can rust |
| Durability (bed) | Can crack under severe impact | Can dent but will not crack |
| Towing | Towable with hitch pin | Not towable |
What I Do Not Like About Gorilla Carts
The plastic dump latch. It works fine but I wish it were metal. A metal latch would inspire more confidence for long-term durability. The plastic feels like a cost-cutting measure on an otherwise well-built product.
The handle height. At 5’10”, the handle is comfortable. My 6’3″ friend finds it too low and has to hunch slightly. My 5’2″ wife finds it a bit high with a full load. The handle is not adjustable, which is a rare miss on an otherwise thoughtfully designed product.
The tires are hard to replace. The wheels use a proprietary axle design that makes swapping to a different wheel type more complicated than it should be. If you want flat-free tires, you either buy the Gorilla flat-free model or you do some modification work.
Storage footprint. These carts take up real floor space. The GOR6PS especially is a large item to store. They do not hang on a wall the way a wheelbarrow can.
Which Gorilla Cart Size Should You Get?
Get the GOR4PS if you have a typical suburban lot (under half an acre), need to fit through standard gates, and store the cart in a shed or garage. This is the right size for 80% of homeowners.
Get the GOR6PS if you have a large property (half acre or more), regularly move heavy materials like gravel and firewood, and have ample storage space. The extra capacity is worth the tradeoffs for heavy users.
Gorilla also makes a GOR800 and GOR1400 (both larger) and a GOR200 (smaller, 2 cubic feet). The GOR200 is too small for serious garden work. The GOR800/1400 are overkill for residential use – those are for farms and contractors.
My Verdict
Gorilla Carts are the best wheelbarrow replacement on the market. The dump feature is not a gimmick. It genuinely saves your back. The poly bed eliminates rust. The two-wheel stability means you never fight a tipping load.
The GOR4PS is my most-used garden tool after my pruners. I recommend it to every gardener who asks about wheelbarrows. The GOR6PS is overkill for most people but essential if you move heavy materials regularly.
If you are tired of fighting with a traditional wheelbarrow, buy a Gorilla Cart. You will wonder why you waited so long.
GOR4PS Rating: 4.6 out of 5 | GOR6PS Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Gorilla Carts be left outside?
They can, but the poly bed and powder-coated frame will last longer if stored indoors. The poly is UV-resistant but prolonged sun exposure will eventually fade and weaken it. The steel frame will rust where the powder coat chips. Cover with a tarp if outdoor storage is your only option.
Do I need to assemble the cart every time I use it?
No. Assembly is a one-time process. Once built, the cart stays assembled. It does not fold or collapse for storage (unlike folding wagons).
Can Gorilla Carts handle concrete?
Yes. Both the GOR4PS and GOR6PS handle wet concrete. The poly bed releases concrete easily – much better than a steel tray where concrete can harden and stick. Rinse the bed immediately after use.
What is the hitch pin for?
The hitch pin attaches the cart to a lawn tractor or ATV for towing. The pin is sold separately (about $10). The cart can be towed at low speeds with the bed empty or loaded.
Are replacement parts available?
Yes. Gorilla Carts sells replacement wheels, tires, dump mechanisms, and hardware through their website and some retailers. The most commonly replaced parts are the inner tubes in the pneumatic tires.
