For a busy dairy farmer like Peter Boulton, time is a very precious asset. However, the fact that he has to cart things around his property with a traditional wheelbarrow is not doing him any favours.
One day, an idea popped into his mind – instead of pushing a wheelbarrow, why can’t one ride and drive it?
Following two years of developing and fine-tuning, Boulton launched his RAT (Ride On, Articulated, Tipping) Barrow on to the Australian market last year.
The ride-on wheelbarrow, which Boulton claims is a world’s first, allows owners to transport material such as hay and wood around the property with ease.
It features a Briggs and Stratton engine, hydrostatic transmission and can carry up to 200kg of material. The plastic tub is UV resistant, while the frames are fully galvanised for durability.
A tow hitch at the rear enables a RAT Barrow designed trailer to be attached which also tips, doubling carrying capacity.
The innovative machine was out on display at the 2014 AgQuip field days which was held in Gunnedah, New South Wales in August.
Boulton, who runs a dairy farm in Gippsland Victoria, says the wheelbarrow is the ultimate time-saver for him and his family.
“We’re dairy farmers and we’re very time poor,” he says.
“We need something that, after a long day’s work, can help us in feeding horses and get firewood to the house quickly and easily. This (RAT Barrow) was a real time-saver for us.”
The invention has won Boulton several awards since its launch, including the 2013 Bendigo Inventors award and the Best Innovation In Agriculture Award at this year’s FarmWorld field days.
Boulton says the RAT Barrow is now his number one priority and he wishes to someday introduce the RAT Barrow to the world.
“Why push a barrow when you can be riding one. It’s too easy.”
Visit RatBarrow.com.au for more information.
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Video: Guy Allen