Canadian
New! Loadrunner Wheelbarrow
Introduction
Grin's Loadrunner kit allows you to transform your existing square handle wheelbarrow into an absolute hauling machine. Our extensive experience making robust electric drives for bicycle conversions made Grin a natural fit for designing a dream wheelbarrow platform as well.
Whether you are an individual property owner moving firewood and debris, a marina operator moving gear up the dock ramps, or a tradesman hauling material around a jobsite, you'll experience more than a little grin as the motor does the heavy lifting.
Two complete kits are available. The Loadrunner18 runs on dual Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWalt power tool batteries you may already own, while the Loadrunner36 runs on Grin's stackable 36V LiGo modules. Prefer to build your own setup? The GW1 motor is also sold separately. There is also a dedicated Loadrunner site in development at grinloadrunner.ca. The rest of this page covers how it all works.
Key Features
We worked hard to make this the most capable and versatile aftermarket electric wheelbarrow drive available. Here are some of the distinguishing features.
- Simple and Fast Installation - Typically takes under 15 minutes to upgrade a stock wheelbarrow
- Flexible Battery Options - Run off Existing Powertool Batteries or 36V LiGo Modules
- Incredible Torque - Up to 160 Nm for short times, able to push 400 lb loads up steep ramps
- Intuitive Control - Simple throttle on the right thumb to accelerate
- Powerful Braking - Throttle on left thumb does electric regen braking, making descents much safer too
- Fwd/Rev Mode - Push button allows powered reversing from tight spaces
- Configurable - Advanced users can edit controller parameters for custom speed limits, torque ramps, and other behaviors
- Transferable - Easily move the kit to a new wheelbarrow whenever an old one wears out
- Waterproof - The motor and controls are all designed to be left out in rain and weather.
- Local Support - Proudly Made in BC, Canada, with a 3 Year Grin Warranty
Components
Here's a quick summary of each main component in the kit.
Hub Motor
The GW1 wheelbarrow motor we use has an impressive 30:1 all-steel gear reduction ratio, giving unheard of torque and efficiency when running at low speeds. This makes it far more capable than most other similar sized hub motors that are based on conventional ebike drives, allowing it to climb over large bumps and obstacles with ease. It's been extensively proven out over many years of demanding use without a single gearing failure.
Tire Choice
The motor hub is formed in a nylon rim that fits industry standard 16-4.0 pneumatic tires to provide smooth rolling over bumpy terrain and the benefit of customizable tire pressure. Grin provides options for both a standard tread that serves most users quite well, and a deeper agricultural tread for jobs in muddy fields where extra traction is needed.
Mounting Brackets
The motor comes pre-mounted in metal brackets with mounting slots 60mm apart that should align with the existing 1/4" or 5/16" bolt holes of your original wheel bracket. It's a drop-in fit for about 80% of the wheelbarrows we've tested, while some may require drilling an additional hole at the correct spacing.
Controls Plate
All of the electronics and wiring are housed in an anodized aluminum enclosure that fits between handles and the legs right under the bucket. Inside the panel is a potted and waterproof field oriented motor controller and cable harness, while the underside of this enclosure includes rails or docks for the battery pack. The 18V version of this plate includes dual powertool battery mounts and has two LED charge indicators showing the state of each pack.
Meanwhile the 36V model has a LiGo 10X battery rail on the underside to support 1, 2, or 3 LiGo modules.
Dual Throttles
Our 'Barrowbob' mount provides a robust installation stub for the left and right side throttle controls which can be screwed into wood or metal handles. Each throttle is a rugged hall sensor device that is immune to water ingress and strong enough to take a beating from gloved hands.
Cable Raceways
We also include a set of cable raceways with adhesive backing allow the wires from the throttles and the motor to neatly route all wires to the control plate without the need for zip ties or the bundling of excess wires. The end result is extremely neat with no exposed cables to get snagged by branches or debris.
Fwd / Rev Switch
An optional low profile push button can be installed on the top of the left handle grip. Hold this button down with your left thumb and then the throttle now powers the motor at a (slow) reverse speed for maneuvering in tight corners.
Programming
The Loadrunner controller can be programmed using Grin's Phaserunner Software Suite to customize certain behaviors, either using the USB->TTL programming port on the back, or in some models a Bluetooth connection instead.
Other Uses
There are countless other applications for a high torque motor in a 16" wheel size that is optimized for low speed applications up to 10 kph. We've had customers use them for towing small airplanes around the hangar, for moving people on stretchers, for agricultural robotics, for rope pulling winches, for moving carts filled with heavy equipment, and many more creative endeavors.
Specifications
Characteristics of GW1 Wheelbarrow Motor
| Motor KV | 3.1 RPM/V |
| Motor Weight (no tire) | 4.2 kg |
| Peak Torque (at 55A) | 160 Nm |
| Axle Threads | M16 x 1.5 (12mm flats) |
| Axle Length | 160 mm |
| Motor Gear Ratio | 29.9 : 1 |
| Motor Connector | Z910 |
| Cable Length (motor to controller) | 20cm |
| Motor Thermistor | 10K NTC, 3450 Beta, with internal 10K P/U |
Characteristics of Loadrunner Control Circuit
| Max Voltage | 60V (52V nominal battery) |
| Max Phase Current | 55A Peak / 30A Cont |
| Max Battery Current | programmable (15A default) |
| ON Quiescent Current | 35 mA |
| OFF Quiescent Current (Loadrunner18) | <20 uA |
| Throttle Connectors | Higo Mini B, 3 pin |
| Fwd/Rev Connectors | Higo Mini B, 2 pin |
| Front Light Connector | DC Jack, 5.5x2.5mm |
CAD Models
User Manual
We have not yet written a user manual for the wheelbarrow kits. However, installation and operation is simple and well covered in the videos.
Videos
The Final Evolution of Grin's Electric Wheelbarrow Kit, -THE LOADRUNNER-
Grin has been toying with the release of a "more purpose made" consumer wheelbarrow kit package for many years, and we are finally delivering it as the Loadrunner.
You can see how this compares to our first cut kit from 5 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFv62Y8isO4
The loadrunner lets you run the system either from a pair of popular 18V power-tool battery packs, or from our 36V LiGo 10X battery modules.
For more info or to purchase, check out our dedicated store wite we made just for this product:
https://grinloadrunner.ca/
For a bit more technical content, the kit is also available on our classic ebikes.ca website:
https://ebikes.ca/product-info/grin-products/wheelbarrow-kit.html
Intro to the Bafang GW1 Electric Wheelbarrow Motor
This video goes over the highly geared down wheelbarrow motor from Bafang that we've been offering at Grin Tech. Our recent 2021 shipment of these motors has been updated to include a temperature signal in the Z910 plug and can be used for lots of neat low speed but high torque drive applications.
We've had this hub up on our motor simulator for a while now:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=100461&start=25#p1470618
But interest in this hub keeps has been gaining more and more traction and it is now a staple of our motor offerings.
https://ebikes.ca/product-info/grin-products/wheelbarrow-kit.html (for additional info)
To purchase the newer kit see:
https://grinloadrunner.ca/ or
https://ebikes.ca/other-kits/specialty-kits/wheelbarrow.html
For just the motor only, see
https://ebike-parts/hub-motor-stuff/motors.html?_=1786438179431&rim_nom_size=65
Grin's Wheelbarrow Motor Showdown Test. How much of a load can they really carry?
This video was made to quantify the hauling difference of the Bafang GW1 wheelbarrow motor that Grin's been using on our wheelbarrow kits against some other more readily available wheelbarrow motor styles on the market. That includes a direct drive device and one that uses an internal motor and 5:1 planetary gearing similar to electric bicycle hubs.
Visit the new dedicated Loadrunner Website: grinloadrunner.ca
Also See:
https://ebikes.ca/product-info/grin-products/wheelbarrow-kit.html
for more info.
Loadrunner Kit Installation Video
This is just a short video showing the installation process of a Loadrunner kit on a conventional straight handle wheelbarrow.
It usually takes under 15 minutes and only requires standard tools like a wrench and a drill.
For full details on the system or to purchase, see either our dedicated wheelbarrow website at:
https://grinloadrunner.ca/
Or check out the kit info in the context of our broader catalogue of parts and resources on ebikes.ca:
https://ebikes.ca/product-info/grin-products/wheelbarrow-kit.html
FAQ
Is it compatible with my wheelbarrow?
The Loadrunner kit is designed to fit wheelbarrows with square profile straight handles and fits the majority of those on the market without issue, or at most by drilling a new hole. Wheelbarrows that are based around bent steel tube frame are generally not compatible with the kit unless you do more substantial modifications.
How does it handle rain and wet weather?
The quick answer is GREAT. Wheelbarrows are not fair weather devices and must be useable regardless of the forecast. All the loadrunner ciruitry is either fully potted or conformal coated in a protective enclosure, the buttons and connectors are waterproof, the throttle lever uses a non-contact magnetic hall sensor, and the motor is well sealed to keep water outside.
We still recommend storing the wheelbarrow in a dry space like a shed just because steel parts will slowly rust, but you don't have to worry about the electronics suddenly flaking out.
What happens if the battery is dead? Can I still use the wheelbarrow?
Yes, of course. Without a battery hooked up the wheelbarrow operates like a normal manual wheelbarrow, just with a heavier hub.
What if I use a different brand of 18V power tool and not Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWalt?
In that case, you can usually find an off-the-shelf adapter from your brand to one of the ones we natively support. We found that the vast majority of tradespeople in Canada and the USA use one of the 3 brands above, and many 3rd party adapters exist to fit other 18V battery brands (eg Bosch, Ryobi, Craftsman, Ridgid etc.) into these holders. We recommend checking out powertoolsadapters.ca as a great website that specializes supplying quality adapters.
Do the two power tool batteries have to be equally charged?
No need for that! Our battery monitor circuit will safely shut off whenever one of the packs is too low. You can combine two batteries that are at different charge levels, or even in a pinch use two batteries of different capacities (eg one 2Ah pack and one 4Ah pack).
Can I use my own battery pack instead?
Yes, you can also run the Loadrunner from other 36V or even 48V battery packs as long as they can deliver 15 amps of discharge current. In that case, you will need to purchase the Loadrunner36 LiGo module, but without any LiGo batteries selected. You will be responsible for sorting out the wiring and battery mount as well as the electrical termination, either to XT60 or Anderson connectors.
Do you offer a solid plastic or foam tire option?
Unfortunately not. The GW1 motor hub is not designed to split in half down the middle as required for the insertion of a solid puncture proof tire, it must be used with pneumatic tires. We've run into very few problems of flat tires given the thickness of the tread but if this is a worry around certain jobsites with lots of nails and staples around, we recommend simply installing slime inside the inner tube. That will ensure that most punctures will heal and seal themselves without any loss of air.
How fast does it go?
By default, we ship the Loadrunner controller with a 6 kph (4 mph) top speed in forwards, and 2 kph (1.3 mph) in reverse which we found most appropriate. However, these limits can be changed with the Phaserunner software suite to be higher or lower if desired. With field weakening it is possible to go up to 10 kph (6 mph) with a 36V pack if you like to move at a jogging pace.
How far will it go on a charge?
That's a great question, and of course it depends on:
A) how large a battery you have
B) how much load you are carrying, and
C) how steep is the hill
The table below shows the range you can expect for a 200 lb (90kg) load with various battery capacities. Roughly speaking you can expect double this distance if moving a lighter 100lb load.
Expected Range Hauling a 200lb (90kg) Load
| Battery Size | Flat Ground | 5% grade | 10% grade | 20% grade | 30% grade |
| 2Ah | 10 km | 3.1 km | 1.7 km | 0.9 km | 0.6 km |
| 3Ah (1 LiGo) | 15 km | 4.7 km | 2.6 km | 1.3 km | 0.9 km |
| 4Ah | 22 km | 6.4 km | 3.6 km | 1.9 km | 1.2 km |
| 6Ah (2 LiGo) | 33 km | 9.6 km | 5.4 km | 2.8 km | 1.8 km |
Most wheelbarrow trips are relatively short distances of 10-50 meters, so even 1 km of distance is quite a few loads back and forth.
How Long does it take to recharge?
The 18V device with powertool batteries allows you to quick swap with charged packs and not have any downtime. But if you don't have spare batteries, then the charge time will depend on the speed of your powertool charger(s).
The 36V device with our LiGo option comes with a 2A charger. That will fully charge a 2 LiGo pack (6Ah total) in just over 3 hours, and a 3 LiGo pack (9Ah total) in 5 hours. You can upgrade to our 8A Satiator charger and cut this charge time by up to 75%.
Availability
The wheelbarrow motors are available by themselves or as full kits from Grin's online store. We've also created a separate more mainstream shopify webpage for this product at grinloadrunner.ca