If you spend a lot of time at the beach, then you undoubtedly also spend your fair share of time hauling your gear to and from the sand. As a surfer, sun worshiper, and ocean enthusiast, I spend more time at the beach than anyone I know and am well-versed in the amount of gear that goes into a good beach day. Add kids into the mix, and your trunk will be filled to the brim in no time.
Beach wagons are no new invention. I’ve been seeing them at my local beach for years. But, as I trekked back and forth to my car to load and unload my beach gear, it somehow never crossed my mind that I might benefit from one. Until recently, that is. Once I got my hands on the Timber Ridge Double Decker Wagon ($180), there was no going back.
In short: Designed for use at the beach, the Timber Ridge Double Decker wagon has wide, all-terrain wheels to help you navigate sand, dirt, and grass with relative ease. With two levels, a whopping 400L capacity, and a weight limit of up to 450 pounds, you’ll never have to leave anything behind. And, like most beach wagons, the Double Decker is super-versatile and just as useful for trips to the park, sporting events, chores around the house, or hauling gear to and from your campsite.
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Weight
27.3 lbs. -
Weight capacity
450 lbs. -
Open dimensions
54″ L x 18.5″ W x 34.5″ H -
Folded dimensions
15″ L x 7″ W x 35.5″ H -
Assembly required
No
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Two levels for storage -
450-lb. weight capacity -
Extra-long lower level for large items -
Surprisingly light for its carrying capacity
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No place for children to sit -
Might be bigger than some people need -
Can get a little top-heavy
Timber Ridge Double Decker Wagon Review
Most utility and yard wagons have similar, straightforward designs, but beach wagons often have additional features to help them fare well in the sand and haul as much gear as possible. One of the primary differentiators of beach wagons is wider wheels that are intended to roll and float better over variable surfaces and sand.
Still, most are fairly simple, with a single, large storage area to toss all of your stuff into. With two levels, the Timber Ridge Double Decker Wagon kicks things up a notch.
One of my favorite things about the Double Decker wagon is that it comes ready to roll (pun intended). With no assembly required, you can start using it for beach trips as soon as you receive the wagon and remove it from its packaging, and then expand it for use.
Popping the wagon open is quite simple. You essentially just pull the corners open like a pop-up chair, and then press down on the middle of the upper storage compartment until the frame is fully extended.
Like any good beach wagon, the Timber Ridge Double Decker has sand-ready wheels. All the wheels are 7.5 inches in diameter and have an all-terrain design. The larger diameter allows them to roll more easily over bumps and imperfections on the ground without getting hung up. The width helps here as well, especially in soft or loose conditions.
Obviously, the heavier your load and the thicker the sand, the harder it is to pull the wagon, but I found that it performed well in sand, dirt, and grass. And, although the wheels are plastic, they have a rubber tread down the center that helps enhance their grip and reduce their noise over hard surfaces like pavement or crushed gravel.
Additionally, the front wheels rotate 360 degrees, which makes it easy to navigate tight turns. The wheels also have a locking feature, so you can make sure your wagon doesn’t roll off without you when you’re loading or unloading it. The pull handle is adjustable to decrease its length for storage or extend it for pulling the wagon behind you, and I found steering it to be easy and trouble-free.
Where most wagons have one level, the Double Decker wagon steps up the carrying capacity with two levels, allowing you to haul lots of stuff. Each level can support up to 225 pounds for a claimed total of 450 pounds. While I have yet to transport that much weight to the beach, it’s nice to have the option and to know that you’ll probably never reach or exceed the weight capacity.
The lower level has a flap that folds open and offers a 54-inch-long shelf that is 18.5 inches wide and 12 inches tall. This allows you to stash extra-long items like beach umbrellas or beach chairs — even 10 x 10-foot pop-up canopy tents will slide in there.
Removable mesh panels on the sides keep things contained and prevent items from jostling out the side when rolling over bumpy terrain. I found myself using and appreciating this feature a lot, as those longer, bulkier items are typically the most annoying to carry. And, they quickly max out or exceed the storage capabilities of smaller beach wagons.
The upper level has a relatively standard-size storage compartment. It is 35.5 inches long, 18.5 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. With your bulkier gear on the lower deck, there’s plenty of room to fit your coolers, bags, beach towels, and toys on the upper level.
Two water bottle holders and a large mesh pouch are attached on the outside of the upper level, and I found them to be very handy for keeping smaller or frequently used items organized and easy to find.
Another nice thing about the Timber Ridge Double Decker is the higher loading height of the upper level. When transferring heavier items from the back of the car to the wagon or vice versa, less bending over is required.
The opposite is true, however, if lifting a heavy cooler off the ground and up to the upper level of the wagon — it’s a bit higher of a lift. That’s something worth considering if you’re often carting a heavy rotomolded cooler full of drinks and ice to the beach. Pro tip: Do your best to distribute weight evenly throughout the levels to avoid a top-heavy load.
If you have kids, the Double Decker wagon will be a game changer for hauling all of their gear and toys to the beach. However, it doesn’t have anywhere specific for children to sit, as it’s made for hauling gear, not kids. My 25-pound dog rode in the wagon a handful of times and loved it, and I liked having him contained while freeing up my hands to pull the wagon.
The Double Decker wagon’s frame is made from steel pipes, which makes it durable while remaining a reasonable weight for its size and carrying capabilities. At the end of the day, the wagon collapses down to about a quarter of its extended size, making it easy to transport and store.
It comes with a strap to wrap around it and a bag to store it in, so it’s quite tidy when stashed in the back of your vehicle with the rest of your beach gear or in the corner of your garage. At 27.3 pounds, the Double Decker is significantly heavier than most smaller wagons, but I found that it was easy enough to load in and out of the trunk of my car.
The only real drawback that I’ve found with the Double Decker wagon is that its size may be overkill for some users. You don’t have to max out its cargo capacity every time you use it, of course, but if you’re only hauling a few things to the beach, a smaller, lighter wagon may be a better fit. And, given the two-level design, it becomes a bit less stable with a top-heavy load — which may be more likely for those who aren’t carting around lots of gear.
There’s also the price to consider, which, at $180, is one of the more expensive beach wagons we’ve tested. Still, when you’re hauling all of the family’s gear to the beach, park, kids’ sporting events, or any other number of scenarios, it could be worth its weight in gold. And, its robust construction and quality materials feel quite durable and ready to withstand several years of use, assuming you don’t overload it or treat it carelessly.
Conclusion
A beach wagon isn’t a necessity, but it’s a luxury you will probably be happy to have. Featuring two levels, the Timber Ridge Double Decker wagon has a whopping 450-pound weight capacity and plenty of room for hauling all your gear. If you frequent the beach or park regularly and want to avoid multiple trips to the car, this wagon can help you save time, energy, and frustration and make your life a whole lot easier.
Although the Double Decker wagon may be too large for some people’s needs, it packs down small and is light enough to easily lift in and out of the car. If you’re tired of making multiple trips or fumbling around to get all of your gear to the beach or the ball game, the Timber Ridge Double Decker wagon might be the perfect solution.
The Timber Ridge Double Decker Wagon can be purchased on Amazon and various other online retailers.
