SWAMP Compact Expandable Utility Cart Trolley

Brilliant cart at an affordable price!

By: Chris C on 25 August 2025

If you are in the market for a multi-function gear cart, this one should be at the top of your list. Firstly, it’s solid as a tank. The build quality is top notch. Thick steel, quality welds, excellent powdercoat finish, sturdy knobs and a reliable locking mechanism. It is a little heavier than some of the similar big brand competitor carts on the market, but in reality you won’t notice it much, and the marginal extra weight does translate directly into robustness. The spring-loaded handle locking mechanism is a little more complex than the competition, but it’s actually an excellent design and results in the handles being locked very securely. Some big brand competitor carts have handles that are a still a bit wobbly when ‘locked’ and they have been reported to continue to loosen over time as components stretch and bend. In contrast, the handle locking mechanism of the Swamp cart has a very positive engagement and I don’t expect it to get loose over time (based on my observations of the latch design). It certainly instills confidence when hauling heavy loads, especially up a hill. The two big rubber wheels are basically the same as the competitor carts and are well suited for the task. The small wheels had me a little concerned at first, but in practice they do the job very well. Firstly, they take up less space, so if you flip the cart upside down in the boot of your car, you can still stack gear in and around the trolley. Secondly, the wheel locking mechanism is solid and it not only locks the wheels from spinning, but it also locks the castor swivel rotation as well. What that means is that when it’s locked, the whole cart will not move, even when loading gear on an incline. Some of the other competitor carts have large rubber wheels with a side mounted locking mechanism (lever-style lock that pivots around the hub of the wheel), which only stops the wheels spinning but doesn’t stop the castors from rotating. The only circumstance where I would not recommend this trolley is if you need to do a lot of offroad hauling of gear, such as over gravel, dirt, thick grass, etc. In those cases, a different cart with bigger offroad wheels would be more suitable. One more thing to note about the castor wheels is that they are actually black, rather than the silver shown on the website. I think the black looks much better anyway. The rated load capacity is 250kg, which exceeds the load capacity of some big brand competitor carts. The deck size when fully extended is basically the same as the equivalent competition carts, and the deck width is only 5mm narrower, so negligible in practice. There is grip tape on the bars in the load area to reduce the likelihood of load shifting on inclines. Unlike some other brands which use a quite abrasive grip tape (like sandpaper), the Swamp version is a bit more rubberised, so less likely to scratch your gear and cases. Last but not least, I need to mention the value for money. Like all other Swamp gear I’ve purchased in the past, this cart offers great quality and excellent functionality at an affordable price! The price of the Swamp trolley is less than half of the RRP of big brand competitor carts, and in my opinion it’s a superior product. p.s. thanks to Mike Onn for his review, which helped me make the decision to buy this cart in the first place.

5 (5)

Don't Buy This Cart ..…

By: Mike Onn on 12 July 2025

…unless you’re ready to say goodbye to multiple trips lugging gear! I bought this cart unsure if it would be strong enough for my setup — but after using it for the first time last night, I’m seriously impressed. I had it fully loaded with a 65L crate, two 25L crates, a combo bass amp, mic stands, a guitar stand, stage lighting in bags, and my bass guitar in a hard case. That’s usually three or four trips. Not anymore! I was surprised by how large it is when extended — and even more surprised by how solid and stable it felt, fully loaded. I didn’t even bother pulling up at the venue entrance. I parked in the car park, loaded up, and wheeled it 75 metres to the stage without a hitch. Was I worried about the small wheels? Absolutely. Did I need to be? Not at all. I pushed it with the big wheels at the front and steered from the rear — it handled perfectly. I love this thing and couldn’t be happier. Thanks, Swamp — great gear at great prices!

5 (5)

Built like a tank

By: Gary Compton on 13 November 2024

This cart is very sturdy and much more heavy duty that similar brands that cost more money Highly recommend

5 (5)