Product Questions

What's the difference between the Residential, PRO, and Extreme models?

Choosing the right Yard Glider® depends mainly on the types of surfaces you'll be working on and the intensity of your workload. Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

  • Residential Grade (Strong):Material: Durable 1/8" HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene).Best For: Hauling heavy loads primarily on natural terrains like lawns, dirt, sand, snow, and through woods. It's perfect for typical homeowner yard cleanup, firewood hauling, and landscaping projects. It can handle occasional, brief crossings of sidewalks or driveways.Capacity: Up to 1,500 lbs.Ideal User: Homeowners with demanding residential jobs.
  • PRO Grade (Stronger):Material: Upgraded to 1/8" UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) polyethylene. This material offers significantly higher abrasion resistance and slickness compared to HDPE.Best For: Frequent heavy hauling, light commercial use, or jobs requiring occasional crossing of abrasive surfaces like gravel driveways or concrete paths under load.Capacity: Up to 2,500 lbs.Ideal User: Demanding homeowners, landscapers, farmers, ranchers, or anyone needing enhanced durability for more regular use or tougher conditions.
  • Extreme Grade (Strongest):Material: Built with our thickest 3/16" or 1/4" UHMW. This offers the absolute maximum in abrasion resistance and impact strength.Best For: Daily professional use, frequent crossing of abrasive surfaces under heavy load, and the most demanding industrial or agricultural jobs.Capacity: Up to 5,000 lbs (depending on model and harness).Ideal User: Arborists, construction crews, disaster cleanup teams, and anyone requiring the ultimate level of toughness and longevity.

Still not sure? We recommend using our Which Do I Need? Quiz for a personalized recommendation based on your specific tasks!

What is the real-world weight capacity of each model?

We've designed each Yard Glider® model with a specific capacity in mind, based on its material and construction. Here are the maximum recommended load capacities:

  • Residential Grade (YG Models - 1/8" HDPE): Up to 1,500 lbs
  • PRO Grade (PRO Models - 1/8" UHMW): Up to 2,250 lbs
  • Extreme Grade 48" Wide (X Models - 3/16" UHMW): Up to 2,750 lbs
  • Extreme Grade 60" Wide (X60/XX60 - 3/16" or 1/4" UHMW):3,750 lbs (using standard pull cables)5,000 lbs (when using our 5-point harness)

These capacities reflect what the glider itself can handle. Always remember to also follow the towing limitations recommended by the manufacturer of your specific pulling vehicle (mower, ATV, tractor, etc.).

What is the main benefit of the Dual Pull Bar?

The primary advantage of our Dual Pull Bar option is versatility for loading and unloading onto trailers. You can winch your loaded glider onto a trailer using one end, and then easily attach to the other end to pull or winch it off.

Additionally, the Dual Pull Bar provides:

  • Enhanced Stability: Especially helpful when maneuvering very heavy or unbalanced loads.
  • Improved Control: Offers better handling on steep slopes or uneven terrain.

While our standard Single Pull Bar is incredibly strong and sufficient for most hauling tasks, the Dual Pull Bar adds significant convenience and control for specific situations like trailering or managing extremely challenging loads.

What is the difference between HDPE and UHMW material?

Both HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) are incredibly tough and durable plastics, perfect for heavy-duty hauling. The main difference lies in their molecular structure, which gives UHMW significantly enhanced properties for more demanding applications.

  • HDPE (Used in our Residential models):Offers excellent tensile strength and impact resistance.Highly durable for use on natural terrains like grass, dirt, sand, snow, and woods.Provides a great balance of toughness and value for typical homeowner tasks.
  • UHMW (Used in our PRO & Extreme models):Has a much longer molecular chain, making it denser and tougher than HDPE.Offers superior abrasion resistance, meaning it holds up much better against scraping on rough surfaces like gravel, concrete, or asphalt.Has a lower coefficient of friction, making it noticeably "slicker" than HDPE, which helps heavy loads glide more easily.Provides the highest impact strength of any polyethylene, making it ideal for extreme cold or the harshest impacts.

Think of it like this: HDPE is like a heavy-duty truck tire, great for most conditions. UHMW is like a specialized industrial mining tire, engineered for the absolute toughest wear and tear. We use UHMW in our PRO and Extreme models because its properties are essential for handling frequent use on abrasive surfaces and meeting the demands of commercial work.

Usage Questions

Can I use the Yard Glider on gravel or pavement?

Yard Gliders are primarily designed to excel on natural terrains like grass, dirt, sand, snow, and through woods. While they can cross abrasive surfaces, it's important to understand the limitations:

  • Residential Models (HDPE): Our standard HDPE models can handle occasional, brief crossings of surfaces like sidewalks or driveways, especially with lighter loads. However, HDPE is not designed for extended dragging on gravel, concrete, or asphalt, particularly with heavy loads, as the friction will cause excessive wear.
  • PRO & Extreme Models (UHMW): The upgraded UHMW material offers significantly higher abrasion resistance. This makes our PRO and Extreme models much better suited for jobs requiring more frequent crossing of gravel or paved surfaces under load.
  • Important Considerations: Even with UHMW, extended dragging on rough, abrasive surfaces is not recommended and will accelerate wear. Factors like load weight, distance dragged, and ambient temperature (higher heat increases wear) all impact how the material holds up on these demanding surfaces.

For maximum longevity, we always recommend minimizing contact time with gravel, concrete, and asphalt, especially under heavy loads. If your work involves significant time on these surfaces, please contact us to discuss the best model and usage recommendations for your specific needs.

What kind of vehicle can I use to pull it?

The Yard Glider® is incredibly versatile and can be pulled by a wide range of common lawn and garden equipment, recreational vehicles, and even by hand for lighter loads. Typical pulling vehicles include:

  • Riding Lawn Mowers / Lawn Tractors
  • Zero-Turn Mowers
  • Garden Tractors
  • ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles)
  • UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles / Side-by-Sides)
  • Golf Carts
  • Small Farm Tractors

For very light loads or repositioning the glider, you can also pull it by hand using the loops on our optional Pull Cable Kit or your own sturdy rope.

Important Note: While the Yard Glider itself has a high weight capacity, always be sure to follow the towing limitations recommended by the manufacturer of your specific pulling vehicle. Do not exceed the safe towing capacity of your mower, ATV, or tractor.

How should I store the Yard Glider when not in use?

One of the great things about the Yard Glider® is that its durable HDPE or UHMW material is highly weather-resistant and requires very little maintenance. Here are a few common and effective ways to store it:

  • Park On It: Simply leave it flat on the ground in your garage, shed, or barn, and park your equipment right on top! Many customers love that they can park a mower, tractor, UTV, or even a truck on their Yard Glider. It's a great way to save space and keep it handy for when you need it.
  • Lean it Vertically: Stand it up on its end and lean it against a wall to save floor space.
  • Hang it Up: Use sturdy hooks or straps (looped through the integrated handles) to hang it flat against a wall or from rafters.
  • Roll it Up (Optional): While you can roll the glider up loosely for more compact storage (especially the thinner Residential models), keep in mind:It will take some time to flatten out again, especially in cold weather.Thicker PRO and Extreme models are very stiff and more difficult to roll tightly.

General Storage Tip:

  • Sun Exposure: While the material is UV-resistant, storing it out of direct, intense sunlight for prolonged periods will maximize its lifespan. A covered area, shed, or garage is ideal.

Ultimately, the Yard Glider is built tough. Choose the storage method that works best for your space!