You’ve never seen a wagon like this. It uses a remote control to haul your gear

Having a wagon for all your beach or picnic gear is a nice way to lighten the load. But pulling a heavy wagon isn’t the easiest thing either. BougeRV’s solution to this problem is its new electric DuneRover. It has thick, 10- and 12-inch sand-capable tires, but its secret weapon is battery power to help you transport up to 300 pounds of stuff.

I’ve been using the BougeRV DuneRover to test its capabilities and see how it actually performs in practice. Besides one cautionary consideration, it’s the real deal. Its power is strong and makes moving chairs, food, and all kinds of other items a piece of cake. Here’s what you need to know about the do-it-all wagon and who it’s best suited for.

What can a battery-powered wagon do?

Despite the slightly intimidating box size, setting up the DuneRover only involved popping on the two front wheels, velcroing the fabric carrier, and sliding the pull handle into its slot. The whole process took about two minutes without needing to consult any manual.

The battery easily slides into its place in the back, and it syncs instantly with the remote in the handle. The remote is removable so you can drive the wagon instead of pulling it. Doing this takes a little practice, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

I wouldn’t recommend using the DuneRover as a go-kart-like vehicle, but with a 300-pound load capacity, I did hop in and drive myself around the backyard for a minute. I couldn’t help it. But that did confirm for me that I could use the wagon to carry nearly anything I would want to bring to a campout or other outing.

Using the DuneRover in the sand didn’t present any problems. I moved it across several spacious sand areas, and the wagon handled them great.

One minor aspect of the BougeRV DuneRover I really like is that the fabric carrier is versatile. It’s sturdy enough to be packed full, but smartly has zippers at each corner so it can be used without the side for larger objects. There are plenty of pockets on it, so smaller items don’t get tossed around.

While the fabric liner seems like it can take a beating, if you do need to remove it, you can. The Velcro straps hold it on tight, but aren’t cumbersome enough that you can’t remove it.

This wagon is tough

I wasn't planning on testing the IPX6-rated protection for the full vehicle, but I accidentally left it out in the rain. After all the pieces were dry, it rolled along just like it did before the storm.

The battery provides about five miles of range at around 3 MPH. I rolled over all kinds of terrain without the wagon giving up.

While I haven't put the DuneRover through every kind of situation or test, I also haven't gone easy on it. Between folding it up, unfolding it, and dragging it to wherever I wanted to store it, I've been impressed with its durability so far.

The one thing to know about using a heavy-duty wagon

This should be obvious, but the BougeRV DuneRover is heavy. The wagon weighs 50.7 pounds. That means it could be tricky for one person to lift it in and out of their vehicle if they are taking it places. While I could lift the unit okay, its dimensions made it a little awkward for me to handle by myself.

The DuneRover won’t be a problem for two people to lift. With an extra set of hands, it can be lifted over a tailgate or into any SUV.

The weight wasn’t a problem for me if I was storing it in the garage or somewhere like that. For example, with a simple pull of the fabric handle, the carrier shrinks and pulls together. From that position, I could roll it on its bigger back wheels wherever I needed to store it.

Is the BougeRV DuneRover worth buying?

The obvious use for a powered wagon with big airless tires is for beach days. I used the BougeRV DuneRover in sand with ease. It has no problems carrying heavy gear over loose sand. But it can also be used at home for moving firewood and other common tasks. This isn’t just a summer product.

Looking at the DuneRover’s Kickstarter page makes it seem too good to be true in a lot of ways. But in my hands-on time, it performed exactly as expected, from power to foldability. Its biggest consideration is its raw weight, which can make it tough for one person to load into a trunk. But with a second person, that task isn’t any trouble.

If you have a place to store the DuneRover and have ways it can lighten your load, then it’s going to be a great addition to all kinds of events and tasks.

The BougeRV DuneRover is currently being pre-sold on Kickstarter. It will eventually retail for $899 with its removable battery. It’s as low as $476, depending on how quick you are.