Introduction to the BougeRV Electric Foldable Wagon
Not to brag, but I’m somewhat of an expert in folding wagons. Huge flex, I know. But I’ve never tested one with a motor like BougeRV’s new Electric Foldable Wagon. I have a little surf shack that sits almost exactly 1km (0.6 miles) from the parking lot, where I regularly carry supplies and sports gear back and forth. I’ve used lots of folding carts, with prices starting around $40 for something that will only last a few months, $250 for something from a reputable brand, and closer to $800 for top-of-the-line merch. Nothing I’ve tried can make hauling 200kg (about 440 pounds) over steep inclines as effortless as the new BougeRV electric wagon.
Key Features and Pricing
Yeah, it’s $399.99, and not without its quirks, but boy is it worth it if you regularly carry large heavy loads over hills. The key features of this wagon include:
- Flattens steep hills
- Huge carrying capacity
- Folds for easy transport
- Good range
The Good and the Bad
The Good
The BougeRV Electric Foldable Wagon has several positives. It can handle steep hills with ease, has a huge carrying capacity, folds up for easy transport, and has a good range. These features make it an excellent choice for those who need to transport heavy loads over challenging terrain.
The Bad
However, there are some downsides to consider. The display is terrible and almost invisible in sunlight. The electronic brake and throttle can be useless on downhills, which can be a significant safety concern. Additionally, the wagon is expensive, and the company offers vague assurances against rain, which may not be reassuring for some users.
Company Background
BougeRV — the company behind that impressive lantern I recently reviewed — makes luxury glamping gear for vanlifers and outdoorsy people. Its name sounds a bit too similar to the disparaging slang bougie, if you ask me, but maybe they’re in on the joke? Regardless, this Chinese company’s electric folding wagon has flattened the 5- and 10-percent grade hills that have had me huffing and puffing for years, long before I even entered my wetsuit.
Performance and Features
At full throttle, the cart follows along under its own power — all I have to do is steer. That alone will justify its price to some. The wagon has a 180-liter capacity that can be expanded to 250 liters when popping open its tailgate, with plenty of tie-down points for your bungee cords. That expansion is surprisingly useful when carrying oversized items like kiteboards or deflated standup paddle boards, for example. It’s sturdy enough to pull a few small kids, a full-sized human sitting cross-legged, or an aging dog and his supplies.
Motor and Battery
The two rear-wheel drive motors are nearly silent and produce 11Nm of torque, which is not much. As such, it still relies upon human power to get it rolling at your choice of low, medium, or high speeds. I found medium and high to best match my usual NYC-style (local, not tourist) walking pace on level surfaces. The cart can also be electronically reversed to help back a heavy load into place. The battery is small but the two motors produce so little torque that it lasts and lasts.
Handling and Braking
Operating the cart is a little peculiar. There are two yellow throttle levers on the handle to control the forward and reverse speed, and two red electric sliders you pull to activate the electronic brake. That redundancy lets you control the cart one-handed with the thumb and forefinger when using either your left or right hand to pull the wagon. When walking, it’s best to peg the throttle to max as there’s too much vibration to do any feathering. It takes a few minutes of practice to get comfortable with everything, so it’s a good idea to test drive it before rolling into a crowded area.
Display and Controls
The handle also features a terrible display that isn’t readable at all in sunlight. A few segments on the display of my review unit don’t light up. There’s also an on/off button and a button to change the speed. The cart turns off automatically after a few minutes of idling and emits warning beeps if you fold it up without turning it off — why not just turn it off when seeing this, BougeRV?
Braking Modes
Finally, there are — in theory — four braking modes. If you stop walking and naturally push the handle up against the cart, even with the throttle maxed out, the wagon will stop. Drop the handle or pull the red slider, and the wagon stops moving forward. You can also set a mechanical footbrake to prevent it from accidentally rolling away.
Performance on Different Terrains
The wheels performed well over paved surfaces, cobblestones, packed gravel, and concrete covered in a few millimeters of sand. But if that sand piled up like a snow drift, it would stop the wagon in its tracks even at full throttle. I’d prefer actual tires to cut down on vibration and for easier climbs over stones, but the hard plastic wheels likely keep the cost down and reduce maintenance.
Range and Battery Life
BougeRV claims a max range of 12 miles (over 19km) from the 133Wh rechargeable battery. The removable battery charges over USB-C and doubles as a power bank to charge USB-A (18W max) and USB-C (40W max) devices. I put 5km on the wagon so far, and the display tries to show what looks like “87” percent when I add back the missing display segments. Indeed, the meter on the battery says it’s over 75 percent full. That’s very good from such a small power source considering the size and weight of the loads I’ve been carrying.
Conclusion
I’m mostly impressed by BougeRV’s Electric Foldable Wagon and can easily work around its faults. It easily flattens steep hills that normally exhaust me, even when carrying large, heavy loads that would trouble many to pull on flat pavement. It also has plenty of range, so it can be used again and again after you collapse the 18kg (40 pound) wagon and hoist it into a car or van. That will make this bougie wagon’s $400 price tag worth it for many. Despite its quirks and flaws, the BougeRV Electric Foldable Wagon is a solid choice for those who need a reliable and powerful wagon for heavy-duty use.
