It takes the fun out of it when your wagon is too big to fit your car, or it is too heavy to lift. Many SUVs and mini-vans now have elaborate rear air conditioning systems that take up usable space, so consider measuring what you have. There was a time when all standard sized station wagons and full length SUVs could hold 4'x8' building materials, but now the usable area varies. We take the risk that you can use what you buy through a liberal return policy, but it is better for both to know what you can use.

Generally, the overall size of a wagon can be determined by the style and the nominal bed and tire size. Berlin and Radio Flyer woodstake wagons' bed dimensions are specified at the outside of the vertical rack posts. (The overall width is just larger than the number at the rack holders.) Valley Road, Speedway and Hochstetler wagons have the nominal size of the bottom plywood (or other) sheet called out once and rounded down to the nearest inch where repeated. The rack holders or racks do not extend beyond the bottom sheet. The EZ fiberglass wagon has rack holders that extend 13/16" on each of four sides beyond the specified fiberglass size. On most wagons, the bed perimeter top edge without racks installed is about 5" above the tire diameter, except for the EZ Fiberglass wagon, at 4". 

Wood wagons by Berlin, Valley Road, Speedway, EZ, Hochstetler and Radio Flyer all have a tongue that sticks out beyond the wagon's nominal size. The tongue is about 6-7" out and it has parts starting above an inch below the tire diameter. On brands other than Radio Flyer, the steering can be turned to a deep angle to shorten it but then the handle and wheels change position. Tires may or may not stick out beyond a wagon's bed; refer to the picture.  Usually only the biggest tires on the smaller wagons extend out. A track width dimension is measured across the tread centers, not outside edges. As far as height, removable wood racks allow the handle to drop lower, and setting a wagon inverted helps if the handle has someplace to fold or has been removed. This works well with Radio Flyer wagons with store-under handles. Radio Flyer wagons have a single pivot steering axle with limited turning radius, so they can't shorten overall with hard over steering.

Handles are fairly easily removed and can be made easier with "hitch pin" hardware available at mower or industrial supply stores. Wheels are held onto most all wagons with a splined, dished spring washer covered by a plastic trim cap. When initially properly fitted with the tap of a hammer, they can only be removed by destructive force and are not reusable. Removing wheels to haul is only practical with a different retention system, such as drilling the axle for spring clips outside of a washer.

Well-made wood over welded steel frame wagons from Speedway, Valley Road, Berlin Loadmaster and Hochstetler can be heavy, around 50-58 lb. for the 40 inch class. Smaller Berlin wagons, EZ fiberglass, and Radio Flyer hollow plastic wagons are lighter at 25 to 45 lb. But the Hochstetler recycled plastic is several pounds heavier than the same design with wood. Woodstake style wagons are most easily loaded when the weight and bulk of the removable racks are off, and the wagon can then be gripped across its girth. Loading one end at a time is also helpful where there is maneuvering room.

Wagons intended for handling by kids have a maximum practical size of 21x42 due to the weight topping 50 lbs. Bigger dogs properly tied into a dog shaft seem to have the energy to pull the largest wagons. Wagons pulled by machine must be full frame wagons like the Berlin 600, Speedway, Valley Road, EZ and Hochstetler brands.

Some Kettler wheel toys easily break down for transport or adjustment. The Navigator, Happy, Junior and Oceana, for example, have a two-piece frame joint that may be separable without tools. This is not true for one-piece older or older non-adjustable two-piece Kettrikes. All tricycle pushbar styles and brands are removable without tools. Kettcar models Kabrio has a frame hinge point that will allow the steering column to drop down with the removal of one bolt. Not so for Nevada, and many older models.