This remote-controlled wagon is silly but so very useful

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BougeRV’s DuneRover is so good on hills and sand that you’ll forgive the disco lights.

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Confession: When BougeRV told me about its remote-controlled wagon with animated lighting, I called it in for a laugh, expecting to eviscerate it in a review. It’s ridiculous, to be sure. But the DuneRover also proved very capable, with enough torque to flatten hills even when carrying over 200 pounds of gear. It can also traverse soft sand that defeats conventional wagons.

As someone who regularly uses a variety of wagons to haul all sorts of gear, the DuneRover is an epiphany. But what BougeRV sent me was a Kickstarter prototype — and it shows.

Production units won’t ship until February 2027. So, what follows is less of a review and more a risk assessment for those considering backing the Kickstarter. That way, you can decide whether it makes sense to lock down early-bird pricing at $467, a claimed 48 percent discount off the eventual $899 list price. (Though I’ll wager it’ll always be sold for some kind of discount.)

Frankly, $500 isn’t outlandish for a wagon. Prices start at around $40 for a rickety model that will only last a few months, $300 for something durable from a reputable brand, and closer to $800 at the top end. And none of those wagons provides a motorized assist.