A: As a review indicated- the pole is difficult to put in. I have yet to be able to get it to snap in to place and have tried multiple times over the past week.
A: The pole is used as a tension rod to hold the top of the cart in place. It can be difficult to install the first time it's in use, but it will push into place and keep the top sturdy.
A: This cart does not have a top flap, but can be used in sand. It's best in harder-packed sand with a light load in the cart.
A: We don't make a top that fits on top of this cart, but you could use the top of a similarly-sized plastic tote to act as a cover if needed.
A: This cart has a 50 lb. weight capacity.