A horse cart can change how you move and store supplies in Dead Rails. Learn where to find one, how to hitch your horse, and the best ways to haul gear or trade goods across long stretches of track without slowing down.
However, getting a vehicle like a horse cart in Dead Rails will also let you weld items or weapons. You will also need the cart to complete the Pony Express challenge. Want one for yourself? Keep on reading to learn how to get and use a horse cart in Dead Rails.
How to Get a Horse Cart in Dead Rails
Locate a horse cart spawn at the Trading Post or abandoned stations along the main rail line. Approach it and hold the interaction key to claim ownership, which requires no special tools or currency. Once secured, attach a horse by leading one nearby and pressing the mount prompt-the cart then becomes your mobile storage unit for hauling goods across the tracks. Spawn a new cart anytime from your inventory menu if yours gets wrecked.
The Horse Cart, or simply Cart, is in itself an individual item and is only found at the Barn in Dead Rails. Apart from the Cart, you’ll need a Horse to attach this item. We have a detailed guide on how you can get a Horse in Dead Rails. Once you have a horse, keep reading to learn how to get a horse cart in Dead Rails:
Horse Cart Location in Dead Rails
As we have already discussed, you must find a Barn first during your run. The Barn is a small farm hut with green grass growing all around it. It will spawn far away from the railroad, so it’s better to keep an eye out while driving or ask your friend to look out for a similar-looking structure.
The Barn is relatively easy to raid compared to other towns and buildings and consists of a few zombies. Once you kill them, head inside and you’ll find handsome loot, including a horse cart, a wild or tamed Horse, a saddle, and a few junk materials. If the horse isn’t tamed, you can easily do so by cornering it and placing the saddle on its back.
How to Equip the Horse Cart in Dead Rails
Now that you have both the required items in front of you inside the Barn, follow the simple steps below to equip the Horse Cart in Dead Rails:
- Go near the cart, point your mouse at it, and click the left mouse button to hold it.
- Now, drag the cart and bring it near the horse. This will attach the cart to the horse, and it will be ready for use.
- This is also applicable if your friend is using the Horse class, and therefore, bringing the cart near them will attach it to their back.
If you ride the Horse now, it will drag the cart behind you as well. To unequip the Cart, you can jump twice while staying on it. Otherwise, you may simply hold the cart or place it in your sack to remove it from the horse’s back.
Also Read: How to Get Unicorn in Dead Rails
All Uses of Horse Cart in Dead Rails
The horse cart in Dead Rails serves multiple roles beyond transport. It can haul materials and loot between storage via rail cars, help move heavy items across the map, and act as a mobile storage solution to organize gathered resources. Players use it to streamline inventory management, reduce back-and-forth trips, and increase efficiency during exploration and crafting.
The Horse cart is the only item in the game where you can weld various items and weapons, apart from the train. However, the horse cart in Dead Rails has many more uses. These are:
1. Secondary Moveable Storage
One of the primary uses of the horse cart is to use it as a secondary movable storage while you are raiding buildings like the Castle and Fort Constitution. Simply weld the loot on the cart, and your Sack won’t get full very easily.
Moreover, welding more than one cart to the original one can help create a long trail and hence provide more storage space. However, this is least feasible since the barn itself is a rare structure and houses a single cart as its loot.
2. Secondary Transportation
Since the train requires fuel to run, the horse cart can be a superb alternative for transportation. It helps you get past the last checkpoint without needing coal or using any other Corpse as fuel.
Although you can achieve this by using a horse, the horse cart simply adds value by helping you weld your weapons on it and increasing its defense by using Sheet Metals, Turrets, and Cannons.
How to find barns for horse carts from train
Barns containing horse carts in Dead Rails are rare structures best spotted from the train during runs. They appear as small farm huts far from tracks and towns, often surrounded by green grass, making them stand out in the desert.
Spotting from Train
Scan the horizon while driving the train, as barns spawn randomly in the wild, sometimes 80km out or near spawn. Assign a teammate to watch one side; their windmill or distinct roof is visible from afar despite distance from rails.
Approaching Safely
Stop the train nearby, exit on horseback or sprint, and clear 1-3 zombies outside/inside. Loot includes a guaranteed horse cart (often with horse attached), saddle, and valuables like gold bars.
Tips for Success
Barns may lack zombies entirely; check multiple if lucky, but expect 0-1 per run. Climb the windmill or roof for night safety post-loot.
How to spot barns from train distance
Barns in Dead Rails are rare, randomized structures best spotted from the train by scanning the horizon for their distinct windmill or sloped roof. They stand out due to surrounding green grass amid the desert, often appearing far off (up to 80km) from tracks and towns.
Visual Identification
Look for the tall windmill silhouette or red-roofed hut shape against the flat terrain while driving-position a teammate on each train side for full coverage. Their isolated farm-like patch of greenery is the key giveaway from afar.
Distance Spotting Tips
Drive at moderate speeds during daylight runs to avoid missing them; barns spawn wild, so note coordinates if seen. At night, their outline may still catch light, but approach requires stopping the train nearby.
