Brian........The front wheels swing up on a pivot adjustment and act as front weights as well as limit stops on the depth. you could add additional weights on the front to make it dig more. I'll measure it tomorrow sometime & let you know how wide it is. It will go as fast as you'd want to walk/jog behind it, although it's easy enough to manuver. I got it & another mower at an estate sale as a pkg(had to take 'em as a pair), as I wanted the small rider mower(snapper) for my kids to learn on.(Both were same condition as new !) I have 3 1/2 acres at my house in grass & I'm damn sure not gonna aerate it to make it grow faster than it does now, so other than starting it to check it out, I have'nt used the aerator because its the mower I really wanted on the deal. Is the shelving you got on the other deal something that mounts flush to a wall I could use in my shop, or is it the gondola stuff you see in wally world ??