Help with equipment transport

[2pulse]

I do mobile engineering for bands around town and I'm looking for a better solution to get my equipment to and from the car in as few trips as possible. I know that one of these days someone is going to swipe two thirds of my gear from the car while I'm carring the first third down a long hallway somewhere.

Here's what I'm transporting on a regular basis:

4 single space rack modules
15 mics including a few bulky flight cases
10-15 mic stands including 2 heavy rolling counterweighted stands
16ch compact mixer
laptop
external hard drive
bag o headphones
lots of cables
power strips
blankets
reflexion filter

Presently I'm using a 4 space gator case, a laptop backpack, a blanket and bungee cords for the mic stands, and a mess of tote bags and baskets for everything else. It requires about 4 trips if I'm working alone. Does anyone here transport a comparable amount of equipment and have a more streamlined "all in one trip" method? I'm thinking along the lines of a giant rolling case or a hand truck with stackable tubs... or something. The mic stand bundle is always the biggest, heaviest, odd shaped pain in the ass that complicates every solution I think of. What's out there that I'm failing to find when I search google for "rolling mobile production cart that carries lots of mic stands and fits in a station wagon"?

[RobAnderson]

Never carry if you can roll - the Rock'N Roller cart changed my life - best $90 I ever spent.

ROCK N ROLLER - MAIN

Unfortunately I don't have any pic's during load in or out, but here is how it usually looks during the gig. My mic's go in a bag which fits nicely onto the front of the cart with my cable bag, snakes and whatever mixer I happen to be using. Mic stands go on top of everything. All of my cases can be lifted and carried by me alone.

One of the best things about having everything on wheels is that i can squeeze into tight spots and easily move the stack if I need to get around the back or move the rig a little to make room for something or someone.

One of these pic's is old - I was still using a laptop/Digi002 as a backup and monitoring solution. Now the mixer sits on top where the laptop used to be.

Trips back and forth to the car cost time and leaving gear unattended is not a good thing - try to figure out a way of making it a one-trip affair for one man.

I'd leave the heavy rolling stands at home - a regular tripod stand will work fine for almost anything. Invest in a couple of sandbags to secure them if needs be.

btw - I get all the gear I need for a full-on 24-track live recording into a four-door Corolla.

[2pulse]

The Rock N Roller might be just the ticket! Thanks! Is it pretty sturdy? Can you tip it up with all of those cases on it without stressing the frame?

[Remoteness]

I have three of those RocknRoller Multi-Carts in two different sizes.
IMO, the build quality is second rate; the tires do not hold and deflate.
We are in the process in replacing the tires to a semi-solid tires, but they are not cheap.
I guess you get what you pay for.

The build quality seems to have changed from the original ones.
Sharp edges, poor spot welding and bad tires makes this item a "I wish I never purchased it" kind of buy.

Hey, you never know, you may find a good lot; this problems seem to be intermittent.

[charlienyc]

hey Rob,
nice rig - esp. the pres

i used to have a lot of stairs for my load-out but now have ramps, so i'm definitely going the cart route. what size cart do you use to transport everything? most of my rig fits into (2) 4-space racks, (1) 2 space rack, (2) 1610 Pelicans and 2 smaller case/bags. would it all fit onto an R8?

Steve, thanks for the input. do you have a recommendation for an alternative to the rock n roller carts?

cheers,
-c

[charlienyc]

bump

my rig has become a little bigger in the past few months, but the question remains: r8 or r10?

[ergower]

I have had an R 8 cart forever...I mean, I have beat the ever livin' crap out of that thing and it has held up admirably...Steve is right though, the tires do deflate and are hard to replace, but having that cart fit into such a small footprint for transport is always a big plus for me considering the other options.
I don't stack the rig on it during use though...I got one of those small dollies from Lowe's to put under the bottom rack for ease of movement and wiring, etc...see the pic

[david335]

In the past I have used carts that are made for location film sets and they have never let me down. They are a little pricey but they won't break and will take anything that you throw at them. I think we got ours from here.

Also at a few venue's I have absconded with the kitchen's commercial-grade utility carts and used those but they don't fold up and are often noisy.

[2pulse]

I ended up getting one of these: Pelican™*Products*1660*Case

So far, I love it. It holds my 16ch mixer, mics, cables and headphones, and it tilts up and rolls! Rugged as hell, too. I plan on getting a standard rolling dolly to handle my 4u rack case, mic stands and any other bags... I should be pretty well set.

[charlienyc]

Originally Posted by 2pulse

So far, I love it. It holds my 16ch mixer, mics, cables and headphones, and it tilts up and rolls! Rugged as hell, too. I plan on getting a standard rolling dolly to handle my 4u rack case, mic stands and any other bags... I should be pretty well set.

yup, my 1610s hold everything and they have wheels. i also have a pelican laptop case which is a no-brainer for remotes.

thanks all for your advice. i'm ordering the r8 now and finally get a bag for my mic stands any suggestions on sandbags?