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What are you using for onset gear transportation?

Joel Arvidsson

Joel Arvidsson

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What wagons, cases, boxes etc are you using to move around your gear? Hoping to se a better way to move around a set.
To much logging around lights, sliders, crane etc. If possible post some pictures.
 
While working on Evan Almighty ages ago I was face with the problem of getting my gear around the Universal lot. I didn't want to make a million trips and I found something neat called a Multi-Cart.

I personally don't own a big gear truck or van, but I own an SUV and I can fold this guy up and toss it in the back. Really nice and portable.

You can build it short or long and it has carpeted panels that you can use as a work surface. It would be nice if they designed a wide version with a wider top which would be similar to other typical larger carts.

M1010024.jpg


I also use it for my really tiny DIT setup on remote gigs.

_MG_1109.jpg


As for cases, here are my standard Storm (also use Pelican), Cinebag, and one of my many LowePro bags. Also use a few Tamrac bags. Pelican is really a great way to go if you are traveling with gear.

redScarletCases.jpg
 
When you own a ton of gear, it's really important to become efficient. I used to own a Junior and now I have a Senior as well.
when I only had the one cart, I had a Ford Escape. Every load in and load out comprised of handling each case and breaking down or building the cart, and that was a back breaker.
just before I purchased my Senior I also switched cars. I got a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with stow and go seats. What a miracle that van is. You're not gonna get any girls driving this thing around, but you will save your back. With a ramp, I'm able to roll both carts inside the van without breaking anything down. Just push the Junior to the back, and the Senior behind the seats, strap'em down and off you go!
i have all Pelican and storm cases, and they fit well on the carts. One thing that I acquired recently instead of a set bag, was a pair of JokerBoxes. They are really neat: www.jokerboxes.com
 
Indie filmmaker here.

I don't know if you have similar options in Sweden but I have two vans. One is a 1998 dodge C1500, the other is a 1993 Chevy G20 3/4 ton. The Chevy drives like a boat but has absolutely tons of space. I can easily transport an entire film set of equipment and still have a couch in the back for location crew or anyone who needs a ride.

An example of a typical, quite comprehensive location setup I may be carrying in one van:
Camera brain in a custom cut out storm case just like posted above.
Lenses, batteries, camera rig components in a thinktank "airport addicted" backpack that I bought with the camera.
Carpet bag with wires and electrical accessories.
Three Arri 1k lamps with stands. Stored in the Arri bag.
An array of fluorescent lights and stands.
Box with diffusion material.
Very odd IKAN track dolly in a coffin.
100' or so PVC tubing with connectors. (good luck getting that in an SUV)
Hangers, stands and flags.
Custom street dolly with 15" air pressure wheels.
LCD monitor.
Fold out PVC work table.
10' by 10' pop up canopy tent.
5K generator.
Toolbox.


The great thing about vans like this (apart from you can pick one up for a couple of grand and they are easy to work on) is you have so much open area to maneuver. You don't have to bend down or do any tricky burying/unburying of kit. Because it is basically a rolling shed you can load in/out extremely quickly. It has a huge opening at the back and another set of double doors on the passenger side which cuts load time in half as well. The most time consuming part of the operation in usually assembling the actual camera rig.

For a lightweight setup (if I'm going solo especially) I can load up the street dolly with whatever kit, carry the thinktank backpack on my back, sling the tripod and carry the camera case with one arm whilst rolling the rest on the street dolly which also has a brake.

edit: It also has a certain vintage charm these days.
 
I have a Multicart like Phil but a little smaller. I am able to load 2 7d, scarlet, 2 light stands, 3 tripods, a monopod, a Coollights LED600, a Glidecam HD4000, a pelican 1620 for audio, a PB pocket dolly, and the cart in the entire back of a Saturn Ion. I have to break down the cart every time but it fits. I have the long shelf for the cart and with some mods I made it a quick release shelf. Next I was going to weld up some brackets that would let me put the stands and tripods vertically on the handle. For the money it is a great cart, I think mine was $149 with the shelf. Obviously its not in the same league as a JR or SR cart but it gets the job done for me, plus fits in the car.
 
Take a look at the Kartmaster HD-500. http://www.kart-a-bag.com/html/products.html

This thing is a TANK! Holds up to 500lbs and it locks completely when it is open or closed so I just put a luggage tag on it and throw it onto the airline belt. You can get a collapsible shelf for it if you need a working surface.

It isn't cheap but I've had mine for over 10 years and it has seen the world.
 
magliner carts with shelves are kind of a industry staple around here. i run the jr. cart as well with the larger size shelves. can just fit in about any elevator (they can get pretty small in NYC) and you can mod it out with attachments to hang or place down a lot of stuff. if you're more in a open space type location, the senior carts are great. mostly used as camera carts but great for everything and can take a huge payload.

the jr. cart also fits perfectly in my honda element. there

there's also these, which are kind of the like the mercede's of carts. I'd pick one up if i ever find a way to deadline my jr.


http://inovativcarts.com/
 
If you're looking for really cheap, Costco has a cheap foldable cart that will support up to 100 lbs (I have put close to 200 in it) and is only $55. Great for just throwing gear in it and moving it from point A to point B. This is by no means a DIT cart, but it does a great job for hauling crap around.
 
Rock n Roller multicart is a solid low-budget choice (around $160). Has options for carpeted shelves as well.
 
nah, i have to break it down and fold it up as well. but length wise, wthe senior is too long to fit in the element. it's exactly right with a jr. cart, even with the baby pin. if i took off the baby pin, i could throw the whole cart built in there. but i've already thrown out my back once trying to be too tough. I'd need a wench or something to get it in there and figure out a way to keep my stuff from falling off the cart as it's going up. so it's just easier and cheaper for me to just pack it up and go.


in my line of work, i just need to unpack at beginning of the day and pack up at the end of the day if it's a 1 day commercial. anything multi day it stays put together on a camera truck. so i never really have to unpack and repack that often for any single job.
 
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If your working from a cart, a Jokerbox is hard to beat. Made to fit 18inch or 24inch magliner shelves. The boxes even lock together when you stack them. Perfect for a bumpy cart. Plus, they are designed for the kind of stuff we have to carry in field production. And the lids can become pigeon plates or a clipboard. Not only that, but you can stand on them and use them as an apple box in a pinch. Check them out:

www.Jokerboxes.com
 
I'll second the Innovativ carts! They're ridiculous. I travel a ton, and it folds up similar to a Yeager. I have that too... plus the FilmTools plywood suitcase cart, a Magliner Jr. and a Karmaster 5000! Yeah, I have a lot of carts. I'm selling them all for the Innovativ! It's the nicest and fastest cart out there! You can build it literally in about 90 seconds! They're terrific.

If you can't afford the Innovativ, check out Yeager. They actually make the "Red" cart! That would be my second place vote.

I think FilmTools quit selling the plywood Suitcase style cart... I had something "go through" as in puncture that one on the first shippment... it was something from the outside, not the inside.

The Magliners are alright for around town, but tough to travel with. I like the Kartmaster... it is a bullet, but doesn't have the accessory lineup that the others have. I use it the least... Looking to sell it. I originally had two and sold the other one.

If I can sell my Magliner, FilmTools Suitcase and Kartmaster, I'll get a second Innovativ. They are fabulous.
 
The Yeager folds up completely. It and the Magliner are the standard.
 
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