What do you transport your lights in?

Ah, a favorite topic of mine!! I built a great tranportation unit for lighting. I have a couple 4 foot bars loaded with par 38's. I also have a couple of ultra scans and an SD as well as many cords, speakers, etc. The real problem I had was how to handle the long 4+ foot light bars as well as the other bulky items. I came up with a great carrier. I bought an aluminum truck box. It cost me about $200. Then I got some angle steel, a hitch receiver, and some 4" swivel wheels. I welded a frame underneath the truck box that includes the receiver hitch and wheels (very simple welding project!!). What I ended up with is basically a "hitch haul" that is the truck box with wheels on it. It fits my light bars and tons of other stuff. I simply angle it back, lift it up, and slide it on my truck (SUV) hitch. When I let it down it rolls anywhere. It is also water proof and can be locked! I use locking hitch pins so nobdy can mess with my stuff if I go inside for a minute. When I get home, all I have to do is pull my box off my hitch in the garage and I'm ready to go the next day (no more 2:30 AM unloads!!!!).
If anybody is interested, let me know and I'll get you more details. It isn't for everybody but if you consistently haul a significant number of lights and equipment this might work well for you too. All the parts cost me about $300.

Greg

I found 3 metal army medical cases at a semi-local surplus store. They are about 2 by 3 feet, with lids that latch on. I painted them and lined them with foam to fit my lights. Incredibly sturdy. I also made a controller case for my DMX Operator and strobe controller out of a Coleman camping stove(!), sort of like a smaller mixer case.

ya i have 4 X-tremes and i have 4 Rubbermaid box (threre like rectengular) and i put foam in them + they are just the size needed for one X-treme and you can put a lock on them + they cost me like 20$ each!

hey Greg do you have any pic. that yu could send me of your work am interested



dj steph

At my last job there was a dumpster that was located next to a loading dock. That dock also had a smoking lounge which meant that we could stand on the dock and look down into the dumpster. Before you get too grossed out I should tell you that the dumpster was for construction dumping only. Maintenance guys were always grabbing steel, plywood, etc. One day I got there early and found a sweeeeeeet King Pelican case with latches on all 4 sides, all the foam pieces were intact and the case was MINT except for a couple of scuffs on the side. I use it for my 2 Pocket Scans where they fit perfectly. Can't beat THAT deal!! Another day I grabbed a bunch of red Coke hard plastic cases that the vendors used to refill the soda machines. Perfect condition and very collectible to boot. The food vendors were too lazy to carry them back to the truck so I grabbed about 6 of them. My cd's fit perfectly inside and they are stackable. Another great deal courtesy of the company I worked for. The bosses were ok with it. In fact, we were encouraged to take whatever safety-type equipment home that we needed, like safety glasses, (sunglasses style), goggles, leather gloves, whatever we needed. Their view was that we wouldn't be able to work if we were injured at home so 'take what ya need'. Cool, huh?? Keep 'em spinnin'!! -Ken-

Ken! I'm gonna have to do some dumpster divin' around our town!!!

Steph, I'll try to snap a pic in a day or so and let you see my creation!

right noe i carry all my lights (only got a strobe)

All my lights go in a foam lined Rubbermaid Containers, its inexpensive, lightweight and it works. I am planning on ordering the pocket scan case for my scanners. I don't like heavey cases, so i try to stay away from them.
I wish ADJ they had a custom case for all there lighting.

Phil

If I pack and stack everything right I can get every piece of equipment own in the SUV. Disadvantages is that you can't see through your back window but heck thats why theres mirrors. When I get subs well lets just say I may have to make some extra space or get a trailer.

quote:

If I pack and stack everything right I can get every piece of equipment own in the SUV. Disadvantages is that you can't see through your back window but heck thats why theres mirrors. When I get subs well lets just say I may have to make some extra space or get a trailer.

Freestyle...I am in the EXACT same boat you are in. When its a big gig,lighting wise,I do have a tough time fitting everything into the Sante Fe. I am going to buy new cases that hold the lights,and maybe not bring so many backup pieces. I kinda go overboard when it comes to that!
I bring a ton of extra cords,and adapters,but who knows if and when I'll need 'em.
When I get my subs,I don't know what I'll do. Maybe try to strap other tings to the roof besides the dolly. Maybe my trussing and speaker stand bags,but I don't want to put anything heavy up there. Plus,you get alot wind resistance when going over 45mph with even a dolly up there!
I want to get a trailor next year,but we rent right now,so I'll have to keep it at a secure location,locked to a light pole!
Its $2000,but the trailor will be worth it! Unpack,and pack up...Not Pack up,unpack,pack up,unpack... Too much work!
God bless our troops,and may peace soon prevail!
Jeff

yeah i have a smaller car and connot fit anything more into it i may have to get a van or something hmmmmmmmmmm

I only have 2 moving heads for the moment and a lightjockey controller...

The controller goes with the tablet in its own case (a RoadReady case), and the heads go into a Pelican 1660 case. It is pretty big but for show-quality equipment like I have you really need protection!

It is also all pick-n-pluck foam which makes things easy!

Steph (and any others!) I got a pic of my truckbox finally. I can't quite figure how to post it here so if you want, get me your email and I'll send it to you.

Greg

hey Greg here's my e-mail.... fs_lighting@hotmail.com

gb you have to have someone host it if its small sized I will host it for you. email me djfreestyle1@hotmail.com

When running into DMX problems and fixtures responding "weird" resetting etc. 99% of the time it's traced to faulty DMX cables.

some of that 99% can go to non-terminated chains!

Thank You RoyN, I should have mentioned the "terminators" DMX signal is similar to that of a chain of scsi devices. It has to know where it ends.

Steph, Freestyle, You got some mail!

WOW!!!!!! those are VERY nice man!!!


thenx for the mail


dj steph