Transporting Your Gear

ReelWorksMedia said:
Anyone have any cool gear for transporting, and organizing, audio and video cables. Doesn't need to be big. I was thinking of some of those apple boxes that pull double duty as organizers. Anyone have some solid, inexpensive, options?
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+1

I too, am very interested in something that can organize the million cables I have, so I can transport them easily and pick one at a glance. I have not seen anything close to a solution so far, but people have been dealing with this for ages, so I'm sure someone here has a brilliant solution... anything's gotta beat a milk crate with a rat's nest of wires.
 
Here are a couple different JokerBoxes that can be used in different ways to hold gear.

I think the last time I posted about them, they sold a ton of them.
 

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I have been using them lately to hold my smaller HMI lights.
 

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ReelWorksMedia said:
Looks like they are currently all sold out. Bummer.
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Damn, they went quick after my last posting about them!

Maybe Ben could front me one from the next batch as a present. :thumbsup:

They really are a great little box. I kind of poo-pooed them early on when some folks on reduser were talking about basically using them as just apple boxes. But I have come to love having them around, and will likely pickup a couple more.
 
David W. Jones said:
As of late, I have been using these cheap bags for audio cables.
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Right. Unfortunately, a bag is not much of an improvement - if any - over a milk crate, in my experience. You just can't see all the cables at a glance as they're all jammed in there higgedly-piggedly. I was thinking along the lines of a larger, maybe 4'x4' strong sail/ballistic canvas with a bunch of velcro straps where one could hang all the various coiled cables, and then you could just roll up the 4'x4' cloth and secure it with a velcro tie. That's just a vague idea - I can see issues with trying to roll it up with all those cables inside, but it's sort of at least going in the direction that you can unroll a cloth with all cables visible at a glance, and then roll it up for transport. Regardless, the point is, I have not as yet seen any good solutions.
 
Example
Green trim bag for 100'
Blue trim bag for 50'
Yellow trim bag for 25'

Milk crate with liners work as well with each labeled cable with the length facing up. All the cables in a row rather than laid down.

Fortunately I don't have to carry a boat load of cables when shooting commercials. And when I work in an A1 capacity I just fly to location and useuly have the A2 pull cables from the truck belly bays.
 
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Those jokerboxes are a little pricy, but seem well worth it in the long run. Know when they will again be in stock? And can you sit on them (the top part, without flipping it over) safely?
 
Not sure when they will be back in stock. And to be honest, I don't do a whole lot of sitting when I'm on set, so I have never tested them for that.

For inexpensive without a top, milk crates are hard to beat.
 
Big fan of milk crates - Home Depot had a sale on them recently so I snagged a few more. I'm handy enough so I've considered making some custom apple boxes but really just haven't made the time for it. Those joker boxes look like they nailed it though. I use an old canvas duffle bag I got from Ebay for all my extension cords - the only issue is if a few are gone the bag can get lopsided and be more of a hindrance to carry.
 
I can only find milk crates online for exorbitant prices ($20 plus $20 shipping? Hah.) and not at all locally. My setup is good for now (Pelican 0370 case with organizer and casters, separate bag for stands/poles), but eventually I'll need some.
 
I've gotten milk crates from Farmplast for a good price. they don't have the metal band around the top but they're real milk crates otherwise. Still need the ones with metal bands for some equipment though.
 
Just did a quick search: Global Industrial has them for $5ish - yeah, picking up locally is way more convenient and can be cheaper, but there are a LOT of options out there to buy them online, I've purchased some good quality ones from Grainger before, can't vouch for the quality of these from G.I. though.
David, what are the fancy ratchet straps you use? I'm terrified of losing an eye from bungees, but they're so cheap and easy to use that I just haven't sought out any alternatives yet...

Adam
 
great thread!

really gets you thinking about gear and how you need to move it from here to there.

i also use cheap duffles for cables and color coordinate the handles to distinguish the gear.

i am also not above using milk cartons-they stack and can see into them.

but i'm really liking the 3 bag + smart car set-up!

very smooth :-)

:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

ymmv

be well.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc
 
Well this is my current set up but I'll be adding some C-stands soon and replacing some of the backpacks with actual hard cases. I then have 2 more pelican cases with camera/lenses/laptop/monitor all riding shotgun and usually a few bags with extension cords and a case of practical bulbs in the back seats. Its a tight fit but at least it limits me from wanting to buy more gear. IMG_2363.jpg
 
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