Transporting Your Gear

The only issue I have ever had with the R-N-R cart is with the wheels loosing pressure over time.

Yes I know I can change the wheels out, but I never remember until I need the darn thing. then it's just as easy to fill the tires up.
 
deltoidjohn said:
Thanks Rob. I'd love to be able to wheel it in and out fully assembled (even better: fully loaded!) but unfortunately the need to have rear seats for the kids excludes a lot of vehicle options!

As for the deltoids, I'm certainly no body builder - my business name (Deltoid Productions) comes from my roots in surf film-making and is a reference to the fact that when you're surfing, the deltoid is the hardest working muscle.
Click to expand...

Ahhh nice one, makes sense. Although would be pretty funny if there was a bodybuilding nutcase on dvxuser.

I'm in Brisbane if you ever want to check out the RNR.

@Run&Gun thanks, I'll get some of those pins. Don't think I need to go for the full mod but it looks like a great solution.
 
I use the Rock 'n' Roller. Very old....replaced the pneumatic wheels last year....the original wheels finally wore out. Most often I work as a one man band and a lot of my work is in downtown Atlanta. You do not dare leave anything in your car so I have to carry everything in one trip.
I agree that adding the top shelf is a troublesome design (pain in the ass) so I modified my Rock 'n' Roller to carry and mount a custom top shelf easily.

I have no doubt that here are better products available but not at this price point and proven quality!
 
Run&Gun said:
For the RnR shelf, get rid of the screws and go with a clevis pin type set-up*, or better yet, do the mod where you add cross bars on the handles and flip the rails under the shelf so it just sits onto it, I did and it save a lot of time and aggravation.
Click to expand...

Love my RnR too. Pin is simple way to save time not having to thread wing nuts. Is there an easy way to mod this, though with cross bars, for those of us who do not weld, so that you can still fold down the sides and transport in it's smallest form?
 
markfpv said:
Love my RnR too. Pin is simple way to save time not having to thread wing nuts. Is there an easy way to mod this, though with cross bars, for those of us who do not weld, so that you can still fold down the sides and transport in it's smallest form?
Click to expand...

I think some people have just secured rods or crossbars using the tapped holes that you would use for the "original" design of securing the selves, but you're still going to have to "flip" the bars under the selves so that they can just rest on the crossbars or rods. But you will still have to offset the middle of one of the rods or crossbars on the handle that folds to the "inside" of the cart so that it will clear the middle support of the cart so that it can callable and fold completely.
 
Or you can dispense with the shelf all together. I've never wanted one, needed one or used one (on a Rock & Roller cart). To me, carts with shelves are for ACs and sound mixers, and video village, I am none of those, so why do I need a shelf? The Rock & Rollers are for transporting gear, lots of it, efficiently. Shelves just get in the way of that. Most of the cases I use to transport gear need some room to spread open, more than I would get from a cart shelf. Just based upon my experience, shelved carts are for big TV or feature production, where you have five and ten tons available to wheel your shelved cart onto. They are not needed for documentary, behind the scenes, EPK and event work.
 
puredrifting said:
I've never wanted one, needed one or used one (on a Rock & Roller cart). To me, carts with shelves are for ACs and sound mixers, and video village, I am none of those, so why do I need a shelf?.
Click to expand...
I probably had my RnR cart for at least 4 or 5 years before I saw a great deal on Amazon for used top & bottom shelves for mine. And, since buying them, I find that for many of my shoots, I end up using them. Agree that if you are just loading in / loading out, they are not necessary. But I'm often wearing multiple hats and working solo, so being able to use that top shelf for client monitor, laptop for stills or file transfers, etc. while keeping equipment tucked underneath to move long distances at same physical location (especially in dirty industrial situations), is a huge bonus for me.
 
puredrifting said:
Or you can dispense with the shelf all together. I've never wanted one, needed one or used one (on a Rock & Roller cart). To me, carts with shelves are for ACs and sound mixers, and video village, I am none of those, so why do I need a shelf? The Rock & Rollers are for transporting gear, lots of it, efficiently. Shelves just get in the way of that. Most of the cases I use to transport gear need some room to spread open, more than I would get from a cart shelf. Just based upon my experience, shelved carts are for big TV or feature production, where you have five and ten tons available to wheel your shelved cart onto. They are not needed for documentary, behind the scenes, EPK and event work.
Click to expand...

Depending on what you're moving, the shelf can let you take more gear. If the stuff on the bottom isn't perfectly flat (non-hard cases) then you can't stack items as easily. I do stands/long items on the bottom then stack the top shelf as high as i need or can, while still being able to move it myself.
 
I found the shelf on the RNR cart to be useful in many situations beyond hauling gear. I personally like it for use with my slider. I've drilled two holes that line up with two 1/4x20 mounts on the bottom of my slider. I got some bolts long enough (too long actually) and it mounts securely to the shelf. Kind of a poor-man's Kerri Kart.

urmfbNF.jpg


I also replaced the bolts and wing-nuts with some lock pins. They make setting up and removing the shelf really quick, even with the Grip-n-Gaff bag attached. I did have to widen the pre-drilled holes for the pins I got though. I am planning on making one more set of holes lower down for times when I need that lower angle.

YVzJR2N.png


I also mount the slider to the top of the handlebars when I have the shelf removed. Shooting primarily as a one-man-band, I can easily move locations and the entire setup around for various shots without having to take anything down. Just lock the slider and the video head and move the cart.
 
In addition to a FilmTools' Camera Assistants Junior Magliner, & a large RNR Cart, I also own a FOLDIT Collapsible Cart. The FOLDIT is useful for transporting G&E over difficult terrain, such as beach sand, or forest floors, & quite popular in NYC when working on cobblestone streets.

Like the RNR Cart, the FOLDIT's tires are prone to deflating, so keep a powered tire inflator in my truck.

http://www.tipkemfg.com/foldit/

https://www.amazon.com/Tipke-2100-Marine-Fold-Utility/dp/B00006LPPJ/

Fold_It_Cart_Blue_240px.jpg
 
Last edited:
Bern Caughey said:
In addition to a FilmTools' Camera Assistants Junior Magliner, & a large RNR Cart, I also own a FOLDIT Collapsible Cart. The FOLDIT is useful for transporting G&E over difficult terrain, such as beach sand, or forest floors, & quite popular in NYC when working on cobblestone streets.

Like the RNR Cart, the FOLDIT's tires are prone to deflating, so keep a powered tire inflator in my truck.

http://www.tipkemfg.com/foldit/

https://www.amazon.com/Tipke-2100-Marine-Fold-Utility/dp/B00006LPPJ/

View attachment 125392
Click to expand...

How difficult is it to move things in soft sand? No brainer or still a struggle?
 
Bern Caughey said:
Not bad. The two thin, & tall, wheels make it relatively easy, & perform much better than a FilmTools Magliner's, or RrR's, four short & fat tires which tend to plow through sand.
Click to expand...

That would seem to against all the basics off off-road tyres. More surface area = less weight per square inch. Fatter wheels = less sinking in sand.
 
puredrifting said:
Rock & Rollers have been my lifesaver so many times it's ridiculous. I have four of them, two Micros, an R10 and an R12. I put the wide track wheels on the front of my R12, like them much better, they don't sink into gravel and dirt as much. All of my Rock & Rollers have been working for over a decade. They never break, or fall apart, they just keep going. Whenever I see people with other carts, I just kind of shake my head, even Magliners. Too big and heavy and a PITA to setup and break down. Best kept secret in production IMHO. Micros will fit into normal airline overheads and hold up to 250-300 lbs.
Click to expand...

I had a Rock 'n roller where the bolt/ mounting stud on one of the front wheels sheared off with a heavy load on it. Made worse by the fact that it happened in the cross walk of a very busy 4 lane street. It was quite the sight... trying to nurse the 300 lb. cart back to the curb on three wheels. While I love the minimalist design of Rock n Rollers, I wish someone would develop the concept further with a lighter weight frame and a more precision feel when it is deployed. The tabs that keep the handles in the vertical position bent on mine, creating a ton of slop.

Since then,I've gone with a Filmtools magliner Jr. with shelf. I engineered a c-stand rack for the end, it carries four stands. Sure, it's a beast compared to the RnR, but it's great to work off of.

I do wish there was a stronger, lighter, faster- Superman version of the RNR out there.
 
deltoidjohn said:
That would seem to against all the basics off off-road tyres. More surface area = less weight per square inch. Fatter wheels = less sinking in sand.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's the 60 lbs weight difference, & 2-wheels vs 4-wheels, but whatever the reason a FOLDIT is much easier to drag across a Beach by a single individual than a Magliner JR, which is more a two person job. For even better performance either cart can be equipped with Ballon Wheels. Many G&E houses in the USA refer to FOLDIT(s) as Beach Carts, though at least one goes a step further, & adds Ballon Wheels to theirs.

While it seems many here prefer RnRs over Magliners, I've yet to a see RnR used on any set around Hollywood, whereas a Magliner JR is typically the lightest weight option. This is likely due to their heavy-duty build, & wider shelves, plus the trucks to transport them. The wider shelves with tray-style lips make a much safer work surface then the relatively narrow shelves of a RnR's that lack any lip.

That said I am interested in a lighter weight cart, probably a RnR with all-terrain tires, for times I don't want to lug a 90lbs FilmTools' Magliner JR, & welcome suggestions. Something roughly the length of Magliner JR so it's easy to roll around an interior location, & fits inside most elevators. Would love an upper shelf with a lip that folded in half, but that's probably asking too much, so would likely just use it for smaller gigs where I'm mostly working out of bags/cases.
 
Last edited:
Anyone here use RIDGID case (with foam) for camera gear, instead of the Pelican case ?
the RIDGID case looks nice and strong - much better than other case
 
does that sunhood (Sunhood Cage combo for 503 Ultrabright) fit or mountable to the FS7 Viewfinder ?
 
Bern Caughey said:
Not bad. The two thin, & tall, wheels make it relatively easy, & perform much better than a FilmTools Magliner's, or RrR's, four short & fat tires which tend to plow through sand.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bern. I guess the diameter of the foldit wheels is large enough to help get through sand, even if flatter wheels are more efficient.

Not in the market for an INOVATIV cart??

The small size is a huge win for the RnR. A second RnR trip in an elevator beats a magliner not being able to fit at all. I'm unsure how you'd add your own lip to the shelf though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top