Transporting Your Gear
- Thread starter David W. Jones
- Start date
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Agreed. I have never seen a Rock & Roller on a Hollywood set, it's all Magliners. They work great when you have a ten ton and a hydraulic tailgate ;-)
Grug
Veteran
Well, after four years of valiantly fighting it, I've given in, accepted my fate, and become a Vanman:
And she's a blank canvas:
I'll try and keep this updated as I get her fitted out for carting round all of my crap. First big question
for the layout will be - my new Inovativ cart, should I plan to wheel it in through the side doors? Or out the back?
And she's a blank canvas:
I'll try and keep this updated as I get her fitted out for carting round all of my crap. First big question
for the layout will be - my new Inovativ cart, should I plan to wheel it in through the side doors? Or out the back?
P
PeopleCanFly
Guest
I'm thinking about becoming a vanman too...but I don't have any carts and I'm lazy...Van comes first, right? :smile:
Grug
Veteran
Well I picked up one of the Inovativ carts specifically so that I wouldn't have to get a van in order to have the benefits of a cart. But the reality is, even with how compactly it packs up, I have no space for it, once I factor in all my other gear.
Having a cart though, will change your life. It's remarkable how such a simple thing can improve your work day so much.
So if a van is necessary for that improvement, then I think it's well worth it.
Ultimately, I'd been trying really hard to not have to own two vehicles, and have to pay two registrations and two sets of insurance (as the van, just isn't practical as a daily driver). But now that I've made my peace with that reality, I feel much better for it. I'll have a vehicle that will properly work for work, and there's no more compromise.
fboonzaier
Well-known member
I would wheel in the back...not sure what you are planning for the racks, but long ramps can be carried up there and provide space for other storage on top....with side loading you may run into access space issues, depending on your parking situation at various locations and a nice angle of attack for your ramps, will allow for far more weight on your rolling cart.
This is still such a great thread.
Congrats on becoming a VanMan, Grug,
Where is a good place to get that E Track? I see that I will need that when configuring the sides of the van.
And where can you get those racks on the doors to hold stands?
I am going to be configuring a Ford Transit.
And what are your thoughts on protecting windows due to theft? Install wire screens so it's obvious breaking the glass won't get you in?
Or how about installing some of that bomb resistant window tinting? The glass breaks but won't break out, allowing access.
Or decalling over windows so it's not obvious they are windows?
Congrats on becoming a VanMan, Grug,
Where is a good place to get that E Track? I see that I will need that when configuring the sides of the van.
And where can you get those racks on the doors to hold stands?
I am going to be configuring a Ford Transit.
And what are your thoughts on protecting windows due to theft? Install wire screens so it's obvious breaking the glass won't get you in?
Or how about installing some of that bomb resistant window tinting? The glass breaks but won't break out, allowing access.
Or decalling over windows so it's not obvious they are windows?
I'm in the same boat. 20 years and still don't have a van or cart. So I am looking at both.
P
PeopleCanFly
Guest
Yeouch. I'm barley getting started and I already despise the oh so tedious game of tetris when packing my car or assistant's truck for a gig. Nothing seems to ever go back the same way after wrap!
I've somehow gotten away with bringing a fairly decent sized lighting and grip package but it's getting dangerous for me now if I don't stop buying more...investments... ...yea...
Bassman2003
Veteran
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.
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.
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.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I've made due first with a large station wagon and then an SUV. Carrying bags and cases but that is all going to change soon. I'm too old and tired
JPNola
Veteran
rob norton
Veteran
This is still such a great thread.
Congrats on becoming a VanMan, Grug,
Where is a good place to get that E Track? I see that I will need that when configuring the sides of the van.
And where can you get those racks on the doors to hold stands?
I am going to be configuring a Ford Transit.
And what are your thoughts on protecting windows due to theft? Install wire screens so it's obvious breaking the glass won't get you in?
Or how about installing some of that bomb resistant window tinting? The glass breaks but won't break out, allowing access.
Or decalling over windows so it's not obvious they are windows?
E track is not required but it's popular because of how easy it is. One thing to consider is instead of entire track, you purchase a few individual e track slots. If you only need a few loops for mounting shelves etc then this will be much easier than installing the track. Depending on how little work you'd like to do yourself, there may be a business that specialises in van fit outs and may have an entirely different system.
I'm not sure about the window, there's the argument for drawing less attention to yourself too, which means no window protection. This seems completely location related to me.
rob norton
Veteran
Well, after four years of valiantly fighting it, I've given in, accepted my fate, and become a Vanman:
And she's a blank canvas:
I'll try and keep this updated as I get her fitted out for carting round all of my crap. First big question
for the layout will be - my new Inovativ cart, should I plan to wheel it in through the side doors? Or out the back?
Congrats Mark, one of us! Nice choice re iload, it's what 100% of ACs seem to have. I'd say pull a loaded cart out the back. Think about vehicle parking on a semi-controlled production. All vehicles may be in a tight alley for example, which means you shoot yourself in the foot if you can only unload from the side. Same with a large, tight car park. From the side makes sense for very small shoots, e.g. just your vehicle loading into a cafe and you can only parallel park in a space in the street. Maybe you can re-jig a few things and change it up depending on the shoot. But I'm guessing you're on shoots these days which have more control, so the back is the way to go.
I own these ramps from super cheap auto and have seen several ACs with them too - http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/SCA-Loading-Ramps-Alloy-Pair-400kg/361829 - they fold in half and you don't need to strap them down like in the picture.
Avoid using the roof racks unless absolutely necessary - large weird items, maybe a 12x12 frame if you get stuck carrying one etc.
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Back when I lived in Boston I had magnetic signs that we’d attach to Cargo Vans. One was for a Pesticide Company, & the other was a Diaper Service.
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Grug
Veteran
Cheers Rob. The side/back trolley is a tricky decision to make, because I keep going over it in my head and can't think of any clear majority of parking situations I end up in. It seems pretty evenly split between parallel parks (where a side-load would be best) and regular/angled parks where going out the back is going to be best.
Thanks for the ramp recommendation. I'll check them out.
Grug
Veteran
Well after sitting in my driveway doing nothing for the past month and half, I've just collected my van from the fitout guys this afternoon, and can now finally put it to work.
I examined a number of options for the fitout, including a cheaper setup constructed all of wood. But ultimately, I didn't want to waste any unnecessary space, and I wanted a fitout that still maintained some flexibility. The solution to that, was steel brackets fastened to the walls of the van, with steel crossbeams supporting two levels of shelving that run the entire length of the van. The idea being, to (as near as I can) never have to move one case or piece of equipment, in order to reach another.
I told the guys to build it strong enough to take the weight of all of the heavy steel stands and crap that would eventually sit on the middle shelf - but they really took it to heart, and the shelving feels thoroughly over-engineered (which, coming from an 'always be prepared' nutjob like me, I think is high praise!).
My only issue, is that this over-engineering has seen much beefier crossbeams installed than I'd expected, and I've lost a few important centimetres between the top shelf and the top edge of the doors (for sliding cases on to the top shelf). So I may have to make some tweaks and lower the two shelves by a little bit to scrape that extra space back.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the fitout are the three heavy duty sliding shelfs. One mid-sized one up front and two longer ones out the back. These will allow me to access all of the heaviest cases, without having to awkwardly reach in and risk putting my back out (as has frequently been the case with my ute).
Pretty excited to see how much easier all of this will make my life on set.
I examined a number of options for the fitout, including a cheaper setup constructed all of wood. But ultimately, I didn't want to waste any unnecessary space, and I wanted a fitout that still maintained some flexibility. The solution to that, was steel brackets fastened to the walls of the van, with steel crossbeams supporting two levels of shelving that run the entire length of the van. The idea being, to (as near as I can) never have to move one case or piece of equipment, in order to reach another.
I told the guys to build it strong enough to take the weight of all of the heavy steel stands and crap that would eventually sit on the middle shelf - but they really took it to heart, and the shelving feels thoroughly over-engineered (which, coming from an 'always be prepared' nutjob like me, I think is high praise!).
My only issue, is that this over-engineering has seen much beefier crossbeams installed than I'd expected, and I've lost a few important centimetres between the top shelf and the top edge of the doors (for sliding cases on to the top shelf). So I may have to make some tweaks and lower the two shelves by a little bit to scrape that extra space back.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the fitout are the three heavy duty sliding shelfs. One mid-sized one up front and two longer ones out the back. These will allow me to access all of the heaviest cases, without having to awkwardly reach in and risk putting my back out (as has frequently been the case with my ute).
Pretty excited to see how much easier all of this will make my life on set.
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