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Topic: Ramps, Walkboards, handtrucks? |
Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2002 9:26 pm |
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| Does anyone out there use a ramp, walkboard or hand-truck for loading their equipment into a truck or van? Everything I've come across so far is 8 ft.long ramps used for moving vans etc., which is impractical for our use. There must be a solution for moving heavy amps without the risk of slip discs' and hernias'...or is there? |
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Rex Thomas
From:
Thompson's Station, TN
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Posted 17 Feb 2002 9:32 pm
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| JMHO, I've got a "max" "Rock n' Roller". www.daddario.com |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 17 Feb 2002 10:07 pm
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I used a fork lift or would have the wife load it back I played a loaded up PP.  Crazy B |
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 4:05 am
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In my current band everyone carries his own equipment in their own vehicle so we don't need a ramp or anything. My last regular band (Last Call) had a large equipment trailer. We made a ramp out of 3/4" Plywood with some T-bar braces which worked out very well. It had a couple of hooks to keep it from sliding off the back of the trailer. What we'd do is load everything up and then put a load lock up about a foot inside the back door and just stand it up against that. We carried two large inflatable tired hand trucks. If you've got a lot of equipment you really need that kind of stuff. A friend of mine has an equipment truck which has an aluminum ramp which just slides into a slot on the back of his truck which is just too cool. It locks in there with a little clip and is the best thing I've seen yet. My band has a guy called "Marvelous" Marvin who goes with us and has one of those hand truck that you can either use standing up or laying down and helps us carry our stuff. I don't know what we'd do without him for sure as the drummer and I have both had bypass surgery and need all the help we can get.
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney tuning.
[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 18 February 2002 at 04:08 AM.] |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 5:07 am
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Take the amp head out of your amp encloursure and put it in a separate box and have it next to you so you can reach it.
Larry Behm |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 8:12 am
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I've received E-mail from some of the lady's about my first post.I was just kidding about the fork lift.  |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 8:35 am
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For Sale::1 Wells Cargo backload almost new trailer...Custom wheels spare and solid lock a 357 magnum couldn't penetrate.5x8x5-1/2.Actually I am holding it for John Floyd.
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CJC
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John Russell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 9:42 am
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Hey, lighten up, guys!
Seriously, I believe in the "less is more" theory of just about everything, especially musical gear.
About a year ago I went to a rack rig for my steel. Separate head with FX and cabinet. Big improvement. My guitar is a S12U in a nylon keyboard case and it's probably the lightest steel there is with pedals.
Of course, I use a luggage dolly to roll this stuff from the truck to the house, club, etc. If you're hauling a large system, a heavy duty dolly with inflatable tires is mandatory.
Hey all this weight-lifting takes much of the fun out of this sport!
--JR |
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Tony Orth
From:
Evansville, Indiana, USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 10:12 am
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I've got a collapsable two wheeler that I purchased from Rural King and it works great!
I still have to lift, but I don't have to carry the heavier stuff.
Being collabsable, it packs in my van very well.
Tony |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 10:26 am
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| Rex, what's the price of the Rock n' Roller? |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 10:42 am
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| Before I was in my current band (they have their own hand-trucks) my wife picked up a little collapsable hand-truck for me from Target, it does the job nicely and was only about $25. |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 1:55 pm
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| I also use a collapsible hand truck, but was wondering if anyone an easy way of getting the equipment from the ground into the back of a truck, van, etc. I looked at some ramps that are used for wheel chairs...very nice at $250 and up!! A too little rich for my blood! |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 3:47 pm
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Jim, since Rex didn't answer I will....the Rock & Roller will set you back about $175 at Marrs. I know because I have one and it's worth every bit of the cost!
Most of my gear will go in the side door of my van without unloading if from the cart...and when you get to the job you can haul everything you've got in one trip. If it sounds like I'm sold on the R&R Cart..I am!
I have retired my Wells-Cargo trailor with the rear ramp because I don't need to pull it anymore. www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 18 February 2002 at 03:49 PM.] |
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Rex Thomas
From:
Thompson's Station, TN
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 4:53 pm
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| Sorry Gene, Jim, & thanx for backing me up on the Rock & Roller. U might be able to do better than $175 thru Musician's Friend, I dunno anymore as I bought mine awhile back before D'Ad took distribution. I had an opportunity to talk with the designer, & the new "D'Ad" carts are built much better, JMHO. Price has probably gone up, but I agree with Gene that not only is it worth every penny, mine has paid for itself MANY times over. Out of all 4 sizes, all except the micro have a 500 lb. load capacity. It doesn't get better than that, for me, anyway. [This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 18 February 2002 at 04:55 PM.] [This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 18 February 2002 at 04:56 PM.] |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2002 5:31 pm
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| Magliner |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2002 5:36 pm
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| I saw the hand trucks Joey posted about at Lowe's the other day...$39.95. |
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 19 Feb 2002 8:35 pm
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with my lower back troubles I wouldn't be able to gig without my hand truck. Classic MagFrame. fits perfectly horizontally in my van. takes two trips each load in and loadout.. one for the Twin and the packaseat, one for the Zum in Case.
as for loading the truck, I have a cage with sliding drawers built in to the back of my van... slide the drawer out, and then using ancient oriental princpals of leverage I can manipulate my guitar and amp into the drawer, slide it in and be on my way....
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"I AM ZUMBODY!"
Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: Fender T-8 Stringmaster :: Fender Tube Amplification
www.voicenet.com/~vanallen/ :: vanallen@voicenet.com :: www.lasttrainhome.com
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Tom Stolaski
From:
Huntsville, AL, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2002 9:38 pm
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| Mark Van Allen & I had a band by the name of Last Call in 1975 in Kalamazoo Michigan. I knew sooner or later someone would use it. We had two pedal steel guitarists in our band. It was great.. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 20 Feb 2002 2:36 am
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Tom, I too like many, carry a small dolly and a collpsable hand truck ( dolly ) whatever. If there are stairs I guess I'm in trouble as I also have lower back ails.
One or two steps I can deal with ok.
here's what I do with no steps.
Amp face down on dolly, Steel on top of amp, guitar on top of steel, seat on top of guitar case. Roll in or beg, offer money, plead to a stranger,demand my wife or daughter do it , anyone, but usually it's me that does it ! I usually assemble the steel right from where it is laying on the amp as it is lifted pretty good of the ground and makes for easier in and out of the case. Good thing the Nashville 400 is a sturdy deal. But the Steel is a Carter D10 and doesn't weigh in like the heavy weights, this makes all the difference, at least to me. |
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Rex Thomas
From:
Thompson's Station, TN
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Posted 27 Feb 2002 10:22 pm
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| I just happen to notice in my Musician's Friend Spring catalog that they have the "micro" Rock 'n' Roller for $70. Now that's a little feller, but it will take 350 lbs., FWIW. |
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Doug Jones
From:
Oregon & Florida
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Posted 27 Feb 2002 10:36 pm
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| Depending on the gig, I use my amp case(s) with 3.5" Colson casters (2 wheel brakes per case) to stack up gear and roll in and out of the gig. I built out of 3/4 plywood, a ramp with 1x4 rails on the bottom. This way I can roll my cases into my mini-van (side doors) and then place the rest of the stuff in with it. Works for me! |
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Dick Bruner
From:
Andrews, IN, USA
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