Best Folding Handtruck

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 11 Oct 2002 2:20 pm

Looking for recommendations re the best folding handtruck for moving steeler equipment around.

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Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 11 Oct 2002 2:36 pm

The "Rock & Roller", available at Marrs Music Stores. They are adjustable to fit the gear you have...I move a D-10, amp, pack seat, two 15" speaker cabinets and my clean shirt on it....and move it around with one hand. I did even have a ramp so I could roll it fully loaded into the side door of my van when I was working several nights a week! Not cheap, but it's the best in my opinion. www.genejones.com

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 11 Oct 2002 2:39 pm

I bought one about 6 months ago at Home Hardware, this is in Canada, don't know if they have a Home Hardware in the States or not, but it's the best little folding hand truck I have ever seen. It cost me $89 Canadian, which would be about $55 US and it folds down to about 1 and a half inches thick which will fit in between anything and its lightweight, about 3 lbs and it hauls 200 lb load.
Gene H. Brown

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Oct 2002 3:16 pm

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/004189.html

Larry Clark · Post by **Larry Clark** » 11 Oct 2002 4:02 pm

I saw one at Staples,the office supply store. It's rated at 250lbs,folds up,cost was around $50. I believe the manufacturer was Safco.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 11 Oct 2002 4:12 pm

Magliner, I've used mine extensively for the past dozen or so years. http://www.magliner.com/

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 11 Oct 2002 6:27 pm

Alan, check this thread. I bought the Rock n Roller and really like it.

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/004189.html

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 11 Oct 2002 8:49 pm

John Hughey has the best cart I have ever seen. Of course it costs around $600 and is made in Northern Illinois but it folds up almost small enough to put into your pocket. Well, maybe not quite THAT small but alot smaller than most and it's heavy duty aluminium.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 12 Oct 2002 5:22 am

My vote's for the Rock n Roller as well. http://daddario.com
I've had a 'max' for quite awhile now. Even the smallest one's load capacity is 350 lbs. Check 'em out.[This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 12 October 2002 at 06:26 AM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 12 Oct 2002 7:47 am

The rock & roller is a good little cart, BUT (there's always a but,isn't there?)the wheels are not a good heavy weight quality as the hubs are plastic...I would recommend putting on better wheels.

That Magliner is something....if there's an optional 4 liter engine available for it, that's all you'll ever need to go anywhere (with the double axle option of course). Whew!!!

Mike W.....yes, I noticed his cart also last year at the PSGA show. I even made a special note of the brand...of course I can't find my notes right now..

.....anyone?[This message was edited by HowardR on 12 October 2002 at 08:57 AM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 9:39 am

Sorry to bring up an old post, but my Easy Wheeler cart isn't so easy wheelin' any more.

It's rated at 250 lbs., but the frame is starting to bend and some of the ball bearings in the dolly wheels have fallen out. I can't find a source for replacement parts and the dolly wheels have a mounting pattern that I can't find a match for either.

I'd like to know how well the Rock-N-Roller cart is working out for those of you that have them. Which model do you recommend, where did you buy it, how long have you had it, any problems, etc., etc.

The Micro (R2) opens to 39" and is rated at 350 lbs. It seems like it should handle my load of a D-12, two rack cases, two GD Walker speakers, and seat. Any problems with this one? What are the folded up dimensions?

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&4 (soon to be 9&9)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 14 Sep 2003 10:28 am

Jim--I've been using the micro to haul the rig a long block & a half (NYC block) once a week for the past 9 months or so. The rig has ranged from compact to fair-sized. I am totally satisfied that it is doing the job and giving me my $$-worth. I really like how light-weight it is. Here's some specs--
http://www.rocknrollercart.com/RnRfeatures2.htm

The other side---I do sometimes feel like I'm pushing its limits---just general uneasiness, nothing like bending or seizing up or anything. I have to remind myself that it is light tubular material and not industrial strength. But I see no indication of impending failure.
It is also dismal as a two wheel handtruck. Just isn't practical at all, ergonomically.
Looking at your rig, your speakers weigh nothing, your guitar has some heft, your racks...no idea....I'm straddling the fence between recommending the R2 & the R8 for you.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 11:03 am

Thanks Jon. I've felt that I was pushing the limits of my Easy Wheeler for some time now. While investigating the wheel problem yesterday I could see that the frame is bending where the pull handle attaches to the base. This has caused the wheels to tilt forward, putting undue stress on the bearings, and causing some to fall out.

My current cart has the same size wheels as the Micro and have only caused problems traversing soft ground. I load all my gear in the back of my 96 Honda Odyssey and the folded cart fits nicely between the front and middle seat. I do sometimes use it as a two wheeler, is the Micro dismal that way because it is too short?

I noticed on the link you provided that there are four models, but only three are described. Missing is the Mini (R6). This site http://www.enjoysound.com/products/rocknroller/ has the Mini description, even though it wrongly lists the Micro with the Max description.

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 14 Sep 2003 11:13 am

Wow, reviving a dead topic!

I asked my roadie friend what to do. He said "Forget about those folding pices of sh*t. Buy a good sturdy non-folding hand truck with big ATV-type wheels that will roll over anything."

I did. I'm happy I did.

It's the big wheels that really make a difference. They make it easier to go up and down stairs, and you could haul the cottonpickin' thing across a muddy field, if you needed to.[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 14 September 2003 at 12:20 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 14 Sep 2003 11:25 am

Yeah, it gets confusing---all the moreso because my cart actually looks like a hybrid of a couple of the carts in the brochures. At least, the wheels are different types. But they are the R2 size.
The two wheeler problem is that there is no real handle and there are the two small wheels sticking out. You grab the cart by the crossbar but it's just not at all in the right place for pushing or pulling. There is also a cable (you step on it or pull it hard to bend the side-rail inward to unlock the rails to collapse them---sounds dopey but it actually works real well and does not accidently disengage) anyway, the cable is also in the way of your hand-hold when you two-wheel it. Also, the side rail that now becomes a bottom support in the two-wheel function is constructed ingeniously for the fold-away ability and is strong enough for a side rail but I don't trust it one bit for carrying weight as the bottom of a handtruck. There's no way the weight ratings apply to this function. The designers are way over-optimistic about this sort of use of the cart.

Right after writing this I went and played with my cart. I'm probably exaggerating this last issue. Wouldn't surprise me if it could indeed handle some stress. But the awkwardness of the lack of handles remains.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 14 Sep 2003 11:30 am

Reading Alan's post after posting my last, no way would I roll this cart over anything other than concrete. Wheels are way too small. But the larger models still are relatively light-weight and the collapsibility mean a lot to me. If had more rugged needs, I too would call this a piece of shit but I remain quite pleased with its performance for my needs.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 11:51 am

The only time I use mine as a two wheeler is when stairs are the only way into a club, and then only when the stage is a good ways from the door. My Easy Wheeler has a handle, but when used as a cart, it tends to hit the bottom of ramps and door sills. I had one of the large industrial carts for a while. It worked great, but after I loaded my gear into the mini-van, there was no room left for the cart.

I really like the space savings and versatility of the convertible 2/4 wheelers, and was very happy with mine until it started showing signs of fatigue. It has paid for itself many times over. I'm just hoping that the next one I buy will last longer. Guess I'll try to find a music store that stocks them so I can see the model differences side by side.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Sep 2003 11:56 am

I use the one on the left in this picture...

Click here

Price now is about $130, but with a few bungee cords, it will carry a steel, amp, and pak-seat. Wheels are big enough to do some steps, too! Folds VERY flat, and sets up in a few seconds. (Made in Germany by RuXXac)[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 14 September 2003 at 01:00 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Sep 2003 12:32 pm

There are plenty of "industrial" strength carts that are more sturdy and can haul heavy items....but the R&R is the only cart that I've seen that is constructed well enough that you can load everything (amp,speakers,guitar,pac-seat, etc, etc) all on it at the same time and then push or pull it with one hand from your car across a big parking lot,up the wheelchair ramp into an auditorium, then down the length of a basketball court to the stage..ALL IN ONE TRIP. (It also has real tires)
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 14 September 2003 at 01:35 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 12:34 pm

Gene, which model R&R cart do you use?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Sep 2003 12:48 pm

Jim, I have the largest one, the RR10. It has an adjustable length platform that I have adjusted for the length of my steel case. I have had it for three years, using it four nights a week for two of those years, and there are no indications of failure anywhere. (Like a car, you do have to check the tires pressure occasionally or it can get hard to push)!

Gene [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 14 September 2003 at 01:50 PM.]

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 14 Sep 2003 12:57 pm

I also have an RR10 like Gene's. It's the real deal.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 8:47 pm

I'm sure the RR10 would more than do the job, but seems like it might be overkill. I'm mainly worried about the collapsed size, whether it would even fit between the seats in my minivan. I don't want to end up like my previous commercial cart that wouldn't fit in my van after I loaded my gear.

For the RR10, the web sites say the frame telescopes from 34"-52" and it has 10" wheels. Would that mean that it collapses to roughly 34"x12" or so? Would one of you mind measuring the collapsed size? Where did you get yours and how much did you pay?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 15 Sep 2003 2:58 am

Jim, I keep the two middle seats removed from my van, and I just roll the cart into the van through the side doors with the gear ON the cart...then when I got to the job all I have to do is back the cart out of the van and be on my way to the bandstand. I have a full size Dodge van so I don't know if your mini-van is wide enough to do that.

I apologize for not measuring as you asked, but the cart is in my garage loaded with gear and I haven't collapsed it since I bought it.

I bought mine at a MARS store but they are out of business now, and paid about $165 but they are cheaper now.

Gene[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 15 September 2003 at 04:00 AM.]

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 15 Sep 2003 3:21 am

Take a look at the photo that Donny posted above. I bought one that looks very similar at Lowe's builder's supply for $39.95. I think the original design on these were German, but the one I got is probably a Chinese knock off. Works great, weighs nothing, has really large wheels, and folds down to zilch. Set's up in one second. You would have to make two trips though, with an amp and a pack-a-seat.