If I needed another smaller cart, the Harper does look pretty nice, except for those little swivel casters.
sounds heavy and not very collapsibleOkay, I may regret this, but, DIY it is. Bought a pre-cut, 2'X4'X1" piece of birch (kinda soft, I know). I have an assortment of casters in the storage unit, so will likely start off with that. Bought sections of 1/2" black metal pipe and fittings and will use pipe plates to attach to the decking with 5/8"X1.5" bolts to form a "U". Will likely get larger wheels, if the handle connections prove sturdy enough. This rig should be easy enough to maneuver, drive right up into the van, and big enough to take all of my misc stuff in one load. That will put me at 2 trips to the van for a typical gig. We'll see how this works out.
^^^^sounds heavy and not very collapsible
sounds heavy and not very collapsible
Ditto.I have never owned a R&R but, enjoy a chuckle at every DJ I pass struggling with his broken R&R. It's rare to see a DJ with one or more R&Rs that aren't broken in some way.
so it cost you $60 bucks and you are going to add 4 new wheels and and a top.I bought your basic convertible one from Home Depot. (converts from 2-wheel truck to 4-wheel cart)
It was less than 60-bucks and has lasted me for years.
Since I got new speakers, I have a different load in, so I am also considering customizing it.
Basically, I am gonna attach a piece of plywood on the "bed" that is sized to fit the main items I need to move.
(the mixer rack, speakers, subs, cables)
I'll probably put carpet on it to avoid slippage and damage.
It has two pneumatic wheels, that are big and flexible, so it travels well over bumps and holes.
(yes, they can go flat, but I have a compressor at home anyway)
The small wheels on the other end are solid plastic...and I also plan to replace those with large casters
that are smoother running, less noisy, and less prone to cause damage.
so it cost you $60 bucks and you are going to add 4 new wheels and and a top.
I have had my R&R for at least 5 years and 2 of those were on Maui going over sand, gravel and grass at 75% of my events... I did have 1 wheel bend on me and had it re-welded, other than that, they have been solid.... we each have had good & bad experiences with the same gear.... unless you hear nothing but bad about something it will be hard to make a decision.
For the same 500lb capacity, a magliner is 51" while a rnr can be 28". The overall weight is 45lbs for a magliner vs 22lb for a rnr.
I would not put 500lbs on a RnR. That is where your numbers fall short - the 500lb rating only applies when the unit is in it's smallest configuration. It's made of steel so, at 22lbs it's not very robust. Once you extend the tubing those specs drop significantly. DJs are notorious one-trip Charlies who ruthlessly overload. I have never seen a DJ using the RnR in it's short 28" position, and rarely with a well thought out load. I've heard that the new RnRs have improved - unfortunately the DJs have not. (I'll admit that the photographers I see using RnRs are quite happy with them - because their gear is lighter and they don't overload them.)
The Magliner is aluminum and at 45lbs it's seriously robust. It supports 500# in all configurations without stress, flex, or twisting, and it can even be taken over a few steps when properly loaded. They come in different sizes, and I have three different versions that I use depending on the venue and gear roster.
I think my real point on the Magliner is that it is more cost effective because you buy it once and repair it never. The first thing a lot of DJs do with a RnR is replace the wheels, often repeatedly. The second thing they do is throw it away.
The rough terrain wheels are pretty good on my RnR 12RT .. and I don't get anywhere near that weight. If I pack my speakers in one trip, I'm under 200 pounds with any config. And the lighting I bring plus electronics are also under 200, so 2 trips and no issues. I suppose if I tried to fully extend it and fully load it, there may be an issue, but the fact it compacts down and fits in easily sold me.
Nothing wrong with a Magliner, but most handtrucks are better for ramped travel and I don't have that. If I was moving large gear, it may be different.
Some venues can be 1/10 - 1/4 mile along with elevator rides from loading dock to space.