Trollies for carrying guitars

Subject: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: cptsnapper
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 04:53 AM

I'm travelling from Britain to Holland by rail in August which will involve various changes of trains and, I suspect, a fair amount of walking from platform to platform. Rather than having to carry the guitar I was wondering if anyone knows of suitable lightweight collapsible
travel trolleys to which I could strap it. All suggestions greatfully received.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 05:19 AM

I have a tubular aluminium, fold-flat thing which has carried a nyckelharpa, a 5' tall tree, a 2-drawer filing cabinet and a cabin trunk (though not simultaneously). I got if off Freecycle but I believe it came from John Lewis originally and didn't cost much. Looks like one of these

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:12 AM

I have been looking for something that will manage bass guitar, electric mandolin, pedal board, leads, and Crate Taxi amp (oh, and a few bottles of beer, and an acoustic guitar and the acoustic mandolin and songbooks and bodhran) but not much success yet - everything is too small!

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:15 AM

Tescos do a decent sized one.

They complain when you take them out of the car park though!


Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Ross
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:16 AM

Mr Happy uses a push chair

It looks great

and comes in various colours



Shame about the baby

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: GUEST,Jack Campin (in Transylvania)
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:37 AM

Your luggage is probably heavier than the guitar. Why not put the guitar on your back and wheel the other stuff?

I've just taken my rucksack, day pack and cobza/koboz by bus and train from Newtongrange (outside Edinburgh) to Csikszereda in Transylvania - I'm going to Gyimes, a bit further east, at the weekend. A koboz is like an obese mandola: picture on my cobza page.

The koboz is in a homemade semirigid case (karrimat foam sandwiched in fabric), which I didn't think was strong enough for a bus hold so I put it inside a wheeled holdall with a sheet of that two-ply polycarbonate greenhouse material to protect the soundboard a bit more and padding added with clothes. I've found it easier to transfer more of the weight to the holdall when walking any distance (like several miles across Budapest).

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:45 AM

A quick Google of luggage trolleys gets you more possibilities than you can shake the proverbial stick at (grammar, boy!) One budget option among many?

I thought this one looked pretty good for packing away, but not cheap by my standards.

If cost is no consideration then the golf trolley section has much to offer. I first tried "strap-on trolleys"; gets you into quite different territory.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 06:57 AM

Indeed, I've used something like thishttp://www.maclarenbaby.com/gb/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=88888891&Itemid=88889239
for many years & its load carrying potential's enormous!

Normally, I have it loaded with my melodeon, guitar, gob irons & whistles + the bar![tinnies o'beer, placcie bottles o'various strong libations!] & sometime a folding stool.

It's also handy for carrying spare togs like macs, coats etc.

In its time, its been able to transport other chums stuff as well as me own & fully loaded has carried a weighty banjo, another guitar in a hard case, a Djembe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembe, a fiddle, & a bodrhan [aaaaaaarghh!] without collapsing.

They're vey easy to push along on the flat, in fact can be propelled with just one finger!

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 07:10 AM

If you are carrying just one instrument , the length of the case makes it difficult to get at the handle of the trolley ! I have a modified shopping trolley with an extension on the handle that can manage a pair of Calton cases - The extension comes up between the two cases , and makes life a LOT easier

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 07:31 AM

Other advantages over 2 wheeled trolleys as I've used in the past is that a 4 wheel buggy doesn't have a tendency to tip up/over or unbalance on uneven surfaces.

Also the 4 wheels takes the full weight of the load & is therefore less of a drag on your arm

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 09:33 AM

I suggest you get a rolling trunk for everything but the guitars, then strap the guitars on a dolley of some kind. As Leadfingers points out, it's important that the dolley (or dolley plus extension) be tall enough for you.

You can carry clothing in the trunk as well, and it will help pad the delicate items.

I have discovered that a bodhran filled with socks and undies takes up almost no room at all in a suitcase or trunk.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 09:35 AM

I should mention that you would leave the mandolins in their cases inside the trunk for protection against bumps.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 10:31 AM

"I have discovered that a bodhran filled with socks and undies takes up almost no room at all in a suitcase or trunk."

In fact, the bodhran was originally invented by an Irish housewife, using scrap materials she found lying around in the outhouse, specifically for that purpose - an ecologically sound, purpose-built laundry container to be used for carrying small items from the sink out to the washing line and bringing them back in again when dry. Absolutely perfect for purpose.

Unfortunately, her small son then discovered that he could get a 'thud' from the bloody thing if he clouted the skin which formed the base, and the rest, sadly, is history..............

:-)

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 10:46 AM

If y'all find something that works for the guitar, would you be kind enough to let me know? I need something similar for the baby grand. Possibly I could adapt it to fit. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Newport Boy
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 01:31 PM

Peace

One of Jonathan Routh's early pranks was to take a grand piano on the London Underground and transport it up the Northern Line to one of the deep stations with only a lift (elevator). The operator refused to take it up, and the stationmaster refused to allow it back on the trains - so they left it on the platform.

For all I know, it's still in Lost Property.

Phil

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:03 PM

LOL

Phil, that gave me my first really good laugh of the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:15 PM

"If y'all find something that works for the guitar, would you be kind enough to let me know? I need something similar for the baby grand. Possibly I could adapt it to fit. Thanks." Peace

I'm always surprised that so many people never think of the obvious solution. If you take out the air and collapse the instrument you can transport just about anything.

It doesn't work with books, of course. That's because the air has already been taken out.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:20 PM

The woman's a genius. No doubt about it. GENIUS.

Subject: RE: Trollies for carrying guitars
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:54 PM

Thank you, Peace. You are welcome to my wisdom any time.