‘Off-Road’ Trolley case?

snerkler

snerkler

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I’m finding it more and more difficult to carry my backpack around all day at sports events and am considering a trolley bag, however at most race tracks paths are uneven and gravelly, and sometimes I’m walking across fields and every camera trolley case I’ve seen only has small wheels which look like they’d only work on good paths.

Does anyone know of a case/bag with larger wheels that looks like it might be suitable for ‘off-road’ please, preferably one that doesn’t break the bank?
 
I've seen telecoms engineers and others using big wheeled sack trucks, to pull their toolboxes over fields and such like. I don't know how much effort it saves but it might help.
 
Ed Sutton said:
How about strapping the bag to a fishing trolley? They have large wheels and are intended for use 'off road'.
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Not quite sure what a fishing trolley is, will take a look (y)
 
I've seen beach trolly/fishing trollies on sand. That said in my experience (limited for trollies) no matter how good the trolly is, somewhere there will be rocks or steps... then your stuffed. If you know the ground your sorted though.
 
swanseamale47 said:
I've seen beach trolly/fishing trollies on sand. That said in my experience (limited for trollies) no matter how good the trolly is, somewhere there will be rocks or steps... then your stuffed. If you know the ground your sorted though.
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No issue carrying up steps etc if necessary, no different to a carry on case at the airport etc (y)
 
Andrew Benbow said:
I use this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08S3NBJKW/ to lug 25ltr water tanks around a camp site. Collapses down easily.
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I have that design (different brand) as 160kg capacity that is great for moving my exhibition materials.

However, IMO it is not suitable for anything other than level surfaces.

IMO a fishing trolley with its larger "all terrain wheels" and load platform raised off of the ground is more suitable for @snerkler usage needs.
 
snerkler said:
No issue carrying up steps etc if necessary, no different to a carry on case at the airport etc (y)
Click to expand...
The snag is because you have a trolly you bung everything in, then you find theres a flight of steps, now you have to carry the heavier bag and the so and so trolly up them. ;)
Not done it with photography, but was in a band in my younger days, we used to fill a transit van, one day the lead gets this flight case with wheels, size of a wardrobe, we had to lay it on it's back to get it in the van, then it only just fitted.
Firct gig, upstairs in a working mens club, first floor. carried the blighter upstairs, only just managed it with all three of us. After gig back to lock-up. Oh joy, the lock up was on the third floor of a warehouse with no lift, and the other two blokes are three sheets to the wind.
Have you seen the Laurel and Hardy film with the piano?.... First and last time we used it
 
swanseamale47 said:
The snag is because you have a trolly you bung everything in, then you find theres a flight of steps, now you have to carry the heavier bag and the so and so trolly up them. ;)
Not done it with photography, but was in a band in my younger days, we used to fill a transit van, one day the lead gets this flight case with wheels, size of a wardrobe, we had to lay it on it's back to get it in the van, then it only just fitted.
Firct gig, upstairs in a working mens club, first floor. carried the blighter upstairs, only just managed it with all three of us. After gig back to lock-up. Oh joy, the lock up was on the third floor of a warehouse with no lift, and the other two blokes are three sheets to the wind.
Have you seen the Laurel and Hardy film with the piano?.... First and last time we used it
Click to expand...
Now that would have been a hoot to watch ;)

But where stairs are involved they do make these trolleys

 
swanseamale47 said:
The snag is because you have a trolly you bung everything in, then you find theres a flight of steps, now you have to carry the heavier bag and the so and so trolly up them. ;)
Not done it with photography, but was in a band in my younger days, we used to fill a transit van, one day the lead gets this flight case with wheels, size of a wardrobe, we had to lay it on it's back to get it in the van, then it only just fitted.
Firct gig, upstairs in a working mens club, first floor. carried the blighter upstairs, only just managed it with all three of us. After gig back to lock-up. Oh joy, the lock up was on the third floor of a warehouse with no lift, and the other two blokes are three sheets to the wind.
Have you seen the Laurel and Hardy film with the piano?.... First and last time we used it
Click to expand...
No steps at Donington, no steps at Silverstone and the only steps at Oulton Park are the bridges to cross the track, the trolley bag I just posted won't be an issue to carry on the odd occasion I go to Oulton Park (y)
 
Ed Sutton said:
How about strapping the bag to a fishing trolley? They have large wheels and are intended for use 'off road'.
Click to expand...
I've got a fishing trolley I use occasionally. Advantages over other trollies I've seen are the carrying platform is about a foot above ground level, the wheels are demountable and it folds down flat.
 
Several years ago I bought a Lowe alpine AT wheelie bag to carry luggage after struggling to carry luggage and food down to the boat quay when staying on Skomer.

www.trekitt.co.uk

Lowe Alpine AT Wheelie 120 Anthracite

The Lowe Alpine AT Wheelie is a ridiculously rugged wheelie duffle bag that has been built to last. The burly TPU coated fabric adds water resistance and the extra large wheels improve off road capability.
www.trekitt.co.uk

Since then it’s been our go to luggage bag as it can handle pretty much anything.

Looks like they do a photography version.

www.wexphotovideo.com

Lowepro Whistler RL 400 AW II Roller Bag | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

Another option would be a cheap ‘festival trolley’. It would be similar to a fishing trolley but probably not as well built. A fishing trolley would be built for an off road environment so probably the best of all options.
 
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I’ve often thought a golf trolley type design would be great for photographers.
Light weight, foldable, big wheels

And I’ve no idea why it’s not a ‘thing’.
 
@snerkler

I would suggest that this is an issue only at larger circuits or at the larger meetings. At Oulton for instance I often park on the infield and then just take out the gear I want for 'now', I return to the car to change lenses etc, even move te car to a different part of the circuit if required. the car is my camera bag.

I appreciate that at Donington or Silverstone you couldn't do this, nor at Oulton on days when you can't park on the infield.

Another thing to look at perhaps is the FLA (FOMO) issue, I could quite happily work with one zoom for circuit action and one prime for the pits/paddock, I think YMMV with regard to this :)
 
Phil V said:
I’ve often thought a golf trolley type design would be great for photographers.
Light weight, foldable, big wheels

And I’ve no idea why it’s not a ‘thing’.
Click to expand...
I once tried to figure out a way to incorporate one as the base for a tripod... never got beyond the initial design stages.
 
snerkler said:
I found this which is looking the best option so far, bigger wheels than most but also doubles as a backpack if needed.

Click to expand...
Just be aware that the wheels and handle mechanism take up a fair bit of space - my daughter has a (non-camera) wheeled backpack and while it's great, and is much easier when she can wheel it around, packing it for the trip she is on (interrailing with a friend round Europe) was 'interesting' in terms of getting everything to fit in what looked like a huge bag!
 
sk66 said:
I once tried to figure out a way to incorporate one as the base for a tripod... never got beyond the initial design stages.
Click to expand...
I got as far as thinking I could put a lightstand on one to carry my Safari battery flash, didn’t even get as far as pencil and paper
 
 
Jelster said:
How about?

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That one has added 'carp tax'. (Call an item of tackle 'carp something-or-other' and you can easily add 50% or more to the price!)

 
sk66 said:
I once tried to figure out a way to incorporate one as the base for a tripod... never got beyond the initial design stages.
Click to expand...
Phil V said:
I got as far as thinking I could put a lightstand on one to carry my Safari battery flash, didn’t even get as far as pencil and paper
Click to expand...
Probably why "it's not a thing"... :D
 
Phil V said:
I’ve often thought a golf trolley type design would be great for photographers.
Light weight, foldable, big wheels

And I’ve no idea why it’s not a ‘thing’.
Click to expand...

I bought my pull trolley from Sports Direct - the cheapest I could find! Now have an electric one.

sk66 said:
I once tried to figure out a way to incorporate one as the base for a tripod... never got beyond the initial design stages.
Click to expand...

Thought the same but IMO there's far too much wobble in the wheel "bearings" for any sort of stability, even on the more expensive ones.

Phil V said:
I got as far as thinking I could put a lightstand on one to carry my Safari battery flash, didn’t even get as far as pencil and paper
Click to expand...

Most electric trolleys are 12V and it should be possible to add a lead to power the trolley from a 12V flash battery. Hell, if you're using a trolley, take a spare flash battery in case the trolley uses too much oomph!!!
 
Nod said:
I bought my pull trolley from Sports Direct - the cheapest I could find! Now have an electric one.



Thought the same but IMO there's far too much wobble in the wheel "bearings" for any sort of stability, even on the more expensive ones.



Most electric trolleys are 12V and it should be possible to add a lead to power the trolley from a 12V flash battery. Hell, if you're using a trolley, take a spare flash battery in case the trolley uses too much oomph!!!
Click to expand...
Might be worth a look for zoo trips (not the electric one).

Unfortunately; despite being very keen when I bought the Safari flash, its use per £ makes it the most expensive bit of kit I’ve ever owned. Probably only been out of the house about 20 times, so about £25 a shoot so far.
 
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Nod said:
Thought the same but IMO there's far too much wobble in the wheel "bearings" for any sort of stability, even on the more expensive ones.
Click to expand...
I figured on incorporating something like step-on cleats near the axles... but if you are swinging a big lens on an unlocked gimbal it's really more just about weight support and not "stability."
 
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