Ampeg 8x10 "fridge" How do YOU move it?

[JustinDubree]

I recently picked up an SVT-CL and an 810E for relatively cheap. Now, after playing a few gigs around here, I have noticed that it is far from the easiest thing to move around. I'm curious on what your methods of transportation are for an 8x10.

How do you:

Put it in a vehicle?

Take it up/down stairs?

Any other tips would also be appreciated.

Thanks guys!

[Rick Auricchio]

Somehow I don't think you're going to get magical answers to your questions. You lift and drag. Having a second person helps a LOT.

[Eric Moesle]

They tip and roll a whole bunch easier than a 4x10. When putting one into my minivan, I just tip the top end in and let gravity do the work. To remove it, I pull it out a bit and the bottom drops, no lifting as with a 4x10.

Small clusters of 3 or 4 stairs are easy - going down you just ease it down sliding it on its back. Going up stairs, you pull it up sliding on its back. Any more than just a few stairs you'll need a second person.

[JustinDubree]

Fair enough. I'm just wondering how other people do it opposed to my very usual lift and drag. Maybe they have a well seasoned lift n drag technique. I also want to know if anyone puts it in a vehicle on its back, towel bar towards the front/back, or on its' side?

[rollerberg2000]

face up, handle toward the front of the vehicle, with it's cover on. pickup the back end by the wheels, push it the rest of the way in.

Getting it out is easier, grab the wheels, pull it out the back letting the cover stay in the van where it wants to. by the time it's leaned up, the cover is off, and ready to wheel into the gig.

[JustinDubree]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

They tip and roll a whole bunch easier than a 4x10. When putting one into my minivan, I just tip the top end in and let gravity do the work. To remove it, I pull it out a bit and the bottom drops, no lifting as with a 4x10.

Small clusters of 3 or 4 stairs are easy - going down you just ease it down sliding it on its back. Going up stairs, you pull it up sliding on its back. Any more than just a few stairs you'll need a second person.

Thank You!

I'm curious on how you keep the casters from grabbing lips of stairs/ledges. I seem to have that problem.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by JustinDubree

Put it in a vehicle?

In a truck, I would open the gate, jump in the bed, and drag it right up. Or deadlift it right into the bed...

In a car, I'd need a 2nd person to help unless i really didn't care about my car...or had some giant boat from the 60's/70's/80's.

Take it up/down stairs?

Same as the truck. Face the cab away from the stairs, get behind it, and start pulling up the stairs.

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Somehow I don't think you're going to get magical answers to your questions. You lift and drag. Having a second person helps a LOT.

+1

[cascadian_grind]

I always put mine in the van on its side to avoid extra wear and on the speakers from all the bouncing while driving. Also, I've found that pulling it instead of pushing it can be a lot more forgiving if you hit a bump/crack in the ground.

[tekdiver500ft]

Refrigerator/appliance dolly. They climb stairs like a breeze, and are much easier to use than the casters that come on the cabs.

[coreyfyfe]

I have an suv so for transport I just tilt it in and slide it across the back. I put a sheet down so it's not ripping up the back of my car. For the sake of saving space I usually keep it on its side, but have laid it down when not much else needs to go in the back.

As far as stairs, as long as there are only a few stairs the hug/tilt method works well for just rocking it up/down a few steps. More than a few and I usually grab a second hand.

[JMac4strngr]

I typically move mine just as the other Guys here have stated. I can put mine in the back seat area of My Ram quad cab(seats folded up, with the cargo racks folded out), on its side by tipping it top in first, lifting it by the casters, and sliding it in (old blanket helps as well). It can be quite a feat on Your own, but once You get a technique down it isn't so bad. It was a challenge for Me initially, as I am not a hefty guy at 5' 9" and 140 lbs, but I got it down to a science where I can do it on My own. Any more than 3 or 4 stairs requires a helping hand, for sure though.

[cheezewiz]

The only reason I don't use one is it won't fit in my car. They are easy to move once on level ground. Up and down stairs, not so much.

[beebassdude]

they have wheels so its not a big deal. to get into a station wagon just tilt it until theres enough of the cab into the car, then lift and slide it.

getting it down steps, as long as theres carpet i just slide it, then stand it up. the 70s ones with no wheels are a lot more of a pain in the ass.

[zachoff]

Lift & slide it into the back of the truck.
Wheel it around & pull it up stairs.
My band-mates help me out. It's part of the deal. We all help each other with equipment.

[Mike M.]

I just had a vision with me now at 58, with a bad back trying to haul an 8X10 up the basement stairs and into my Ford Focus hatch-back!

[Korus Bows]

You should be able to strap in on to the back of an army tank.

[stratovani]

Hire some roadies!

[Tallon]

If there a bunch of stairs, I pretty much curl it up each step at a time because the angle usually isn't correct to use the skid rails.

When loading in my Tacoma, I loaded it on its side and slid it in the rest of the way (double entendre?) If I had an extra person, I'd get them to lift the wheel side into the truck so I could just roll it in the rest of the way and then roll it out later. Not so good if the person isn't there to help you unload.

Loading into my Versa I roll it up to the hatchback and tip it back pivoting on the back of the car. I have a bumper protector, but it stills beat the crap out of my interior. I've started using my carpeted floormats as protection for the car. It ends up Handle towards the front and face up.

[beans-on-toast]

When I need to get a cab or other heavy piece of gear into the back seat of a car, I use a piece of covered plywood, about 4' long, 1' wide, like a ramp to protect the vehicle.

One end goes on the ground, lean the ramp against the seat. Tilt the gear and lie it on the wood. Lift the end. Slide the gear over the hard surface without damaging the seats. Pull the board out when done.

As for stairs, there are special dollies for that.

[okabass]

HI

I feel it's easier to move than my SWR 4x 10". I usually move it solo.

Put some additional handles on top and bottom of the cab.
http://www.yoursoundshop.com/pics/RackHandle.jpg

I bent two aluminium bar "stoppers" near the wheels to prevent them tackle at stairs.

It goes quite easily at the backseat of my old BMW 316 when I take the seat away.