Casters...

[Dr Stankface]

So, on my GK Neo 410s I have the standard inserted socket casters. The downfall is that I've gone through 4 sets of wheels before they all seem to fall apart. These cabs go through nothing but normal wear and tear and are gigged every weekend but these casters are giving me a headache. I've gone through 3 sets of the standard GK casters and one set of another off brand. Does anyone have any recommendations on casters that, well, don't suck?

[will33]

Any of the "pull out" casters I've seen can't stand up to repeated use on something as big/cumbersome as a 410 + amp. Smaller rigs/guitar stuff, fine but not big stuff. Regular old casters like you'd get at home depot or wherever that you'd put on with big screws or lag bolts are much better.

If you need them to be removable, Mesa and maybe a couple other hardware companies make a sort of clip that the mounting plate of a normal caster hooks into. Can't point you to a specific link but somebody here will know what I'm talking about. They're supposed to be much sturdier.

[Caca de Kick]

To me, casters are cheap. If I can get avg 5 years on the Ernie Ball pop-in casters which are $23 bucks a set I'm happy.

My new Mesa cab has those inline skate style wheels, and it took a crap last week. So that didn't solve anything.

You can alway buy a dolly with inflatable tires. (if you gave a big enought vehicle to actually carry a dolly).

[Dr Stankface]

Yeah I need them to be removable due to the fact that I drive a Kia Soul. I can fit a 6 space rack, two 410s and 3 basses in there and still have the passenger seat open but I think a dolly would be a LITTLE much. I may try another set of EB wheels and see what happens.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

You can alway buy a dolly with inflatable tires. (if you gave a big enought vehicle to actually carry a dolly).

I bought a folding handtruck with collapsible handle. You can find them on-line or at any boating / marine supply center. Hasn't failed me yet. I use it to drag ice chests full of wine coolers when re-supplying my yacht, the good ship "Zooberwerx".

Riis

[Jazzdogg]

When I need wheels for a cabinet I use a small hand truck or install lockable plate casters with wheels that are at least 3" diameter; small wheels don't last, and they stumble on every conceivable obstacle. BTW, contrary to popular mythology, 3" or 4" casters have NO effect at all on the sound produced by bass cabs.

[will33]

Originally Posted by Dr Stankface

Yeah I need them to be removable due to the fact that I drive a Kia Soul. I can fit a 6 space rack, two 410s and 3 basses in there and still have the passenger seat open but I think a dolly would be a LITTLE much. I may try another set of EB wheels and see what happens.

Tell the old lady she needs to find her own way there and back if she wants to go, put your basses in the front with you, plenty of room in the back for gear....problem solved.


If only it were that easy.

[will33]

For a real life solution, rethink your truck pack. Turn a cab on it's side or stick it in up and down instead of left and right, might work better. It's like building blocks, making as much stuff as you can fit in there.

[Dr Stankface]

Originally Posted by will33

Tell the old lady she needs to find her own way there and back if she wants to go, put your basses in the front with you, plenty of room in the back for gear....problem solved.


If only it were that easy.

Get rid of the old lady. REAL problem solved.

Originally Posted by will33

For a real life solution, rethink your truck pack. Turn a cab on it's side or stick it in up and down instead of left and right, might work better. It's like building blocks, making as much stuff as you can fit in there.

Yeah I've gone in and out rethinking the pack but with it being a relatively small car with relatively low ceiling, it's a little bit of a pain to get it all sorted without screwing up my brand new car. So maybe my '98 Ranger wasn't that bad after all...

[Floyd Eye]

I don't like my full stack sitting on casters. I put them in to move the cab(s) and then take them out when I set it up. I have the same set of casters I've had forever.

[jmattbassplaya]

Consider buying a handcart. It's cheaper in the long run, IME.

[Rebop]

I've had the Ernie Ball pop-out casters on my Genz Benz 4x10xb cab (around 90 pounds) for over 10 years, gig every weekend 2-3 times and have never had a problem. And I roll it over rough asphalt here and there. Aside from some minor pitting on the wheels they look new. What are you doing to wear the casters out? Just moving the cab by itself shouldn't beat the casters too bad.

[Eric Moesle]

The ONLY alternative for a solid removal caster is the PLATE caster method. You mount these to the bottom of your cab: Caster Quick Change Plate For 3800 Series

Then you choose whatever heavy duty caster and wheel size you want and click it in. Easily removable and MUCH more robust than those little "stem" pop out casters that speaker manufacturers use.

[Fendbassfan]

Are you sure you can't deal with a few more inches because these 3" wheels on my Avatar Cab were about $20.00 at Home Depot and they work so much better than the little wheels on my Ampeg cab that's to the right. A few times I noticed one of the Ampeg wheels had slid out and I had to go look for it (in the dark). I also had to replace 2 broken removeable caster on the Ampeg but luckily I forgot to return a set of four to GC when I returned another Ampeg cab.

[Dr Stankface]

The cabs don't see any wear that's abnormal. Just wheeling in and out of gigs and into my apartment. I wish I could sacrifice the few inches but I really have no room to spare in my car. It looks like i'll either be trying another set of wheels or just spending the money on the plate casters.

[rockstarbassist]

I have the 3" Mesa casters on my PH cabs. Are awesome. On my old Diesel 215 I had the 4" models. :lol: Those were some bad mofos...