How to make moving a heavy combo amp easier for back challenged player?

Boy did I get sidetracked with my GAS post. I should have known better...

Yes I want a lighter, more powerful amp without a doubt, but let's face it, if I had the cash for it now, it's not like my wife is going to tell me no. I mean really I coughed out for a $150.00 hair dryer and I don't even want to know how much the flattening iron she had me buy her cost... But the budget just doesn't have the room until well into the new year (Probably by the time Uncle Sam gets appeased in April...)

Until then, I am dragging my amp around more and more. Which with my back problems is getting to be a BIG problem... As you may recall from previous threads, I have had back problems since a major car wreck going on 14 years ago. It flares up from time to time and is seriously NO FUN...

So here's my situation. My current amp is a Crate BX-100. I know there's not a ton of love for these amps, but with my level of playing, it's ideal tone and loud wise... Last weekend's jam session I was playing on the E string a lot, and I could FEEL the air shaking around us, it got things moving enough we cracked one of the window panes in my buddies garage / jam room. (Good thing it's a cheap window!) So maybe for a LOUD bar this thing would be worse than useless, and honestly, it would SUCK for a loud metal band, but I don't do that stuff. I play some classic rock, some blues, some Praise music that kind of thing... and it works. Until I go to move it...

I have a small hand truck, and ratchet straps. So rolling it out of my home jam room, out to the drive, and then from the jam friend's drive to their jam room is no problem.

Picking that 67lb behemoth with only one handle smack in the middle of the top, and lifting it into the bed of my 4" lifted F150 4x4 without killing myself however, is a bit of a challenge...

I was hoping for maybe some pointers / ideas on maybe some sort of handles, or lifting assist device that I could use to make this job less, well hazardous...

My intent with this amp is to keep it even after getting whatever light weight / powerful / tone I like amp (Still leaning toward the Fender Rumble 500 with maybe a 1x15 extension cab...). If the jam gig gets to be a regular thing, I will simply house my Crate amp over there on a semi permanent basis. But for now... I have GOT to make this thing easier to lift, and lower down.

I am not adverse to building say plywood and 2x4 ramps if that is feasable, and understand it's not just the amps that are heavy here... I am also not adverse to cutting / drilling into the Crate Cab to install say casters and / or decent handles assuming I can be completely sure they won't pull out...

What have other folks done in situations like this while pinching the budget a bit?

 

Maybe. The dumb thing did not include side handles. I am concerned about adding handles and having the screws pull out... Is there a good way to get inside the cab? If I can use a proper at the very least Tee nut, or preferably a nut and fender washer to distribute the load over a larger area of the cab material which I seriously suspect is MDF, I would feel a LOT better about adding side handles.

I'm not worried drilling holes in the sides will devalue this amp. Heck, I'd think proper installation of a quality handle set would improve the amps resale value!

 

Not disagreeing there.

Doc says no more than 50lbs...

Not sold on a separate cab / head setup mostly due to lack of familiarity with them... I have always used combos.. I know not gonna get a lot of love on that but it is what it is...

And it doesn't help this heavy thing up into my truck and back out...

Fwiw the handles would make it easier to get otherwise reluctant help lifting I think.

 

Okay not sure why I can't find a facepalm emoticon but oh well...

BIG thought just came to mind...

This is a 4x4 pickup that is actually used offroad, including getting stuck...

I have LOTS of winching gear. a simple 3/8" plywood and heck even 2x2s to keep the ply from bowing ramp, a couple of snatch blocks, a couple of carabiners and a length of rope, and all the sudden that 68ish pounds moves up with about 15lbs of force at the operator end...! Just need to plop the beast on a movers dolly and strap in on to be secure and it should work like a champ!

I guess that degree is worth something if I get a kick in the rusty brain every now and again...

 

The handles on the side mean I can con someone into grabbing the second handle, with only one handle, no such option... But yeah good idea...

Yeah I am NOT deadlifting jack squat... Not until the doc clears me..

 

Good point...

FWIW, the tailgate top in the lowered position is at 34" and I have a standard 6.5 foot bed truck.

I thought about using 1/4" ply and 18" tempered hardboard lamination (I can do that myself... the hard part is pressing it but I can rig that...) I figured 3/8" cabinet grade (400 grit sanded) ply should suffice... Maybe oiled & waxed...

Yeah I would have to figure out the attachment to the gate for sure!

 

That is a big part of my interest in the Fender Rumble 500. 500 watts 2x10 speakers, and all for a measly 35ish lbs...

Okay specifically...

• 500 watts
• Dual 10" Eminence® speakers
• Compression horn with on/off switch
• Compact and lightweight (36.5 pounds) ported plywood enclosure with removable grille
• Overdrive circuit (controlled manually or with optional footswitch)
• Three-button voicing section (bright, contour, vintage)
• XLR line out with ground lift

And yes I know it's "only 350 watts" when on the internal speakers alone... Like that is going to be a problem for me at any time in the forseeable future...