Maplins Truss / Goalpost - any good?

[pagan_flame]

OK, have given in to temptation and spent Some More Money --- this time on some Robocolor 3's to replace the PSL Tremors on the floor. This means that I have seriously outgrown the lighting bar on my 4ft DJ stand and need to go down the truss route.

Best budget option I can find so far is the Maplin goalpost rig - 60 quid for truss, stands and a pair or T-bars on the end. And of course I need to keep my Maplins roots somehow, now I have gone up to Martin lights... :rolleyes:

Total weight of my lights is within parameters (60kg)... mainly am looking at the option of rigging my lights at sensible height and then raising the whole lot up, as opposed to the current system of rigging the lot some 8ft up. :eek:

Is the Maplins thing any good? Anything better in the price range? What's the lowest price in wind-up truss of around that size (3m)?

[spin mobile disco]

I use the skytronic truss its very similar to the Maplin one but is rated higher as it uses steel stands. 85 Kilos is the rating across the truss. Same bolt together construction as the maplin truss but heavier duty. Been using mine a year with no major problems. Cost 79.99

[A1DL]

Best budget option I can find so far is the Maplin goalpost rig - 60 quid for truss, stands and a pair or T-bars on the end. And of course I need to keep my Maplins roots somehow, now I have gone up to Martin lights... :rolleyes:

Is the Maplins thing any good? Anything better in the price range? What's the lowest price in wind-up truss of around that size (3m)?

I think the price answers the question for you.
We bought some new truss back in December and paid nearly £60 for a pair of hinged truss adaptors alone (the bits that join the truss to the stands) And that's trade price.

£60 for a full truss & stands assembly is a bit like a pair of £2.99 headphones to me, except at least the £2.99 headphones are less likely to hurt anyone when they fail

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ref69 perchance Tony?

I agree to a certain extent. Safety is paramount.

Cheap trusses and stands are just that - they don't last very long.

What do you do when they start to fail when you have 60-70Kg of overhead lighting on the truss?

[DMX Will]

To be honest, it would do you, and yet it's obviously safe, they couldn't sell it if it wasn't. It might not be the best stuff in the world, and we have a couple of bits like it.

Personally I'd go down the tri-lite 4m rig with winch stands, as you will in no way be able to lift up the truss with all your lights pre-affixed to the truss.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

To be honest, it would do you, and yet it's obviously safe, they couldn't sell it if it wasn't.

What makes you say that?

I've never seen a CE safety mark on a cheap truss.

People sell things all the time that are decidely dodgy.

Anyone remember quick clamps?:p

[A1DL]

Ref69 perchance Tony?


indeedy :)

[DMX Will]

What makes you say that?

I've never seen a CE safety mark on a cheap truss.

People sell things all the time that are decidely dodgy.

Maybe a poll then, as there are quite a handful of people who use the truss (or similar) on this forum.

[A1DL]

not seen a CE mark on a pole either :D

[DMX Will]

not seen a CE mark on a pole either :D

hmm *thinks how can i possibly add one to a poll...........*

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

, as there are quite a handful of people who use the truss (or similar) on this forum.

I know there are Will - I go on quite a few other forums too and the general concencus is that bits start falling off of these cheap systems after a while.

If you want it short term then fine. I had a Prolight wind up truss and it was OK for the money, but more than once the winches didnt crank properly and came down quite a way on their own.

It's the small things like thumb screws failing and plastic parts snapping off that I'm talking about too.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I know what you are saying about CE mark, but by law things have to be fit for the purpose for which they are sold and I think that is what Will is getting at.

I think Darren hit the nail on the head when he talks about the longevity of the product.

[Corabar Steve]

Reminds me, must get onto Ultimax to get a replacement for the screw that broke at the weekend

[spin mobile disco]

I've been using my skytronics for a year with no sign of obvious wear. Other than the few paint chips from transit etc. To be honest chucked boxes so couldnt confirm CE mark or similar but for me they have been fine I only put about 60 kilos on them on average as I use a lot of lightweight effects. Can normally put them together in about 3 - 5 minutes + light hanging time.
When i chose stands I had a weight limit and a set space I could use in the car (get all my gear in a hatchback so a big problem) trilite wouldn't fit as they normally rest on top of everything they were to 'high' where the 2 bar truss lays flat. Also the trilight was heavier as a system weighing about 30 kilos including stands where the other is about 18 kilos including stands.
A friend that does gigs on the southcoast broke his giraffe stands on the 3rd gig and had to replace them, mine have done about 60 - 80 this year with no problems (other than when I lost my allen key one night)

[Candybeatdiscos]

i was gonna stick up for the maplin goalposts as i went out and bought them, but then i remembered that even though they are only 5 mths old, i have lost parts of the poles and as a result need to use bolts to keep it up lol

[Excalibur]

OK, have given in to temptation and spent Some More Money --- this time on some Robocolor 3's to replace the PSL Tremors on the floor. This means that I have seriously outgrown the lighting bar on my 4ft DJ stand and need to go down the truss route.

Best budget option I can find so far is the Maplin goalpost rig - 60 quid for truss, stands and a pair or T-bars on the end. And of course I need to keep my Maplins roots somehow, now I have gone up to Martin lights... :rolleyes:

Total weight of my lights is within parameters (60kg)... mainly am looking at the option of rigging my lights at sensible height and then raising the whole lot up, as opposed to the current system of rigging the lot some 8ft up. :eek:

Is the Maplins thing any good? Anything better in the price range? What's the lowest price in wind-up truss of around that size (3m)?

I have two, and yes they could be stronger, but they would probably be a lot dearer. I don't know about anyone else, but I leave the top bars permanently connected. They have been shortened to fit in the Transit! Change the nuts for nyloc, otherwise you will lose many! My first rig is now in its third year.

[colint]

I've been using a 4mtr wide astralite truss (on power drive stands) for about 5-6 years without any problems it's good looking very strong and ultra light but it wasn't cheep at about £450 for the truss alone but cant complain cos it has served really well over the time i've had it i put the truss up lock it off and then load the lighting via a stepladder