All About Grip Trucks
Grip trucks are well stocked with the small gadgets and large tools needed for tackling various technical needs and on-set tasks. Even for the most budget-conscious shoots, they are not excessively expensive. Production will go faster, smoother, and cause less stress on the crew when you have a grip truck rental on set.
The quality and quantity of the carts and the truck layout are the most essential features to working grips. Grips love the option of quickly seeing the tools they need instead of digging for them. Grip truck rentals are commonly available in 10, 5, or 3 ton through most professional rental houses. They also often keep a one-ton van package available for smaller shoots. Experts offer the following look on what is inside of a basic 5-ton grip truck package from most rental providers:
Stands
From lowboys to preemies, stands are priceless assets on a film set. Grip trucks include a stand for every job, and you will likely use plenty of them. A standard stand package contains around 90 stands, including Beefy Babies, C-Stands, Combos and Lowboy Combos, Mombo Combos, Hi-Hi Rollers, Crank-O-Vaters, and Mini Preemie stands. Grips are constantly using C-Stands, which are a filmmaking staple.
Stand accessories
In film, stands are used for various numbers of applications. For example, knuckles and gobo arms provide options for draping drop cloths, positioning flags, hanging lights, or supporting and gripping nearly everything else on a set.
4.5” inch Knuckles, also known as lollipops, make on-set safety easy. They can be used to secure larger flags or overhead frames. Getting close to the ground shots easily can be achieved with the help of offset arms, adding extra extension. and removable turtle bases. Securing beadboard is done with a platypus clamp. Junior and baby headers allow you to mount multiple accessories or light fixtures on a single stand.
Apple boxes
There are countless uses and advantages for having apple boxes on set. Eighth, quarter, half, and full apple boxes are great options for leveling, sitting, standing, or propping. In addition, they can be used to build nail wall plates or a table to hold low-angle lighting fixtures.
Furniture pads and sandbags
Sandbags are an essential tool on set, even though there's nothing high-tech about them. They can be used to secure set walls or hold down light stands. In addition, they can easily hang on risers or hooks because they have convenient handles.
Furniture pads or sound blankets can be used for everything from blocking light and wrapping large set pieces or protecting equipment during transport.
Clips and clamps
Clamps come in various shapes and sizes and can be used in various ways. For example, they are great for mounting lights in awkward or tight positions.
Grip clips make one-handed operation easy. They work great for securing backdrops, holding reflectors, and other jobs requiring a strong clamp.
Accessories and lights
Skypanels are found on nearly every grip truck available. These soft, punchy bicolor lights use minimal power and create very little heat. In addition, there is a variety of other lighting available on a grip truck that can be used for many different services around the set.
Expendables, production supplies, and everything else
On a grip truck, you can often find different height step ladders, tarps, road cones, pop-up tents, director's chairs, plastic stacking chairs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and so much more.
More common tools like staple guns, rakes, shovels, hammers, brooms, and sledgehammers are also available on grip trucks. You can also find sawhorses, nails, staples, and screws with your rental, along with gaff tape and WD-40.
You can typically find 2-C stand carts, a header cart, sandbag and cable carts, and net and flag carts. In addition, you can rent a trip a grip truck with or without a driver, and it will have almost anything you need for your film set needs.