What's in Your Truck?

[b-roll]

A number of years ago, we had a column about the great stuff we stock our trucks with.

Check it out in our STORIES section, and then tell us What's in Your Truck.

kev

[<pessimist>]

I think its a fun topic, but does this kind of fun listing really just make us bigger targets for smash and grab scores?

[(Sin)ical]

Ween for road trips. :D

[<russ>]

A DXC537 connected to a a BVV5, with the usual sein mic, anton light and batts. Though I rigged my own soft box for my cam light so its 75 watt spot is diffused sufficiently. One long XLR, one long BNC cable, bunch of barrels, basic tool kit, and six tapes. Light kit with an Omni, two pros, a chimera XS soft box, a 250 watt Rifa, five stands, one umbrella, roll of GAM black wrap, and the basic gels. Sachtler head and hot pod. Two rain coats, two camera jackets, hair dryer, gaffer tape, steady bag, state map, county map book, city map book, various reading materials, and finally one of them cool collapsable chairs for all day live shots.

I wish I took my unit home.

[Jagdkamera]

Sony DNW-9WS SX camera with two Sennheiser ME-80 shotguns (one wireless, one coily cord), four camera batteries, two wireless receivers (Lectrosonics and Sony) and Anton Bauer Ultralight 2. Century Precision Optics .5X and Super Fisheye wide angle adapters. Electro Voice RE-50B, Sony AC adapter for camera. Sachtler Video 18p w/carbon fiber tripod. Two camera rain covers. Two human rain covers. 1 pair jungle boots. 1 pair combat boots. 1 pair waterproof hiking boots. Steadybag. Fishpole. 2 wireless lavaliers (Lectrosonics with Tram mic and Sony with ECM-77B). 1 Sony ECM-44B hard wired lavalier mic. Around 100' of audio cable in various lenghts. Light kit A: 2 Lowel ProLights and 1 Lowel Rifa Light in the new wide-mouth PortaBrace case (with Bogen stands, gels, and accessories). Light kit B: 2 Lowel Omnis and 1 Arri 150 in a PortaBrace large light kit (with Bogen stands, gels, and accessories). One Lowel DP light w/case and Bogen stand. One Lowel Total light, umbrella and Bogen stand for quick and dirty interviews. 1 Chimera XS soft box with Tota Speed Ring. 100ft and 20ft heavy duty extension cords. 1 Lowel aluminum reflector. Four 20# sandbags. Four assorted cloth reflectors (Flexfil and Wescott silver/gold/daylight/white). Basic tool kit. Very tall stepladder. Two "chairs in a bag" for long standoffs. Portabrace Quickdraw camera case, Production case and medium-sized Run Bag. 2 phone books (yellow and white pages). 30-50 field tapes. 2 blacked tapes for field editing. Various barrels, turnarounds and adapters. Lots of 9volt and AA batteries. Several rolls of gaffer and tunnel tape. Local, state, and neighboring city maps. Change of clothes. 2 extra pairs of socks. Several caps. Hardhat. 35mm camera. Sony Walkman CD player w/cassette adapter. Mini MagLite flashlight. Gerber MultiPlier.

[ January 09, 2003, 01:21 AM: Message edited by: Jellico ]

[<still unregistered>]

kevin, don't you really mean the unusual stuff in your truck .... not a list of stuff anyone would want to steal ....
as for my strange things ...
1'x2' sheet of plexi-glass to shoot through for the dirty point of view shots ...
water proof tub (rubbermaid)for all my hurricane gear is a great thing to have if your windows all get blown out .... also takes up a seat ... oops ... i have no room for that intern ...
clip board for quick picture stand ...
just a couple ideas

[<Old Shooter>]

Still lurking in the truck I find
Level 2 bullet proof vest
Hard Hat
Gas Mask (great for brush fires to)
Fire Turn out gear with boots
Old 635 stick mic
Old ECM 44 lav mic
10',25',50',100' mic cables (wireless back up)
25',100' video cables
12 pack bottled water
2 MRE's (Meals ready to eat)
Small sewing kit
small makeup kit
extra IFB for the meat puppet
10x10' Piece of white ripstop nylon
$100 in $5 bills (envelope in my tool kit)
Asprin, Ibuprofin, Benedryl,1l Sterile water (gets pepper spray out of your eyes)
Sunscreen
2 unopened contact lenses
2 cheap handheld 2 way radios
Fire extinguisher
2 2' pieces of 2X4
Gel, blackwrap, tape, clamps

Plus all the camera, audio,lighting and monitoring gear that everyone else has.
It pretty much fills the explorer

[Jesster]

a bunch of gear that I don't own an a camera that is in need of replacement.

[JumpCut]

Sony DNW-9AP SX Camera / 3 Sony BPL-90 Batteries / 10+ Tapes

Fuji 7.5x17 Broadcast Lens

Miller Arrow 50 head / Single stage CF legs

Cinesaddle (Steadybag)

Lectro 195 Diversity Receiver

Lectro Cube / Electrovoice RE-50

Lectro Belt pack / Sony ECM-77B

Sony ECM-44B Wired lav

Sennheiser MKH66 Shotgun

Sanken CS-3 Shotgun

Wendt X-4 Audio mixer / Fishpole / Audio Cables

Anton Bauer 30w Ultralight 2

Lowel 200w Pro light with 30v belt

4 Lowel 1K DP lights / Assorted gels / Safety switches / Power Leads

1 Lowel 800w Tota with Umbrella and XS Chimera

2 100w Dedolights

7 Lowel and Manfrotto stands / Manfrotto Grip gear (Magic arm, super clamp etc)

2 Reflector holders / Lowel Tota-flector

Westcott diffuser, gold/white, sunlight/white reflectors

4 Sandbags (Fish tank gravel actually)

Chrosziel 2 Stage Mattebox / French Flag / Tiffen Black diffuser, 2 Stop Grad ND, 2 Stop Full ND, Polariser and Movie Mist

Step ladder, 2 fold up chairs, Change of clothes, Bushfire gear, Rubber boots, Army Boots, 2 scanners, 2 mobile phones, maps, mirror, Camelback, Rain gear, Pens, Gerber Multitool, D-cell Maglight, AA-cell Maglight, Surgical Tape (Sticking lavs on skin), Waterproof tape, Gaffer tape, First Aid kit, Still camera, Carabiners, 9v Batteries, Warmcard (1/4 CTB gel on hard white card)

[ January 08, 2003, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: JumpCut ]

[focusthis]

All the regular stuff, plus:

My favorite bumper stickers. An o-fishul USCG "Elvis, if you're out there, we'll find you"
and "I love jet noise" Oceana represent!!

Headache meds.

NPPA mag for the slow days. My membership at work!

Reporter essentials. Pad and pen for the forgetful ones. CD's for the quiet ones. Gum for the stinky ones. Clear plastic bags that the newspaper comes in. This is to cover reporter notepads during rainy live shots. The perfect size!

A few small toys for the kids whose burning house I just shot.

Assorted coupons.

[<Old Shooter>]

Foucsthis,,
Carrying toys for kids is pretty decent of you.
As a dad with a real soft spot for the kids we run into this just got added to my kit.
Thanks for the idea.

[aussie]

Mcdonalds wrappers
Rip Curl Bathers and towel
and a tonne of sand ;)

[<Nat Young>]

Originally posted by aussie:
Mcdonalds wrappers
Rip Curl Bathers and towel
and a tonne of sand ;) Can you give me a ride to Bell's Beach.
Room for my longboard?

http://www.surfbooks.com/v10n3.jpg

[tarzan]

A naked lady!

[<still unregistered>]

"Gum for the stinky ones"
i love that ...... thats frigin funny
been there brother

[Rack Focus]

a couple of cans of power steering fluid, left over from the leak i had a few months ago...

a few cans of oil, left over from the oil leak i had yesterday.

a set of jumper cables that came in handy when my car wouldn't start today.

you all need to switch to ford taurus station wagons...they're great.

[David R. Busse]

Originally posted by &lt;Old Shooter&gt;:
Still lurking in the truck I find
Gas Mask (great for brush fires to)
Old Shooter:
Gas masks at brush fires are more likely to make you a "dead shooter."

Ask your local FD.

"Gas Masks" are designed to separate globs of chemicals (liquid droplets) from the air.

Fires contain hunks of particles (solids). It doesn't take much smoke to clog up a gas mask.

Translation: you'll suffocate if you use a gas mask at a brush fire.

I'm not making this up. This was Lesson One in Day One of breathing apparatus training 26 years ago at the Boone County (Mo.) Fire Protection District.

"Oldman" can vouch for me...

[photogress]

Ok, the qustion should be, can you identify it? I just switched out news trucks and have no clue what the guy before me did, but I don't think it had been cleaned in the 3 years he had it. It's downright funky. Sand all over the back where I'm suppose to lay my gear. Some caked up white stuff on the back seat that he SWORE was detergent and my hands got black from touching the steering wheel after a period of time. NASTY!!!

[aussie]

Can you give me a ride to Bell's Beach.
Room for my longboard? Bells is a bit far ( Other side of the county )
I am going to Margaret River this weekend if you want a lift :)

[ January 13, 2003, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: aussie ]

[<News Active>]

Sony DSR-570WSP with Canon YJ 12x6,5 KRS A lens, Vinten 11 tripod, four Sennheiser UHF wireless lavalier mics & receivers and one hand held, one Sony camera-mounted UHF receiver & transmitter, Shure FP-31 mixer, 2 x Sennheiser MKE-80's, mic boom & zeppelin, Sony 9" field monitor, Sunbounce reflector & stand, light kit, countless amount of cables and connectors. Everything in Porta Brace bags.

And one Garmin GPS, two GSM phones, two scanners, one Icom IC-R3, all necessary maps and clean T-shirt & underwear.

[ravenm]

not a whole lot unusual...other than a piece of that plastic stuff used in clear walls to screw up the picture of what's on the other side...keep hoping to use it in a strip club :) , but that will never happen...wishful thinking.

other than that, the usual: sony betacam sp, tapes, batteries, 50W frezzi, 20W frezzi, 2 non-lowell stands for the frezzis (i work nightside...great for lighting when u don't have AC), 2 omnis, 1 v-light, 3 lowell stands, assorted light control gear,miller sticks with a sachtler head, aztec wireless, sony wired lav, some no-name stick mic that looks like crap but sounds great (i got it for less than $10 and it's literally been run over by a car and keeps working, so i really can't complain), AC adapter for the camera, 2 flexfills (1 black/silver, 1 white/gold), an assortment of CD's, granola bars, change of clothing, cold winter gear (gods, i love carhart ripoffs), extra boots. in my locker, just in case, i also keep a coffee maker, drinking water, hot chocolate, coffee, etc., for all those early morning "$H!T it's cold" live shots. reporters love me for that.

[MemphiShooter]

Wow. As a photog that considers himself fairly new to the game still, those posts were filled with great ideas I had not even thought about. I made a list and will adding them to my loot shortly.

On a related note, have any of you found a backpack or duffle that you like that has places for all the little nicknaks we acquire on a daily basis?

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by MemphiShooter:
On a related note, have any of you found a backpack or duffle that you like that has places for all the little nicknaks we acquire on a daily basis?A tackle box that has a large comapartment up top, and underneath it has those clear compartmental shelve/boxes that are used for either tackle ot sewing thread. I keep IFB parts, screws, tools in the lower and parts for the tripod, camera in the top.

[<WHIZkid>]

Well, aside from the usual basics, in the truck I have a little plastic cat one of the reporters put in there as a mascot to me. I goes with my nickname.

[Currentchief]

Besides the usual stuff, I carried:
* a ziploc bag with tums, aspirin & allegry pills
* Cheap duffle with a change of clothes and an old pair of tennis shoes and a small toiletry kit.
* Rainsuit in an old army ammo can
* Two spare tapes in a ziploc bag stuffed under the seat (I usually forget they're there until I forget some tapes and search the car frantically).
* Old towel in a ziploc (I love ziploc bags)
* hat
* 10 bucks in the ashtray
* an extra coat and gloves for the reporter who will forget theirs.
* Old paperback book under the seat
* window shades/reflectors
* 50' mic cable
* Sunscreen
* pens
* Gallon cooler- 1/2 ice, 1/2 water (summer)
* paper cups (for reporters who didn't bring water)
* Picture of my daughter (for inspiration)
* Picture of my wife (for laughs) ;)
* 5 counties worth of phone books
* first aid kit
* pocketknife in glovebox

I'm sure there's more, but that's enough for now.

[A Step Above Productions]

- Pocket Knife
- Tools (scredriver, wrench, etc)
- Change of Clothing
Pants
Shirt
Boxers
Shoes
Towels
Sox
- Medication
Asprin
Tums
- Food
Beef Jerky
Gum
Water
- Fire extinguisher
- Books
Phone (english and spanish)
Map Books (local, state and national)
- Air fresener
- Reporter note pads and extra pens
-Extra, tapes, batteries, mics, mic and video cables
- Hi8 camera
- AM/FM radio
- Soap
- Extra phone charger
- Tape
sctoch
masking
gafters
- Armoral
- Multiple colored gels
- Extra Mic flags
- Panasinic DVC-Pro AJ-D4009
- Raycote Sofltie
- Lowell Light Kit
- Steady Bag
- Tree different run bags

[texshooter]

Sony BVW 300A with Cannon J15 lens
Anton-Baur Ultralight 2
Camera light extension arm
Sachtler ENG2 CF Tripod with Video 18p Head
Portabrace QuickDraw camera bag
4 20lb sandbags
2 15lb PortaBrace sandbags
1 PortaBrace L2 light bag with:
-1 Arri 150
-2 Prolights with snoots/Barndoors (1 has CBT dicro, 1 had frosted glass)
-1 Lowell Tota Light
-1 custom built 1000 watt dimmer
-1 GFCI extension cord
-Gels, lobo arm & clamp, black foil, clothes pins, etc.
-2 Prolight gel frames
-3 Bogen stands
-2 Umbrellas (1 silver, 1 white)
1 PortaBrace L2 light bag with:
-2 Lowell Omni Lights (with barndoors and CTB dicros)
-2 Lowell VIP stands
-1 Manfrotto mini stand
-Various gels, extension cords, black foil, clothes pins, etc.
-Spare bulbs for all the lights
1 PortaBrace LQ-28 quick light bag with:
-1 Rifa 44 light
-1 ProLight with barndoors and dicro
-2 2 Bogen stands
-1 Silver umbrella
-Extension cords, spare bulbs, etc
1 ME-66 shotgun with Rycote screen
1 RE-50
1 ECM-55b Lav
1 ECM 44b Lav
1 Shure SM 58
1 Coles Lip Mic
1 Lectro CR185 with cube transmitter and belt pack transmitter with Lectro Lav
1 Lectro UCR201 with cube transmitter and belt pack transmitter with Lectro Lav
PortaBrace run bag RB3 with kata rain cover, lip mic, notebooks, Week At-A-Glance book, notebook with Gels, Black Foil, roll of tunnel tape and gaffer tape, extra pens, magic markers and roll of tape labels
Sanford-Davis grip bag with:
-Large Lowell stand
-Lowell boom arm with counter weight
-Lowell boom clamp
-2 Lowell VIP stands
-Golf umbrella
-Small halogen clamp light
-extra 50' extension cord
Bag Chair
3 day supply of clothes
Tool Kit
Test Signal Generator
PortaBrace Sling Bag with:
-Extra Lowell weight
-2 30 minute SP tapes
-Clothes pins
-Lens cleaning solution and paper
-Mic Flag
-3 way AC plug
-25' XLR and spare 9v, AA and AAA batteries in one side pocket, my ECM 55b in the other side pocket.
PortaBrace Slinger with:
-3 additional SP tapes
-ECM 44b Lav Mic
-Lectro belt pack transmitter
-Volt/Ohm meter
-Reporters note pad
-More 9v and AA batteries
-White balance card
-MicroFibre lens cleaning cloth
PortaBrace Belt Pack with:
-Extra Hytron Battery
-Lav Mics
-Business Cards
-10' Mic Cord
-White Balance card
-.8 Snap on Century Wide Converter
Box of new SP tape stock
Cooler with water and ice
Local and state map books
Step ladder
100' extension cord on reel
Nextel charger
Mag Light (3 D cell)
Military angle head flashlight
Lowell cookie sheet reflector
Westcott 30" Gold/Silver flexfill reflector
Steadybag
White and Black cloth sheets for shooting photos

In my locker is a Anton Bauer Charger spare Hytron battery, and more tape stock. I carry a Gerber Recoil Auto-Plier, Mini Mag Light, Tinker Model Swiss Army Knife and Tweeky Driver in a belt pack.

[ June 24, 2004, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: texshooter ]

[DFW Nights]

Originally posted by &lt;still unregistered&gt;:
... oops ... i have no room for that intern ...That's okay. I have room for her. And I keep condoms in my truck! :D

[BluesDaddy]

http://www.timbuk2.com/images/holiday/obpgss_100.jpg
Timbuk2 Messenger Bag
...to carry my lunch, gloves (1pr thin, 1pr neoprene), hat, IFB, press pass, water bottle, CDs, radio, Oakleys, maps, handi-wipes, Vise-Grip ToolBox (awesome!), MagLite, Tylenol, stuff sack, speeding ticket, etc...

[fstop]

I don't know. :confused:

[<Bigshooter>]

Gameboy, Drumsticks and spare change when going to a drive thru!!!
Lee Ellison KXMB TV

[<friend>]

Bump

[WV24fpspro]

For Memphis...

If one wants a hiher end backpack consider the following:

LowePro Dryzone series; all of the inner compartments can be made one hunder percent waterproof. It the only soft bag that can claim that. It also floats fully loaded. I've already tested the floats part- and it works with well in excess of twenty five pounds of gear. There was a news story a while back where one was actually used as an emergency floatation device- not really recommended. One can even squeeze a medium format still system in there- or one killer loaded down 35 system- or two. -Or unless you have a true broadcast video system such as 3x 2/3's, you should be able to fit a P170 or any other prosumer.

The LowePro Stelth series are good for smaller systems or items- plus it doesn't really advertise the fact that its a camera pack.

The strongest of all photo packs are made by Tamrac. They have options for most of their bags to be made from a material refered to as spectra. Its used in many bullet resistant (please renote the word resistant) vests.

Happy hunting...

[Terry E. Toller]

David is right. Back in the 70's the Sacramento City fire department used what they called a smoke mask. It was actually a gas mask. Almost right after they issued them, one firefighter went down inside a burning building. They revived him but to this day, he doesn't know it...

[cameragod]

Wetsuit and booties for the flood stories.

And this morning a lot of broken glass and the front of a white V8 Commodore

[ January 20, 2005, 02:44 AM: Message edited by: cameragod ]

[aussie]

In the uncaring sprit of news ... photos please
btw
I trust you are OK ?

[Terry E. Toller]

Besides the normal equipment used by Television photographers, I have:

Survival equipment; canned food, canned heat, water, 12volt stove/oven, 12volt coffee pot...

Rapelling harness and 300' of line, snatch blocks and breaks.

Fire run bag with wildland fire gear.

Seven police scanners

Two five inch monitors. One is also a TV for those long, boring waiting moments.

Tools for emergency car repair. 12volt impact wrench, tire plugs, snap strap for towing other news units out of the mud.

Trauma Kit which I have used several times over the years to aid people with severe bleeding.

12volt cooler for my diet cokes.

Extra 10% pepper spray, spare .45 magazines with hydroshock rounds, vest, gas mask.

I don't use much of these things very often but if I ever need them, they are there. The food comes in handy the most. Some of those long waits can be filled with a nice snack...

[<Guns???????>]

You folks carry weapons and ammunition??

God bless the USA

[dan bach]

Originally posted by &lt;Guns???????&gt;:
You folks carry weapons and ammunition??

God bless the USA Doesn't everybody?

LOL

[dan bach]

Originally posted by Terry E. Toller:


12volt cooler for my diet cokes.

Can you leave it in the car without turning wearing down the battery?

[The Old Guy]

Hey Terry, what are you driving a 10 ton truck?

My trunk is really a hatch because I drive an Explorer with a cage. It's mostly filled with gear that is over ten years old. I ooohh and awwww when I see what the local highschools and community cable guys have.

Although I shouldn't be negeative. We did just purchase 4 sony DSR-250's which are really good for ...... midgets and women.

Oh Wait! The truck is great. Did I mention the truck? It's an explorer.

[ January 20, 2005, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: The Old Guy ]

[<a-b roll>]

A gun Terry? That idea crossed my mind but I thought the liability was too much. I want to shoot the news not make it. I do however have a 4 D-cell mag light for light of course and maybe some weirdo thompn'

[Terry E. Toller]

The liability is great, that's true. But sometimes so is the risk of being seriously injured or killed... It's a personal choice. As for shooting news or making it, there is a third option; being the news...

Of course, I also have room for an extensive light kit, tripod, DVC PRO, DV500 and other photo equipment

As for the 12volt cooler and battery. I put a second battery in my Bronco so if it goes dead, no problem. The car runs off of one battery and the second powers the scanners, inverters, cooler and even a three light (12volt) setup for location shots.

[ January 20, 2005, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Terry E. Toller ]

[A/B roll]

Not a big car guy, but can the alternater charge both both of those batteries?

[Terry E. Toller]

I also put a 90 amp alternater and a battery isolator in. It charges both batteries but isolates them when it comes to drawing power from them. Just like the ones they use in RVs. I have also seen a two battery system in a few live trucks.

A couple of times I have had a dead battery and couldn't start my car. It is funny to see the look on people's faces when I run jumper cables from one side of the engine compartment to the other and start my car. Better and faster than the auto club...

[2000lux]

As for shooting news or making it, there is a third option; being the news...Is that sort of like "Be the ball?" :D

http://www.carlspackler.com/images/cs_cc.jpg

http://www.carlspackler.com/images/cs_card.jpg

[ January 20, 2005, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: 2000lux ]

[Terry E. Toller]

Whatever... You can become a victim or take pictures of a victim...

[dhilljr]

Besides the normal camera, lights and general support gear, i have...
extra socks, pants, shirt, shoes
court clothes (in Maine when shooting pool in court, a photog MUST wear shirt, tie and jacket..I've always wondered if I could shoot in my underwear, because the rules state nothing about clothing below the waist)
emergency beef jerky supply
water
air compressor
jumper cables
small tool kit
cel phone charger
50 ft of climbing rope
bug spray
sunblock
chemical hand warmers
extra gloves for those reporters that never realize that it gets cold in Maine
MY cold weather gear, that no reporter will ever touch
and my '80's cds..yes I admit it, I was a teenager in the 80's and can't get enough of new wave music
David

[JTFCM]

I agree with you Terry, I'd carry if I could get away with it. A .45 is definately the way to go. Nothing says stop shooting at me like a .45 cal. Hydrashock ripping into your chest or even an arm for that matter.

[Terry E. Toller]

Arm? Check your sight picture... The good thing about a .45 is the BIG hole in the front of the gun. It can be seen from a distance and makes an impression. Ideally, you won't have to shoot...

[LuccaBrazzi]

My Capitol One Credit card.

Oops, my bad...I thought you asked what's in your WALLET.

[JTFCM]

I have a portable microwave unit with a 25 ft mast and an erector-set dish, we call it "the sterilizer"!

[Lense_Cap]

I keep a boat in my truck... just in case :)

[texshooter]

Originally posted by Terry E. Toller:
I also put a 90 amp alternater and a battery isolator in. It charges both batteries but isolates them when it comes to drawing power from them. Just like the ones they use in RVs. I have also seen a two battery system in a few live trucks.

A couple of times I have had a dead battery and couldn't start my car. It is funny to see the look on people's faces when I run jumper cables from one side of the engine compartment to the other and start my car. Better and faster than the auto club... Instead of running jumper cables across the engine compartment, just put in a power transfer switch, that will allow you to cross feed power from the equipment battery over to the starter for a quick boost. Our new DSNG truck is set up that way, and maybe one or two of our other trucks. The truck we had at my last job would also do this.

[ February 10, 2005, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: texshooter ]

[<uuug>]

normal stuff

and of course my "easy button"

love that ad

[newvideo]

bump