Using a spider dolly outdoors?

[Mark Kenfield]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering if anyone's ever shot with a spider dolly outdoors over uneven terrain, and if so how you setup your track?

Would running the standard spider dolly flextrack over long planks of wood provide the level grounding you'd need for smooth moves? Or would conventionally leveled metal/PVC straight track be necessary instead?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[Charles Papert]

Losmandy (manufacturers of the spider dolly) make inexpensive channels and crossbars for the FlexTrak to turn it into a version of standard dolly track:

Losmandy FlexTrak - a flexible dolly track made of a rubber compound

[Mark Kenfield]

I did notice those Charles, do you think they'd be a better option than some regular steel/aluminium tubing?

[Frank Glencairn]

I often use a ladder on uneven ground or in the woods with my JuicedLink Dolly, that is pretty similar to the spider.

[Mark Kenfield]

Hmm... interesting idea Frank, that could save a lot of hassle if I can make it work with the Spider Dolly. I'll give it a try when the dolly arrives.

[Charles Papert]

Sorry I missed responding Mark--as far as the Losmandy parts for the Flextrak, they would work also with tubing (don't think you want to be hauling around steel, but yes aluminum or PVC). Your trick with all of those options for uneven terrain is floating the whole thing above the terrain so that it is flat and level. A ladder is certainly easier in the sense that the two sides are at least fixed to each other, like standard track, so it's just a matter of wedging the thing to level. Whether the spider dolly will run properly on a ladder is another question, I've never done it.

I've had the Spider dolly and Flextrak for quite a few years and while I don't use them all that much, they work great. Extremely smooth, rugged and beautifully made.