T-Trak Transporting T-TRAK modules

[Point353]

I used to do that with the old Juniata Division v1. Hard pass as an option for this though. Much more expensive and a hassle compared to having her follow in the EV.

$20 for a 24-hour rental of a 4' x 8' U-Haul trailer doesn't seem that expensive.

[Dave V]

$20 for a 24-hour rental of a 4' x 8' U-Haul trailer doesn't seem that expensive.

It's a 2-day show plus setup on Friday, but yeah, I suppose at 20 bucks a day, or 60, that's not bad. But picking up and dropping off is an a$$-pain...I know that all too well from when I used to show the old JD that way.

[arbomambo]

$20 for a 24-hour rental of a 4' x 8' U-Haul trailer doesn't seem that expensive.

$20 a day?
Completely unrealistic…. Denise and I travel, anywhere from 2 hours to 7 hours to the venues (train shows, RPMs, specific T-TRAK events throughout the Southeastern region. In order to be at the venue, first thing on setup day, Usually Friday before the weekend show, we need to leave the day before. Add that to the rental agreement. The shows and setups are almost ALWAYS two-day affairs, spanning the entire weekend. We also stay in town Sunday night so we don’t have to drive 7 hours at night after tearing down after the show. That means the earliest you can return the rental trailer is Monday.
So, now the trailer must be rented for 5 days, which is a minimum of $100.00 for the enclosed 4’ trailer. This doesn’t include the insurance, which is $30.00 for the least amount that must be purchased.
So, minimum, $130.00… oh, and if your tow vehicle doesn’t have the class 2 ball the 4’ trailer uses, that tongue has to be rented as well (or purchased there or elsewhere - $20.00 at the cheapest, Harbor Freight)
$150.00
Now, I’ll admit that $150.00, for a trailer, for 5 days, in which to transport your modules (plus tables, tablecoths, bus wire/accessories, tool box, comfy folding camp chairs, etc.) freeing up your vehicle for your luggage, dog, TRAINS to run,  etc. is still a bargain and a great option for us, it isn’t a simple matter of $20.00.
Depending on how many modules we bring, especially if the setup is large and requires a maximum effort of our module inventory, we like the option of renting these 4’ U-Haul trailers.
If we’re only bringing a few modules, we don’t bother.

[randgust]

One of the biggest reasons I went Ttrak instead of Ntrak was the ability to transport modules without a truck.   Haven't run out of space yet....

[peteski]

One of the biggest reasons I went Ttrak instead of Ntrak was the ability to transport modules without a truck.   Haven't run out of space yet....

I guess it all depends on how many modules you own and display.  Fay Chin from Northeast T-Trak uses a large Ford van (don't remember the model name but it is similar size to Mercedes Sprinters) to transport his modules. 

[Dave V]

Avoiding the hassle of the trailer is part of why I am sticking with small layouts. My old Juniata Division used to fit in a Honda Odyssey with the middle seats pulled out, but in 2009 we replaced it with a Pilot, and from then on out, transporting the HCD-based layout required a trailer.

My Colorado Midland layout gets its size from the available depth of the Pilot with seats folded down.

We haul a camper with the Pilot, so I'm no stranger to towing...it just isn't something I want to do if I don't have to.

[davefoxx]

27 gallon tote from Lowes or HD. Has to be the yellow lid version. Then using these 3D printed brackets, you can put two doubles or 4 singles per tote.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6899666 all is explained in this link.

I love this!  If I were hauling T-TRAK modules around, this would be ideal.  Allows you to safely haul multiple modules, and you even save trips to/from the car when loading/unloading.  The totes stack, so they’ll travel well, and you can put your DCC system and rolling stock in one additional tote.

Kudos to that inventor.

DFF

[bman]

it'll be a week before I can get a photo but our club made end brackets that bolt 2 modules with permanently attached sky boards stacked alternating together essentially forming a crate and can move around and stack of need be.

[Point353]

Avoiding the hassle of the trailer is part of why I am sticking with small layouts. My old Juniata Division used to fit in a Honda Odyssey with the middle seats pulled out, but in 2009 we replaced it with a Pilot, and from then on out, transporting the HCD-based layout required a trailer.

My Colorado Midland layout gets its size from the available depth of the Pilot with seats folded down.

We haul a camper with the Pilot, so I'm no stranger to towing...it just isn't something I want to do if I don't have to.

Props to you for being willing and able to take an entire layout, or more than a couple of modules, to a show.

For the better part of four decades I'd take a pair of NTrak "plain-old-four-footer" modules to local shows in the back of my SUV or in the trunk and rear seat of a large sedan.
No multi-day affairs nor shows much further than an hour away from home. 
Some time ago we lost the guys who had large vehicles that could hold the four corner modules for an NTrak set-up, so we migrated to T-Trak.
Besides the easier transport, not having to fuss much with leg leveling, electrical hook-ups, connecting tracks and c-clamps is so refreshing.
We aren't setting up a huge display, so plugging in a DC power-pack (or two), or a power-cab for DCC, is sufficient.     

[arbomambo]

I guess it all depends on how many modules you own and display.  Fay Chin from Northeast T-Trak uses a large Ford van (don't remember the model name but it is similar size to Mercedes Sprinters) to transport his modules. 

Fay and Jane have a Ford Transit Van, built for passengers… he removed the bench seats to use it as a cargo van

[wm3798]

I reccommend the old skyboard crate trick.


Build end panels so you can bolt two modules together.


Put a simple 1/2" frame on the interior of the panel to protect the track connections ( the Achilles heel of TTrak)

 Use wing nuts to hold it all together and put cabinet handles on the ends for ease of handling.

T takes about three minutes to disassemble each pair, and maybe five to reassemble.  Take a battery screw gun to the show and it's incredibly efficient.  Just make uour skyboards a uniform height, mine are 10", and pair the modules so your developed areas are paired with flatter scenes so the structures don't hit the terrain above them.  If you use common dimension across module sets, they'll also stack on a handtruck for easy moving, and there's no tote to futz with.

This method also protects rhe modules when they're in storage.

Lee

[bman]

This is almost exactly how our club has done it. The only difference is the construction of the eend pieces that attach to the modules.

[John]

I only have (1) FreemoN module (that is 1'x4' (I know it's not quite standard size, but it fits into the back of my car.  I used to bring a bunch of stuff, but getting too old for that .. easy peasy now .. setup and tear down 30 minutes max each

[Lackawannae8]

I recommend 27 GAL Lowes yellow top totes for doubles and singles they average $5-9 bucks a pop but are well worth the investment. if you can find the link or know someone with a 3d printer they can make you these pocket inserts that use PVC to support across to stack the modules if your top modules are shallow enough. I like them alot especially for basement storage

[randgust]

Mine are pretty much the same design as Lee's, and have taken some pretty rough handling.

I do transport all the other 'misc' stuff in a plastic tote.   But yes, everything is glued down to allow the flip of one module over another.

The only thing I've done lately is throw a piece of plastic over the lower one (a cut up trash bag works fine) so that anything 'loose' like foam or scenery doesn't get lost in the weeds (literally) in the module under it.