ENG Documentary camera van tour

A walk around tour of an independent director of photography's camera truck. Learn more about our services at www.WintersMediaGroup.com

[@jamesmathews243]

Brilliant. Never considered a rolling tool chest. Also, flat LEDs and Rode Wireless Go's have changed my life too. Hahaha

[@CrankyCameraman]

Full credit goes to Formula 1 and Nascar teams. Full-on light blub moment, covering trackside, watching the pit crews roll off their trailers with instant access to equipment. Then wander back to the TV trailers and spend the next 3 hours lifting, stacking, and sorting cases.

[@directoradamg]

One of my favorite, if not my most favorite production van video!

[@CrankyCameraman]

Mine too, thank you.

[@johnpaulporitz]

Thanks for a great video. Really like the mechanic's rolling tool case implementation and the shore power.

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks. The tool chest was a massive workflow improvement.

[@AlframVideography]

You are freakin awesome man!! The amount of information and value you provided I can't into words. Took so much away from that the least I could do is like and subscribe!! Thank You!!

[@CrankyCameraman]

I appreciate this, thank you.

[@305kubrick]

Great build! Thanks for sharing.

[@yauchungyip]

Nice to see your video , I am thinking to build one in Japan Kyoto this year , this video gave a lot of knowhow , and details , thanks for sharing your experience

[@adrianrivera6159]

Loved it! I find this very useful, as I’m in the process of building a camera van. Thanks for the video!

[@CrankyCameraman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RedFlyerMedia]

You planted some Great ideas in my brain! THANK YOU!

[@CrankyCameraman]

It was the perfect city truck for me. Happy the info is helping others.

[@createdbykjvideo]

instant subscribe

[@ericdargan]

This was great! Thanks so much for making this

[@CrankyCameraman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JasonCohenphoto]

Awesome super practical build! Thanks for making this video!

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks. Served me well for 4 years.

[@JasonCohenphoto]

@@CrankyCameraman Nice! Transitioning from a Sprinter to a Nissan NV and planning... Definitely helpful to see how others are doing it as well!

[@HugoWill]

So awesome. Thanks for the video

[@mattiagri]

Wow! Small, but very smart. I haven't seen a such well "zipped" van so frequently :D

[@ForGrimTilTV]

Awesome!! Love your Channel 👍

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks!

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Nice rig! Well planned.

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks! 👍

[@eyeconikmedia2058]

you know... just got the gear truck and was so happy to start moving away from the run n gun setup.... then saw this and may have to find a happy balance... i like the low profile light stands

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks. Happy balance for the win. Good luck with the build.

[@huyked]

That is SOOOO cool! What an amazing van! I am curious, what type of insurance coverage is needed in case of a crash or it all this equipment gets stolen along with the van? How much is it per month? Maybe a good question for a future video?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks, I didn't release how dirty it is until I watched the video. Here is a link to my video discussing expensive insurance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH20qIFjotxqeM0

[@CrankyCameraman]

Also, it is important to verify coverage includes theft from a locked unattended vehicle. By default most policies do not include, you must pay extra for the option.

[@huyked]

@@CrankyCameraman Like you mentioned, it's a work van. I don't mind it being dirty. :D Thank you for that link, plus the timestamp. I just watched it. Thank you for the reminder to keep on the lookout for knowing if the policy covers an unattended vehicle!

[@robert_starling]

Cool stuff! I'm building out a Sprinter van as a camera / production vehicle. Where did you get that ramp and how do you like it? I was thinking more of a ramp that was not attached but then there's the storage issues....

[@CrankyCameraman]

DiscountRamps.com. Go as long of a ramp as possible. If the manufacture recommended is 8' go 10' feet. You want it attached, a floating ramp is a huge PIA (my first van was that way), slow to deploy. Second, it would need to be strapped to the van anytime there is a load on it, otherwise it can kick off the tailgate and fall to the ground. An electrician I use to work with broke his back when a ramp dropped with a cart he was pushing. Injury ended his career. Happy building... If you design it to push a 100lb cart, soon enough there will be a 300lb cart on it.

[@SandersMedia]

This is sweet. Did you have to register it as a commercial vehicle for any reason?

[@CrankyCameraman]

As far as DOT, no as the weight is under 10,000 lbs. I think the state of California may have registered it as "Commercial," I don't remember. Auto insurance was a commercial policy.

[@drewbdarby]

Awesome. Makes me want to have fewer air travel jobs and more jobs I can drive to so I could justify a van.

[@CrankyCameraman]

Thanks... Past few years my work is trending in the opposite direction.

[@adamzuehlke1044]

What make/model/yr of van is this? I’m looking at getting something similar. Love your setup

[@CrankyCameraman]

2016 Ford Transit Connect.

[@buttonupproductions6639]

I love this. So many questions. How come you got rid of all your pelicans? To streamline? Have you ever done road gigs where you slept in this van like you do with your pro master now?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Removed cases from the truck to save time and minimize attention when setting up and wrapping out. I work in many film unfriendly areas. The goal is to be ready to shoot off the truck, without pulling cases out and opening on the ground. Or, to drop the ramp in roll equipment in with one trip.

[@CrankyCameraman]

I spent one night in the van, I had a night shoot and a next day production, 6 hours of down time, tried to sleep on the floor but didn't get much rest. My new van (Promaster), I sleep well up to about 82 F if low humidity (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, West Texas). The Transit Connect is too small for a proper bunk when loaded with equipment.

[@buttonupproductions6639]

Awesome thank you for the info. I’m just starting to do more travel jobs as a DP, but also work as Gaffer looking into their first van. So I appreciate it!

[@IAMJOELBURRIS]

I had a cstand come loose and slam into the headrest for me. Scary stuff!

[@CrankyCameraman]

Ouch, yes!

[@valverdemichael]

Great van! Where did you get that ramp?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Discount Ramps dot com 8 foot

[@RobertoRaymon]

Always like to ask people when you have a video production van what gear is it safe to leave in the van when it's hot outside such as cables etc?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Past 8+ weeks have been over 100F in Texas. I leave everything in the van. Probably reducing the life of batteries however loading and unloading adds to my work day and increase risk of leaving something behind. Cost of doing business.

[@ReelKineticActionDesign]

With your Shore Power, does that mean you have an extra battery/power source in the car to charge your batteries?

[@CrankyCameraman]

After multiple fails forgetting to bring batteries to set, from long days and sleep deprivation, "shore power" keeps all chargers and batteries in the truck. Each night plug the van into an AC power source, no unpack and repack to charge equipment batteries.

[@jporourke1106]

Is the the extended wheelbase transit connect or standard?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Extended.

[@UmbrellaBathtub]

Thank you for the video. I’m building my own van and I’m considering the caddy. Can you fit a junior magliner through the side door? Does it fit between the two doors?

[@CrankyCameraman]

Yes, a Jr should fit, the mini size will for sure. However, you will most likely need to remove the plastic side door footwells and install a sheet of plywood as I've done to this van. Otherwise, you lose over a foot of width due to the footwells. On the magliner the red handles may stick out too far. If that is the case, Backstage or Filmtools make a mod that sets the red handles to pivot when in transport.

[@MrApplebumPS]

Get cage in that van. Nice gear and you want to keep it.

[@CrankyCameraman]

A cage where? The van has a solid partition and no windows in the cargo area.

[@MrApplebumPS]

@@CrankyCameraman van fabrication vendor. I have a full cage in my van. Just when you least expect it your gear gone. Trust me.

[@CrankyCameraman]

@@MrApplebumPS Like this? Love it, never seen before. Thx

[@CrankyCameraman]

@@MrApplebumPS hydrobuilder.com/nor-cal-vans-cannacage-van-conversion-kit.html

[@MrApplebumPS]

Exactly.

[@juliocgr]

Can you give me the model number of the ramp please

[@CrankyCameraman]

Discount Ramps dot com 8 foot aluminum tri-fold.

[@juliocgr]

@@CrankyCameraman I don’t see the model how much if for the ramp I want to buy the same one

[@juliocgr]

@@CrankyCameraman Got it thanks