LOSMANDY SPIDER DOLLY

The Losmandy Spider Dolly is the most portable professional dolly on the market. Combined with a piece of FlexTrak, the simple 3-Leg Spider converts your tripod into an inexpensive, extremely portable, tracking dolly. Add a fourth leg, and you can further accessorize it, as pictured here, to be a fully rideable dolly with adjustable center column, a seat that pivots 360 degrees around the column, foot platforms, and pushbar. Both the 3-Leg and 4-Leg version can work on traditional steel track, or on track made of pvc pipe, or on our award winning FlexTrak--a flexible track made of a special rubber compound that not only rolls up into a bundle for easy transport, but also allows you to make straight or curved dolly moves with almost no set-up time.

The rideable 4-Leg Dolly packs into three cases. The largest, which has a fold out handle and wheels, carries the base, the 4 wheels, the push bar assembly, and the foot platforms, and weighs 80 lbs. The Adjustable Column with its Top (either 100mm, 150mm, or Mitchell) goes into the second case which weighs 28 lbs. The Seat Assembly goes is in the third case and weighs 38 lbs. You can now have a rideable dolly system with 40 feet of flexible track and transport it in almost any vehicle.

And what makes the Losmandy dollies especially distinctive are three things: 1) the ability to upgrade a 3-Leg tripod dolly to become a fully rideable 4-Leg Dolly, or conversely, to be able to convert a 4-Leg back down to a 3-Leg if one needs to work alone; 2) the floating wheels on one side to accommodate the somewhat arbitrary alignment of the FlexTrak (see below and/or the FlexTrak page for more on this); and 3) the seat which pivots around the column. For a discussion the advantages of a pivoting seat like ours, see the article "Pivoting Seat vs. Stationary Seat vs. No Seat" on our Learning Center Page.

Also, the Extended Leg Version of the Spider, when combined with floor wheels and the LWT Tripod, creates an easy and safe way to position heavy cameras and jib arms.

 
Spider Dolly - Camera Dolly and Jib Arm Dolly
4 leg configuration shown with DV Adjustable Column, Push Bar, Swivel Seat, 100mm DV top, Platforms and Track Wheels.
Also shown: LOSMANDY FLEXTRAK


The 3 -Leg Spider Dolly is now available in a longer leg version. Click here for details.

Click HERE for the FLEXTRAK page

Click HERE for Assembly Instruction Videos

Supports 400 lbs. (182kg). The legs fold up for shipping.

Click photos for larger image

3 Leg Spider Camera Dolly   Spider Dolly with LWT   Spider Dolly with Floor Wheels
3 Leg Spider shown with optional tripod and FlexTrak   NEW! 3-Leg Spider Dolly with longer legs for a 36" footprint. Shown here with the LWT Lightweight Tripod and safety cable.   4 leg configuration shown with DV Adjustable Column, Push Bar, Swivel Seat, 100mm DV top, Platforms and Floor Wheels.

The Spider Dolly can be used in
either a 3 leg or 4 leg configuration.

The legs can be folded into a compact package for shipping.

Spider Dolly Spider Dolly

Losmandy Spider Dollies have a unique wheel system. On one side, the wheels simply pivot at the center of the wheel cluster. We call this side the guide wheel side. On the other side, the wheels have a double pivot, which allows the wheels to float in and out several inches to compensate for variations in the spacing of the FlexTrak.

 
Double Pivot Wheels





Swivel must remain within this range



SPIDER DOLLY SYSTEMS
3-Leg Spider with Track Wheels for use with your tripod
 (includes tripod tie-downs - see below)
$1195
3-Leg Spider with Floor Wheels for use with your tripod $1195
4-Leg Spider with Track Wheels, DV Column, 100mm Top, Swivel Seat Mechanism, Single Pivot Seat, Pushbar & set of 4 Platforms
 (as pictured above)
$3990
Set of 3 Cases for 4-Leg Spider System

$1145
Tripod foot tiedowns for 3-leg Spider Dolly

The 3-Leg Spider Dolly's price of $1195 includes your choice of either of these two tiedowns.
Please specify your preference when ordering.

Manfrotto Tiedown Cartoni Tiedown

This Manfrotto tie down is for Manfrotto, Bogen, and Vinten Tripods with a double-spiked foot.

Note the ball shape on which the tripod foot will register. The tripod should have a corresponding concave shape between its spikes, as well as a lip to receive the rubber strap's downward pressure.

This Cartoni tiedown works with most professional tripods.
Note it has a V-Shaped receptacle for the tripod foot to register on.

This Manfrotto casting can be added to our Spider Leg to accommodate tripods that do not have the double spike and lip for the rubber strap.

Note: this option is $90 for the set of 3 mounted on our Spider legs.
Note: this option will not fit into our custom case for the 3-Leg Spider.
Note to dealers: there is no discount on this $90 option.


Manfrotto Casting

SPIDER DOLLY Now available in LONGER LEG version

Adding still more modularity to our dolly system, we now offer a Losmandy 3-Leg Spider Dolly with longer legs. These will provide a 36" footprint instead of the 24" foot print of our standard track dolly, and can come with either track or floor wheels. For Jib work, the need is generally for positioning the jib, so floor wheels are usually used.

Pictured here also is a safety cable that can be added to increase security to the system. Now one does not rely solely on the rubber straps on the tripod feet to secure the tripod to the dolly, but rather now one has downward pressure being exerted by the turn-buckled safety chain which makes a much more positive connection.

The price of the 3-Leg Spider is the same whether with short or long legs:
3-Leg w/ floor wheels -- $1195
An additional set of legs only (short or long) -- $225
Custom Case for 3-Leg Spider w/ extended legs and floor wheels -- $350.
Safety cable -- $45

Spider Dolly with Longer Legs
We have been selling the Bogen 3198 rolling spreader for those wanting to be able to roll our Jib arms from place to place once built. We used this Bogen dolly because it provided a larger footprint than our Spider Dolly which was designed primarily for track use, and therefore needed the 24.5 inch separation dictated by standard dolly track. However, under a jib, this footprint felt too small. Over time, many customers complained that the Bogen unit, while providing a desired footprint and certainly having a good price at only $395, was not robust enough for their needs.


SPIDER DOLLY ACCESSORIES:
DV Adjustable Column $895
Adjustments are in 1.5" (3.8cm) increments. Holds up to 200 lbs. (91kg) and adjusts from 21" (53cm) to 38" (97cm), mounts to either 3-Leg or 4-Leg Spider Dolly and accepts 100mm, 150mm and Mitchell Tops. Wt. 9 lbs. (4.1kg)
(Tops are Extra)

The height range of the DV Adjustable Column is based on using the lowest position for putting the camera at an appropriate height for shooting someone in a seated position, and the high position for shooting someone standing.

DV Adjustable Column
Click for larger image
100mm DV Top $200
150mm DV Top $325
Mitchell DV Top $300
360° Swivel Seat Mechanism $425
Single Pivot Seat $300
Push Bar Assembly $350
Set of 4 Platforms  (only for 4 leg configuration) $275
Low Shot Kit $650
Leg and track wheel  (to convert 3 leg Spider Dolly to 4 leg) $350
Track Wheels (each)  multiply by 3 or 4 for set price $200
Floor Wheels (each)  multiply by 3 or 4 for set price $200



Floor Wheels New Floor Wheel Design

Click for larger image

A 3-Leg Spider can have all three wheels with brakes that lock the rotation of the wheel, or it can have 2 positionally locking wheels and 1 braking wheel. The 2 and 1 combination creates a tricycle effect that can make steering more precise, whereas using 3 braking wheels gives more rigidity and is often preferred by those using the dolly to position a jib arm.

A 4-Leg Spider will have 2 of each wheel: 2 to lock in parallel, and 2 to float for steering and locking.

Wheels -- $200 each = $600 for a 3-Leg Spider, $800 for 4-Leg Spider

Note: these may appear to be simply inexpensive off-the shelf casters and wheels attached to our wheel arms. In reality they are a special soft rubber wheel with precision bearings, and casters with precision bearings. This combination allows for a smooth and noiseless ride whereas off-the shelf wheels and casters would be bumpy and noisy.


"LOW SHOT" KIT FOR SPIDER DOLLY    $650

Replaces the DV Column for low shot applications. The offset 100mm Top can be mounted directly to the top of the Spider. Allows 7", 11", 15", 19" or 23" height.

HEIGHT RANGE OF THE LOW SHOT KIT:
(Measured from ground to bowl base, including the height of the dolly track)

23"                      19"                       15"                      11"                      7"
Low Shot Kit

Low Shot Kit on Spider Dolly

Low Shot Kit shown here with Spider Dolly, Swivel Seat, Platforms and Track Wheels


Click for larger image


LOSMANDY MINI TROLLEY

For table top work where a track separation of 9-10 inches is preferable to the normal 24" separation required by the Spider Dolly.

If you own either the 3-Leg or 4-Leg Spider Dolly you already own the Mini Trolley.
3 Leg Mini Trolley
Disassemble the Spider by removing the through-bolts that connect the two plates and legs. You do not use either the top plate or the Spider Legs. Instead, you simply mount the wheel-arms directly to the Spider's bottom plate using the through holes labeled either "3-Leg" or "4 Leg" depending on whether you are using 3 or 4 wheels for the Mini Trolley.

Notice that in the top picture the 100mm cup is attached directly to the Spider's Plate. For 4-Leg owners, you can use the 100mm cup from the top of your DV Column. For 3-Leg owners, you will need to purchase this additional cup. For those requiring a Mitchell top or 150mm cup, these can be added by using a set of risers (bottom photo)  that attach to pre-drilled holes in the Spider's plate.

100mm cup -- $100
150mm cup and 3 risers -- $225
Mitchell top  and 3 risers -- $150
3-Leg Mini Trolley with 100mm cup


4 Leg Mini Trolley
4-Leg Mini Trolley with 150mm cup

Mini Trolley w/ 3 wheels and 100mm cup, if purchased separately --  $775


CASES
Case for 3-Leg Spider
$295
Case for 3-Leg Spider w/ extended legs and floor wheels $350
Case w/ wheels and fold out handle for 4-Leg Spider
$495
Case for Low Shot Kit
$295
Case for DV Column & 100mm Top
$325
Case for Swivel Seat System
$325

3 leg Spider Dolly Case 3 Leg Spider Case (Long)

3-Leg Spider Dolly Case 3-Leg Spider Dolly Case (long)

4 Leg Spider Dolly Case DV Column Case

Column Case
Swivel Seat Case

Seat case
4-Leg Spider Dolly Case
with wheels and fold out handle