The Tip & Go Production Cart
A lighting cart designed for real film sets
Anyone who works in film and TV production knows one thing: moving gear on set is never as easy as it should be.
Power cables run across the floor.
Door thresholds catch wheels.
Rigging and stands get left in walkways.
And suddenly the production cart that’s supposed to help your workflow becomes the thing slowing you down.
For gaffers, sparks, camera assistants, and rental houses, a cart should make life easier, not harder.
That’s exactly why we created the Tip & Go Cart.
The Problem: Most Production Carts Aren’t Designed for Film Sets
Most carts are designed for warehouses, , or smooth floors.
But film sets are different.
On a typical shoot day your lighting cart or production cart might need to move through:
Studios covered in power cables and distro
Tight location doorways and hallways
Uneven flooring and outdoor terrain
Sets full of rigging, stands, and equipment cases
One of our clients came to us because he was experiencing this exact problem.
He already owned a cart, but it constantly got stuck on cables, doorways, and rigging left on the floor.
Instead of helping his workflow, it slowed him down.
As he told us:
“My cart is meant to make my job easier… but half the time I’m fighting with it.”
Anyone who has pushed a fully loaded lighting cart across a cable run knows that feeling.
Designing a Better Lighting Cart
Rather than trying to modify an existing product, we worked with the client to design a completely bespoke production cart.
We started by understanding how he actually works on set.
We discussed:
How he transports lighting kit and gear
The obstacles his cart encounters on set
How he moves equipment between locations and studios
What slows him down during a shoot
From there we began developing a concept that would become the Tip & Go Cart.
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Image: CAD design of the cart
Caption: CAD design created during the development of the Tip & Go production cart.
Using CAD modelling, we worked closely with the client to turn his idea into a practical, durable film production cart.
Introducing the Tip & Go Cart
The Tip & Go Cart is designed specifically for the challenges of moving gear on film sets.
Instead of getting stuck on cables or thresholds, the cart can tip and roll smoothly over obstacles, allowing crew members to keep moving.
This simple concept makes a big difference on a busy set.
The Tip & Go Cart allows you to:
Easily tip the cart over cables and rigging
Roll across door thresholds and uneven flooring
Move quickly between locations, studios, and sets
Transport lighting gear, batteries, and equipment efficiently
For many crews, carts often end up overloaded with milk crates, battery chargers, lighting accessories, and small equipment cases.
The Tip & Go design helps keep that gear moving smoothly across real production environments.
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Image: Finished Tip & Go cart
Caption: The finished Tip & Go lighting and production cart.
Built by Hand in Our Workshop
We’re a small business, and every cart we produce is hand built in our workshop.
We don’t mass-produce our carts in a factory.
Each production cart and lighting cart is carefully built with durability and workflow in mind.
Working closely with our client allowed us to refine the design and ensure it could handle the demands of real film sets, location shoots, and studio environments.
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Image: Workshop build process
Caption: Every Hippo Cart is hand built in our workshop.
From One Client’s Idea to a Production Cart for the Industry
During the design process, our client mentioned something interesting.
He told us that many of his friends in the industry experienced the same frustrations with their carts.
Cables across the floor.
Door thresholds catching wheels.
Rigging left in walkways.
Heavy carts full of gear, lighting equipment, batteries, and milk crates.
It became clear that this was not just a one-off problem.
It’s something that affects gaffers, lighting technicians, sparks, and rental houses across the industry.
That’s why we decided to make the Tip & Go Cart available on our website.
Available as a Standard Production Cart — or Built Around Your Kit
The Tip & Go Cart is now available as a standard production cart.
But like many of our carts, it can also be customised around your kit and workflow.
Different crews carry different equipment.
Some carts are built for:
Lighting gear and battery charging stations
Camera equipment
On-set accessories and tools
Milk crates filled with cables and adapters
If you’d like to adapt the Tip & Go Cart for your own equipment, simply message Alex to discuss a bespoke version.
Because the best carts are always the ones designed around your specific gear and workflow.
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Image: Cart moving over cables on set
Caption: Designed to move smoothly across real on-set obstacles.
Designed for Real On-Set Workflows
At Hippo Carts, many of our products begin with a real problem faced by someone working in film and TV production.
We listen.
We design.
We prototype.
And we build.
All from our workshop.
The result is equipment that helps crews move gear faster, stay organised, and work more efficiently on set.
The Tip & Go Cart is just one example of how thoughtful design can improve your workflow.
Looking for a Production Cart Built Around Your Kit?
If you're looking for a lighting cart, production cart, or custom gear cart designed specifically for the way you work on set, we’d love to hear from you.
📩 Get in touch with Alex to discuss a bespoke cart design.