Tech Support & Customer Service: +1 (917) 994-6077
Tech Support & Customer Service: +1 (917) 994-6077
Help Center
Straight answers on shipping, returns, Lava Cart shelves and Lava Flats, based on the questions customers ask us most.
We could not find that one.
Try a different word, or ask us directly: support@lavacartnyc.comor +1 (917) 994-6077.
Section 1
Delivery times, drop-shipped RocknRoller carts, returns, warranty, discounts and how to reach us.
Items that are in stock ship the same or next business day from Upstate New York, usually by UPS Ground. Items marked Pre-Order are not in stock yet and ship as soon as new inventory arrives.
If you need something by a specific date, contact us before you order and we will tell you what to expect.
Within the United States, with standard UPS Ground, expect about:
Faster options such as express or next-day air are offered at checkout.
All RocknRoller® products are drop shipped to you directly from our supplier in Milwaukee, so they ship separately from items that leave our Upstate New York stock. Standard UPS Ground from the supplier can take longer, and we do not control their shipping speed.
This means that if you order a cart and a shelf together and choose the cheapest shipping speed, the shelf may arrive before the cart. The cart has its own tracking number, which may be sent a little after the rest of your order. If you are working to a deadline, choose a faster shipping speed at checkout, or contact us first.
If you have not received tracking for your cart, contact us and we will check with the warehouse.
You will receive a tracking number by email when your order ships. If your order includes a RocknRoller cart, it has a separate tracking number from the supplier.
You can also ask in the live chat (bottom right of any page) and choose Track my order, or email us with your order number.
We focus on shipping within the United States. If you are outside the US, please order through B&H Photo. B&H carries many Lava Cart products and offers easy international shipping with simpler rates and customs handling.
RocknRoller® carts ship within the USA only. If the item you need is not available at B&H, email us and we will let you know what is possible.
We do not offer local pickup. If you would like to pick up in person, you can do that at the B&H SuperStore in New York City.
Otherwise, we ship from Upstate New York, and in-stock items usually leave the same or next business day.
Yes to both. We are an authorized RocknRoller® Multi-Cart® dealer, and B&H Photo carries many Lava Cart products.
Yes. Join our email list (the pop-up on the site) and you will get $25 off your first order of $299 or more.
Welcome codes cannot be combined with automatic sale pricing. If your code does not work, check that your order total is at least $299, then contact us and we will sort it out.
The item is not in stock right now. You can order it today and it will ship as soon as new inventory arrives. If the button does not respond or shows an error, refresh the page and try again, or contact us and we can place the order for you.
Sometimes. On supported product pages, use the Condition drop-down to see used or open-box options and prices. That is why a price on a collection page can look lower than the new price on the product page. Availability changes, so check back.
Contact us as soon as you can with your order number. If your order has not shipped yet, we can usually change the address, update items or cancel it. If it has already shipped, our return policy applies.
Yes. If you are buying several Lava Flats, outfitting a crew or ordering multiple carts, email us the list of what you need and we will put together a quote.
Yes. Email us your order number and we will send an invoice.
You have 30 days after delivery to request a return. Items must be in the condition you received them, in the original packaging, with a receipt or proof of purchase. Returns sent without contacting us first are not accepted.
If your return is approved, we send you a return label and instructions. The label is charged at the market rate and that cost is deducted from your refund.
Email us at support@lavacartnyc.com with your order number and what you would like to return. For an exchange, return the original item and, once the return is accepted, place a new order for the replacement.
We notify you after we inspect the returned item. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method within 10 business days, though your bank or card issuer may take longer to post it. If more than 15 business days pass after approval, contact us.
Our products carry a 1-year factory parts warranty. If a part is defective or breaks under normal use, we replace it. We are a small company and we want you to be happy, so if something is not right we will make it right.
Please check your order when it arrives and contact us right away with your order number. A photo helps. We will send replacement parts promptly, for example missing hardware, knobs, poles or a damaged part.
Section 2
EGON and MOTI shelf systems, RocknRoller cart compatibility, setup, stability and technical questions.
A Lava Cart is a dual-shelf work surface that mounts onto a RocknRoller® Multi-Cart® or another compatible utility cart and turns it into a mobile workstation for camera, DIT, audio, lighting, DJ and production crews. Setup and breakdown need no tools, and the shelves are handmade in the USA.
The two shelf systems are the EGON (40") and the MOTI (28").
If you are not sure, tell us your cart and the gear you carry and we will recommend one.
EGON: RocknRoller R8, R9, R9XLHD, R10, R11, R12 RT, R12 Stealth, R14, R16 and R18; Gator Frameworks (Standard and All-Terrain); Rockville Pro.
MOTI: RocknRoller R6, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12 RT, R12 Stealth and R16; Gator Frameworks (Standard and All-Terrain); Rockville Pro.
With the 90° Hole Conversion Kit: ProAim Vanguard, On-Stage UTC5500 and Gravity GR (Large).
Not compatible: the RocknRoller R2 is too short for either shelf, and the EGON does not fit the R6 because the R6 does not extend long enough (use the MOTI).
No. The EGON and MOTI are shelf systems only, so you need a compatible cart. If you want everything in one order, choose a Lava Cart bundle, such as the 40" Lava Cart (EGON shelf and R12 cart) or the 28" Lava Cart (MOTI shelf and R12 cart). Prices on the shelf pages are for the shelf only.
No, the shelves are sold as a complete dual-shelf system. The bottom shelf is important for the rigidity and stability of the whole unit: it acts as a wedge that locks the unit together.
Spacer kits are not required, but we highly recommend them for most cart and shelf combinations. Without them the rails may not stay parallel and the mounting rods can stick out past the rail end blocks. Spacers are not included in the shelf because the right size depends on your cart.
On the spacer kit page, choose your cart first, then the shelf, and it shows the right kit. The R14 shares its handles with the R18 and does not need spacers.
The square blocks at the ends of the rails need to be flipped for the R18. Check the very back page of the instruction manual for the steps. When the blocks are flipped, there is a larger hole that allows more rod length.
Yes, with the 90° Hole Conversion Kit. The pre-drilled holes in those carts face the wrong direction for our rod mounting system, so the kit helps you drill new holes in the cart frame. It requires basic power tool skills and careful measuring (tools not included), and you do the work at your own risk. A video with full instructions is on the kit page.
Most carts do not. To check, try a 5/16" bolt in your cart's mounting holes. If it goes in without force, the rods will fit. If it does not, a rattail file can open the hole slightly.
EGON (40"): 36 lb. Usable top shelf 40" x 23", bottom shelf 40" x 16". Folded for travel: 44" x 23" x 4.5".
MOTI (28"): 26 lb. Usable top shelf 28" x 23", bottom shelf 28" x 16". Folded for travel: 32" x 23" x 4.5".
Rated load: 350 lb on the top shelf and 500 lb on the bottom shelf. Always stay within your cart's own capacity as well.
Weights are for the shelf system only. For a sense of the total, an R12 cart weighs about 39 lb.
There is about 23" between the bottom of the top shelf's rail and the loading surface of the bottom shelf. On most carts, such as the R12 and Gator, the top working surface sits around 38" off the floor, and there are several mounting-hole options if you want a different height.
The shelves have removable grommet caps for cable pass-through or monitor poles (three on the EGON, two on the MOTI) and tapped 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 holes along the support rails for arms, clamps, mounts and accessories.
Anodized aluminum, hardened steel, molded ABS plastic and premium veneered plywood. The top has a non-slip hexagon-pattern surface with ABS edge protection, so gear stays put. The shelves are handmade in the USA, and your utility cart serves as the chassis.
No tools are needed to assemble or break down the shelf system. One tip: the shelves may arrive in rigid packing bonded with screws, so keep a #2 Phillips screwdriver handy to unpack them.
A little play is normal with folding carts. These steps help:
The bottom shelf also helps: it acts as a wedge and adds stability to the whole unit.
It removes the wobble on an R12 RT or R12 Stealth. You need one set per cart, and it mounts on the front handle side only, where the cart has the pre-drilled holes. You can leave it installed. Just loosen the tension bolt before you break down the cart. It works on the R12 only.
The two shelves fold together into a compact unit about 4.5" thick, and they strap together for travel. The EGON packs down to 44" x 23" and the MOTI to 32" x 23".
Our products are designed mainly for local travel, so there is no dedicated travel case, but customers do fly with them. We have not flown with one ourselves, so this is what customers have told us works.
1. Take the wheels off (optional). On an R12 or R18, use the Wheel Quick Release Kit to take the wheels off and pack them in a separate bag. Keep the washers and bearings in the wheel.
2. Keep the frame together. Use velcro straps so the cart handles do not flop around.
3. Wrap the shelf unit. Wrap the whole shelf unit tightly in film stretch wrap. Do not rely on the nylon straps alone. Bring the roll with you, because you will need it for the flight home.
Check your airline's size and weight rules first.
Light rain and wet conditions are fine as long as you dry it off properly afterward. Long exposure to moisture, or letting it stay saturated, can cause damage. A waterproof grill or patio-furniture cover may work well to protect the cart when it is parked.
The upgrade makes the wheels roll more easily under heavy loads, on grass and on gravel. Buy the quantities for your cart:
Fit can be snug on some carts. If a bearing is tight, a little fine sandpaper on the axle and some bike or axle grease helps. The outer washer can be reused and hammered back into place.
It replaces the cotter pins on an R12 or R18 so that all four wheels come off without tools. That makes it easy to fit the cart into a car trunk or a tight space. When you remove the rear wheels, make sure the washers and bearings stay in the wheel.
The mount is a pole that passes through a grommet hole in the work surface. It has a universal VESA plate (75 mm and 100 mm hole patterns) that slides on and off the pole and locks with one thumb screw. The pole is about 16" tall. A collar locks the column, so you can set it at any height you like within its range.
Our outlet is a North American outlet rated 125 V / 12 A / 60 Hz (15 A max, 1875 W). The USB ports output USB-A: 5 V 3 A, 9 V 2 A, 12 V 1.5 A; USB-C: 5 V 3 A, 9 V 2.22 A, 12 V 1.67 A; and up to 15.5 W combined.
If you prefer a different power strip, you can mount your own using the Outlet Mounting Hardware. Installation is easy and you can do it yourself.
Lava Hooks are medium-duty and recommended for up to 40 lb each. They mount to the end or side of the deck rail with a hand knob, or to the cart frame if you are not using the shelf.
Yes. The RocknRoller handle bags and the multi-pocket tool bag work with the shelf attached, and the shelf does not block access to them.
We stock parts such as knobs, thumb nuts, grommets, nylon straps, outlets, hook hardware and rail end plates. If you cannot find what you need, contact us.
Section 3
Portable 4x8 light-control panels: what is in the kit, mounting, sizing and care.
A Lava Flat is a portable 4' x 8' light-control panel that replaces bulky foam-core V-flats. A 48" x 96" dual-sided grid cloth panel is held by collapsible shock-pole crossbars (an elastic design inspired by tent poles) so it opens to full size and packs down for transport. It mounts on a standard light stand or C-stand and works for bounce, negative fill, blocking and set division, in the studio and on location.
Each Lava Flat kit includes:
Kits "with Light Stand" add a stand. Double kits contain two complete sets, including two mounting blocks and four poles. If anything is missing, contact us and we will send it right away.
Classic Black & White is dual-sided: white for bounce and fill, black for flagging and negative fill. Full Diffusion (1 Stop) is a translucent grid cloth panel for softening and diffusing light. Both are 4' x 8' and use the same frame, poles and mounting block.
The panels use nylon grid cloth. It is fire retardant, which makes it safe for use on all sets.
It does the same jobs, bounce, negative fill, blocking and set division, but folds into a bag about 13.5" x 15.5" and about 1.5" thick instead of needing a van or a large car. It hangs from a light stand or C-stand instead of standing on the floor, and you flip the panel to switch between white and black.
The Lava Flat mounts on any standard light stand or C-stand using the included custom mounting block, which has a 5/8" baby junior receiver and a 1/4"-20 female thread. If you do not have a stand, you can add the LAVA Light Stand to your kit.
No. Each Flat includes two collapsible poles, but you really only need one. Slide the second pole into the bottom pocket when you want a more rigid hanging panel.
Yes. You can lower the stand, or loop the bottom pole back up to the top knob to make a smaller 4' x 4' panel. Just flip the panel to choose white or black.
Yes. You do not have to lock the panel out to full height. For low ceilings, loop the bottom pole back up to the top knob to make the 4' x 4' version, or lower your stand.
Gently steam the panel on the black side, or put it in the dryer on a low setting with a damp towel for about 25 minutes. Repeat if needed.
Yes. We sell replacement flat material (48" x 96"), collapsible shock poles (48"), the top block receiver, securing knobs, baby pin adapters and bags.
We are sorry about that. Email us your order number and the missing part and we will ship it right away. Double kits should include two complete sets.
Yes. If you are buying several, email us the quantity and whether you need light stands, and we will send you a quote.
Tell us about your cart and your gear and we will help you choose the right setup.