FATMAX PROS & CONS

I was just looking at JBAX's FATMAX set-up and it looks great. I have been researching this all week and was so glad to see the photos she put into her gallery. I read the reviews online and some think the handles are not totally dependable ... Is it hard to get in and out of the trunk (I have a Prius). Is it awkward to work from (I'm 5 foot nuthin').
I love that it pops open ready to serve.

What do you think of FatMax?

I'm wondering the samething. I'm just 5 ft 4in. This last gig was a pain to carry everything at once. It was along walk, too. I would love to know if I "need" it

I am between 5'2" and 5'4" (depends on who is measuring me lol!) I use my Max all the time. I prefer to stand and I use a directors chair. I have no problem lifting my Max in and out of my mini van. I sometimes use my husbands car, which is an older Jetta and I can place it in the back seat, even with a car seat in the middle.

This past weekend. I attached some "L" brackets to the underside of Max so that I could tote my director's chair. Love it. So much easier.

I am 5' tall and I love my Fat Max!
I can work out of it standing or sitting. I drive an Edge, so I'm not sure how a trunk would work for you.
It can get on the heavy side, but that is an incentive for me not to over pack. (I tend to be a tackle tart ) I can get it in by myself, but not in one lift. I put a blanket over the outside of the car and pick it up using the side grips. I then lean the FM on the blanket, regrip, and up into the car it goes. I have no problem getting it out of the car, I just roll it towards me, grab the grips and gravity does the rest, lol.
My clown friend is 4' 11, and she puts a blanket down and loads her FM "wannabe" into the backseat of her car.
I've tried a few set ups, but the FM is by far my favorite. Hope that helps!

Ooooh, Annette, love those brackets!

Love the idea of brackets! Did you drill or does it have the option for brackets? I have a board with my face options on it and this would really help lug it around.

SIDE GRIPS!! That is so cool. I know that would help so much!

Annette, do the brackets get in your way? I am wondering if the holes are pre-drilled too.

I am going to go check this baby out right away.

How roomy is that bottom bin? I noticed JBAX has her stuff laid out all across the top ... is she using the actual FM or is that a tray from something else?

Anybody have pictures of their FATMAX setup?

The lovely man at Home Depot helped me out. I told him want I wanted to accomplish and this is what we came up with.

I had to drill the holes. But that was very easy, just lined up where I wanted the brackets to go, marked them and drilled. On the inside I did place a washer before the nut and I also, per HD guy bought some insulation to go over the top of the bolts so that it would not poke a hole in anything. He knew that I carried water in that bottom bin. [img][/img]

I think I may just lay another bar across the bottom just for some extra support and prevent the bottom from flexing.

I have a Pontiac G5 and it fits in my trunk perfectly without putting the seats down. I put half the back seat down to put my tent in the car and the fatmax fits on the other side of the trunk. If you put brackets on it like that, it would never fit in my car. My director chair has a bag with a shoulder strap so it's not too bad.

I'm 5'6" and I love mine. I will never go back. It makes set up and clean up so much easier.

I was just selected to be one of the make-up artists for the annual ZombieWalk in Asbury Park! I am so EXCITED!! I was the lone make-up artist for a theatrical production of Thriller, so I am not clueless but PLEASE give me your tips and advice and photos! I am definitely going to buy my FAT MAX TONIGHT!!

Yea!!! Wha HOOOO!

Awesome!!!!!

I love the brackets!!!! I've been pondering how to accomplish this for a while now.

I have an Focus hatchback, but I usually put the fatmax in my front seat. The container itself is really light, so it will only be as heavy as all of the stuff you put in it.

In my pics, I have trays that jewelry sellers use, and I laid it across the lids. My kit has gotten a bit bigger, so I have a fold-up table I bring to larger events now to work off of. The fatmax makes an excellent seat while I'm painting kids in the director's chair. I'm too tall if I'm standing to paint the shorties, and it brings me to just the right height.

As for the zombies... I recently learned of fantastic stuff from Ben Nye called Fresh Scab. It's awesome... you gob some of it on, and it will look wet after it dries. And who couldn't love a product called "Fresh Scab" ?

I have brackets on my kit, too! It fits my directors chair AND two display boards, and I freaking love them.

I don't have a FM - I use a MasterCraft rolling toolbox that separates into two. I drive a Focus, and part of the reason I got the MC over the FM is that I didn't want to lie the FM down in my trunk, and I don't think it would fit elsewhere, especially because of the brackets, and when I have other people in the car to/from gigs.

Re zombies: I also mixed up some Vaseline with red face paint (a little piece of Snaz I worked into a liquid, first) to use under latex and fill the holes made by flaps of skin, lol.

TA DA!! My FAT MAX!

JBAX!! THANKS for your pictures! "FRESH SCAB"?? I need to add that to my FAT MAX!!

So far, everything that I need FITS!! It is much more accessible than the giant Samsonite trunk/shell that I was lugging around! I am going out right in the middle of this post to see if I can get it in the car (Prius) by myself.

BRB

Yep! I got it in the trunk!

The End.

Thanks for all your input.

PS

As a researcher, I applaud your enthusiastic support of my grilling you! Here's what my kit looks like now. Anything you don't see is inside the hideous purple and pink tray box which I love but can't stand to look at! (Now ... I wonder if anyone has seen that box in black?)

isn't it amazing how much stuff you can get in there?

@ SparklingLady: Congrats on the gig and your new Fat Max!

@ JBax and Kristal: Thanks for buying a Focus, that's what we build at my plant

Perry! No, I can't believe how much stuff does fit in that FatMax!

Kristal! Thanks for that tip!

I am going to go opena nd close my FatMax now.
Bye everyone!

YEAH! For the fatmax! I'm 5' 3" & love mine. I love the bracket idea, but they look a little sharp(I wouldn't want a child to get hurt on one). Is there a way to cover the sharp end w/ a rubber cover?

Old garden hose would do it! Just a couple of pieces off for the tips!

I've been thinking of something like that. I'll have to go price it out.
The bracket idea as well, great.
What do most of you carry your water supply in?
I carry mine in a drink dispenser with a tap. So far so good, also works out for that thirsty pup that comes along in the Summer. Just pour a little in the owners hands.