What is lighting truss, and what is in a truss system?
Lighting truss is modular aluminum framework that carries lights, speakers and video overhead. Also sold as stage truss, aluminum truss, box truss and trussing. A system is more than sticks: straight segments, corners and junction blocks, base plates or crank stands, couplers, pins and clips, a clamp and a safety cable per fixture, plus scrim and cable management. Installs add ground support; a packable rig is a truss system or portable DJ truss.
Are box truss, square truss, 12 inch truss and F34 the same thing?
Box truss, square truss and F34 all name one thing, a four-chord truss with a square cross section 11.42 in (290 mm) on a side, and "12 inch" usually means that same truss, though not always. Global Truss labels its F34 category 11.42 in Box Truss, and CHAUVET's TRUSST CT290 is the same 290 x 290 mm. But Global Truss also builds true 12 in (DT-GP) and 20.5 in (DT-GP20) bolt-together series, and Galaxy Stage builds 12 in box truss with bolts; none of those mate with conical 290 mm truss. The F-number decodes too: its second digit is the chord count in Global Truss's tables, F31 one through F34 four.
Which truss profile should I buy: box, triangle, ladder or single tube?
Most buyers want box truss, the four-chord F34 at 11.42 in (290 mm) square, because four chords resist bending in every direction; F33 triangle saves weight on medium spans and arches, F32 ladder suits a flat run or a backdrop, and F31 single tube is decorative, not structural. Dimensions below are manufacturer-published; none is capacity.
| Profile | Series | Cross section | Chord tube, O.D. x wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single tube (1 chord) | F31 | 1.97 in (50 mm) round tube | 1.97 x 0.08 in (50 x 2 mm) |
| Ladder / I-beam (2 chords) | F32 | 11.42 in (290 mm) deep | 1.97 x 0.08 in (50 x 2 mm) |
| Triangle (3 chords) | F33 | 11.42 x 10.16 in (290 x 258 mm) | 1.97 x 0.08 in (50 x 2 mm) |
| Box / square (4 chords) | F34, TRUSST CT290 | 11.42 in (290 mm) square | 1.97 x 0.08 in (50 x 2 mm) |
| Heavy box (4 chords) | DT34P | 11.42 in (290 mm) square | 1.97 x 0.12 in (50 x 3 mm) |
| Heavy box (4 chords) | DT44P | 15.75 in (400 mm) square | 1.97 x 0.12 in (50 x 3 mm) |
| Bolt-together (4 chords) | DT-GP, DT-GP20, Galaxy Stage | 12 in; 20.5 in | DT-GP: 1.97 x 0.12 in (50 x 3 mm) |
Circles are these families curved, sold as kits by diameter in Circle Truss. For F31 vs F32 vs F34 in one brand, see our Global Truss page.
What do I need to build a truss goalpost?
Two uprights, one header, two corner blocks, two base plates, a clamp and a safety cable per fixture, plus the couplers, pins and clips at every joint. Stack short segments to reach trim height instead of one long stick.
| Part | How many | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Segments, uprights | 2 runs | Set trim height; 5 ft and under fine-tune |
| Long segment, header | 1 run | Carries fixtures; all lengths |
| Corner blocks | 2 | Turn each upright into the header |
| Base plates | 2 | Stand each leg up, spread load |
| Couplers, pins, clips | Per joint | Make up every joint |
| Truss spacers | As needed | Hold parallel runs apart |
| Clamps | 1 per fixture | Attach each fixture to a chord |
| Safety cables | 1 per fixture | Back up each fixture |
Global Truss requires its own tapered pins, so do not substitute hardware at a joint. A corner turns a run at a fixed welded angle; a junction block is a hub several runs plug into. Truss crank stands, also called truss towers, raise a header without a ladder, light totem stands cover corners, and kits are in Truss Systems and Portable DJ Truss. More parts: Truss Accessories.
Which clamp do I need to hang a light on truss?
Any clamp rated for a 1.97 in (50 mm) tube: clamps size to the chord tube, not the truss, and every series here runs that same chord, so one size covers F31 through F34. Global Truss lists its Coupler Clamp for 1.89 to 2.01 in (48 to 51 mm) tube at 660 lb (300 kg) maximum load and its Pro Clamp over the same range at 1,100 lb (500 kg), so read the clamp's own rating against the fixture. Add a safety cable to every hung fixture: CHAUVET DJ says so, and cables are rated too, 68 lb (30 kg) on the CHAUVET DJ CH-05 and 165 lb (75 kg) on the CHAUVET Professional SC-08. Shop Truss Clamps, Safety Cables and S-hooks.
How do I read a truss load table?
Find your span in the rows, then read the column matching how the weight sits: distributed, center point, third or quarter point. There is no single figure for what truss holds; only the manufacturer's table for that part number and span.
| Term | What it means on your rig |
|---|---|
| Span | Distance between supports, not stick length |
| Uniformly distributed load (UDL) | Spread evenly along the span |
| Center point load (CPL) | One weight at mid-span, the harshest case |
| Deflection | How far it sags; can fail where strength passes |
Global Truss's F34 sheet runs 6.56 ft (2 m) to 39.37 ft (12 m) in half meter steps and prints three tables for the same spans: strength only, strength with an L/180 deflection limit, and reduced per ANSI E1.21. They disagree. Units differ by brand too, Global Truss stating load per linear foot and CHAUVET as a total, so never compare across brands. The notes bind it: loads are not additive, self weight is included, no dynamic force is counted, loads attach at panel points, and bridles need a licensed structural engineer's written approval. The F34, F33 and F32 sheets all say an engineer should review the rigging plot. CHAUVET's CT290 chart is narrower: it assumes static loads on two supports, and points you to a structural engineer for dynamic or wind loads, or more supports.
What drives the price of a truss rig?
Four things: how many pieces the rig takes, the series and wall thickness, the length of each stick, and whether it is new. People search for used truss; what we list is B-Stock, C-Stock or Open Box in the title, one-off pieces gone once sold.
Should I buy truss or rent it?
Buy when the rig repeats or when you need it on a date you cannot move; rent for a one-off at a size you will never use again. Truss has no consumables and no service interval, so cost per use falls quickly, and owning removes availability risk in wedding season. Owned truss still has to be stored and hauled. We sell truss and do not rent it; that is our bias, stated plainly. On truss that did not arrive new, check for straight chords, uncracked welds and connector ends that still seat, and have anything overhead checked by a qualified rigger.
Which truss brands does Hollywood DJ stock?
Six truss lines: Global Truss, TRUSST, ProX, Show Solutions, Galaxy Stage and Scrim King, plus portable truss systems from Odyssey and Chauvet DJ. What must match is size and connection style, not the badge: TRUSST publishes that its conical sticks work with other brands on the same conical connection, ProX says the same of its XT series, and bolt-together 12 in and 20.5 in truss does not mate with conical 290 mm at all. Global Truss is the deepest line we carry and the one publishing a dated load and span sheet per series. TRUSST is a CHAUVET brand, not an Odyssey one, and its CT290 is TUV certified 6082-T6 aluminum on a conical connection. ProX builds the conical XT-SQ F34 line plus a K-Truss economy line on a 0.06 in (1.5 mm) wall it markets as light-structural, for light duty rather than overhead load bearing, so read the model number. Show Solutions builds its 290 mm square and ladder line on an iConical connector, and Scrim King makes the truss scrim.
How does truss get to me, and can I pick it up in Los Angeles?
Long truss ships LTL freight, small parts and the shortest segments ship parcel, and anything we hold in Los Angeles can be picked up at our warehouse. Freight is not UPS: it needs a quote, an appointment, a liftgate without a dock, and more to a residential address. Inspect it before signing the bill of lading; a clean signature makes a claim harder. Parcel orders placed before noon PST on an item stocked in Los Angeles ship the same day; some ship from the manufacturer instead. Will-call pickup is at 934 E 11th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. Call 1-800-700-4542 to size a run or price freight.