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I know, very deep subject matter but…

Assuming slightly older case, flip up handle on the bottom bow end, wheels slightly inset from the edges, wheels work fine.

So, push or pull?

Depends...

I had the exact case you describe. Pulling was nice on a flat surface - uphill or an uneven surface and it would start yawing. Pushing gave you more control - but the rubber handle wasn’t great for control of the weight once it starts rocking. I actually pretty much carried mine all the time as it was for a small horn - a Lidl that weighed 16lbs- so it was like carrying a large euphonium in its case. Case & horn was not a lot of weight to carry and you could move quickly. And the nice thing about carrying a horn in a hard case you can just set it down on the ground with no worry to do something. The combination of being able to carry it into a hall and then pull it on the flat surface inside was pretty nice and you always had the protection that a hard case provides.

My Besson Sovereign has such a case. The wheels are small, not widely set, and not indestructible; I find that pulling the case on a flat smooth surface is fine enough (could go a quite way like that) but that’s typically indoors only. Pushing the case doesn’t really work for me, I find it not directionally stable. The small diameter and narrow set wheels adversely impact on stability, wobbling isn’t unusual. That said the small wheels are still a useful bonus, some of those with time and money usefully have their case modified to accept wider set and larger diameter wheels. Outside of buildings I normally carry my tuba using the handle on its case and wonder whether some form of folding ‘sack truck’ should be purchased to help with longer walks between car and playing point.

Edit. As an aside when you’re carrying such a case the better way to do it is with the pointy end in front of you and the bell end behind you. That way the handle sits better (more ergonomically) in your hand and the case is more navigable through doorways, etc. I was many years before I realised that, but maybe I’m not that bright.

My Cerveny 653 has one, and if you push it or pull it with the wheels, she is quite out of alignment and has a BAD case of the wiggles. It's a featherweight horn, not much bigger than a Euph in my opinion, so I just carry it and sling my gear in a backpack over my shoulder.

York-aholic wrote: Fri Jan 30, 2026 12:35 am I know, very deep subject matter but…

Assuming slightly older case, flip up handle on the bottom bow end, wheels slightly inset from the edges, wheels work fine.

So, push or pull?

The big question is "what is inside?" I'd think the wheels would inevitably get more use with a bigger contrabass horn.

I used these cases all through middle and high school for the school’s Cerveny 681 and it was infinitely easier to balance when pushing rather than pulling. Just in my adolescent experience.

Both my DS and 181 have Winter cases. I feel like I need to be drunk for them to go in a straight line when pushing.

prodigal wrote: Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:11 am

York-aholic wrote: Fri Jan 30, 2026 12:35 am I know, very deep subject matter but…

Assuming slightly older case, flip up handle on the bottom bow end, wheels slightly inset from the edges, wheels work fine.

So, push or pull?

The big question is "what is inside?" I'd think the wheels would inevitably get more use with a bigger contrabass horn.

6/4 BBb contrabass

I don't like to hear myself using the Lord's name in vain, so I always push any sort of rolling case with a narrow wheelbase, and don't get in a terrible hurry.

Having said that, absolutely whenever possible I'll pull up to the stage door, carry my equipment in, and then go park.

"but bloke, what about when it's outdoors and you have to park far away from where you play?"

If I agree to play such an engagement, my first question is, "What's the cell phone number of the person in charge of the golf cart people?"

York-aholic wrote: Fri Jan 30, 2026 12:35 am I know, very deep subject matter but…

Assuming slightly older case, flip up handle on the bottom bow end, wheels slightly inset from the edges, wheels work fine.

So, push or pull?

You left out an option.

Tiny wheels = pull

But within a short time, it usually becomes "drag".

I have a Winter Kaiserbass case that I roll with a skateboard or flat moving dolly centered underneath, pushing the top side handle, or pushing the edge/lip of the elevated bell side. I only use the handle near the bottom bow when pulling the case out of the hatch back.

Hire a sherpa, problem solved

dp wrote: Sat Jan 31, 2026 1:58 pm Hire a sherpa, problem solved

sherpa.jpg

For that size I was thinking C-130 for long hauls and Chinook for delivery.

I think I'll stick to AATs. (Average for the fist initial).

The Brute Squad wrote: Fri Jan 30, 2026 8:39 am Both my DS and 181 have Winter cases. I feel like I need to be drunk for them to go in a straight line when pushing.

I went with this recommendation. It worked like a charm!