Transporting mounted prints to shows without wrecking them on the 405

I transport my 8' x 4' metal prints in my trailer. The trailer has better suspension than most, but not perfect.

I cut pool noodles lengthwise and slide them around 3 edges of the artwork. I made big "pouches" out of thermal insulation meant for an attic. Its a reflective insulation that comes in 4' tall rolls. I taped the sides using duct tape, then folded it over to make multiple layers on the bottom edges. I then put slices of the insulation on the inside at the bottom. In short, each artwork is surrounded by the foam on 3 sides, and the insulation on all sides.

I transport all my art upright, so there is only the bottom edge that may be on the ground. But that edge has a pool noodle and several layers of insulation. I built a holding system in my trailer that looks like a upside down comb. It basically has poles with pool noodles between each image. Between each tooth of the comb is a 2"x4" piece of wood the length of the image. On that 2x4 is a couple of layers of different density foam, and thats what the pouch sits on top of.

The idea is that you know you are going to hit potholes. But do your best to suspend the artwork to not allow it to be an issue, and to distribute the bounce along the entire artwork.

Hey! The fact that you tracked exactly which method worked (the slotted crate) and WHY the others failed puts you closer to solving this than most artists who just keep stuffing blankets and hoping.

A few upgrades to your current setup that keep the protection without the plywood weight:

- Swap the plywood crate for a slotted divider system made from rigid foam insulation board (the pink or blue stuff from Home Depot, 1.5" thick). Cut vertical slots sized to your frames, glue or screw the dividers to a lightweight plywood base. Same slot principle, roughly a third of the weight, and the foam absorbs vibration instead of transmitting it like solid wood does.

- Wrap each metal print face to face in pairs with a sheet of kraft paper or glassine between them, then strap the pair together with wide velcro bands. Metal to metal contact is what causes the corner dings, not the pothole itself.

- For the SUV floor, a folded moving blanket underneath the divider system plus a ratchet strap anchored to the cargo tie downs keeps the whole unit from sliding on hard braking. The 405 merge at Sepulveda is basically a brake check every time.

- U-Haul and Home Depot sell telescoping mirror/picture boxes (around $8 each) that fit up to 40x60. For really high value pieces, one box per print with foam corners inside is cheaper than one reprint on metal.

The fastest win before your next show: grab a 4x8 sheet of rigid foam board ($25), cut it into slotted dividers that match your frame sizes, and test fit it in the SUV this weekend. Twenty minutes of cutting saves a $200 reprint.

Want help mapping out a full show packing system for your specific setup? Walk through it with me

Other resources you might find helpful:

- Transporting framed prints to shows when you live east of the 405 — Artists share tested transportation systems for large framed prints across LA, including mirror boxes and securing methods that prevent shifting damage.

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