The Difference Between a 1-Ton and 3-Ton Package (And How to Know Which One You Need)
It's About the Truck, Not Just the Gear
The "ton" refers to the size of the cargo truck carrying the grip and lighting equipment. Not the weight of the gear itself. A 1-ton is a smaller cargo van or sprinter-style vehicle. A 3-ton is a larger box truck. The size of the truck determines how much gear can come with it, which determines what's possible on set.
The bigger the truck, the more lighting, grip stands, rigging, and support equipment you have to work with. More options on set means more creative control.
What a 1-Ton Package Looks Like
A 1-ton package is a lean, focused kit. You're getting the essentials of a solid selection of lights, stands, flags, some basic rigging, and the core grip gear to make a clean setup work.
It's the right call for:
Interview setups: two or three-point lighting in a controlled environment
Small studio shoots: product content, headshots, simple branded video
Run-and-gun documentary: where mobility matters more than volume
Tight locations: smaller spaces where a full truck wouldn't help anyway
A 1-ton package works well when you know your setup in advance and you're not expecting to light a large or unpredictable space.
What a 3-Ton Package Looks Like
A 3-ton package is a full production toolkit. You've got a significantly larger selection of lights including bigger fixtures that can handle large venues, exteriors, or mixed-lighting environments. Plus more grip equipment, rigging options, diffusion, negative fill, and the ability to build more complex setups on the fly.
It's the right call for:
Commercial production: where the image quality and lighting control need to be dialed
Large venues or event spaces: high ceilings, wide rooms, unpredictable ambient light
Music videos: especially anything with stylized or multi-setup days
Exterior shoots: where you need to compete with or complement natural light
Multi-location days: when you're moving fast and need options at every stop
A 3-ton gives your gaffer the ability to solve problems on set without sending someone to rent something last minute.
How to Know Which One You Need
Ask yourself a few questions:
How controlled is your environment? A known studio with predictable light = smaller package. An unknown location with variables = bigger package.
How many setups are you doing? One or two setups in a day, a 1-ton can handle it. Five setups across two locations, you want more gear on the truck.
What does the final image need to look like? If the bar is high a polished commercial, a high-end branded film a 3-ton gives your crew the tools to get there.
What's your crew size? A smaller crew on a leaner shoot is often paired with a 1-ton. A full production with a dedicated gaffer and grip crew usually warrants a 3-ton.
When in doubt, tell us what you're shooting and we'll tell you what makes sense. Over-trucking adds cost. Under-trucking creates problems on set. The right call is somewhere in the middle — and it's usually pretty clear once we know what the job is.
We Can Help You Figure It Out
We outfit both 1-ton and 3-ton packages out of the shop. If you're in the budgeting phase and not sure what you need, reach out before you lock anything in. A five-minute conversation usually gets you to the right answer.
Cutthroat Grip & Lighting
Phone: 385-243-1050
Email: bookings@itscutthroat.com
