I had my truss system stored in the garage when a motorist crashed through the side wall and damaged most of the contents, including two cars and the light gear. I was able to remove most of the dent damage from the tubing and decided to test the support stands for strength by lifting my entire weight off the ground on each stand (nearly 200 lbs). The stands never buckled. One tip for o-clamps: go to the nearest Hobby Lobby or other craft stores and find sheets of 2mm or 3mm rubber sheets. They come in many colors including black. I cut appropriate-sized pieces and affixed them to the inside of my Chauvet 1.5 inch inserts, using double-faced carpet tape. They clamp tightly, and can be quickly repositioned anywhere on the truss or t-bars.

I'm not sure how long the "9 foot" truss span is, but it's not nine feet long. I like everything about the stand except for the fact that additional Musicians Gear expansion I-beam truss sections aren't available (and I need at least one more). I can get additional trusses for as low as $21 plus shipping, but they won't be the same brand and they won't match up with the Musicians Gear tube widths. I suppose I could buy another entire stand to get the additional section but, MAN, you'd think MusiciansFriend would sell them. Oh well.

Light weight, solid, and very stylish. even though, as a previous reviewer noted, that the pipes are a smaller than standerd, you can still use O-Clamps by getting a roll of kitchen drawer liners from Wal-Mart and cutting them into little strips to wrap around the pipe before attaching the O-Clamp. Not only will this make it fit, but the fit is more secure, more adjustable, but you wont scratch the pipes

I just got this truss tonight and as I'm setting it up, I'm noticing that some of the joints won't fit onto the pipes. Right now I'm thinking I'll need to buy my own joints at a hardware store or return it. My plan is to drill holes into the truss to add special effects lighting. I guess for the price it's not bad but those joint fittings not working is annoying.

Great overall stand system, and for the price, you can't go wrong. Lots of versatility, and with a little modification, it can hold a bunch of lights. HOWEVER, the pipes are 1-1/4" in diameter, adn no one makes a round clamp that size. You'll find 1", 1.5" and 2" clamps everywhere, but none for this rig. So you go to a C clamp and bolt, but it will cave in your tubes in any position other than hanging straight down. That takes away most of the versatility if you can't put lights on top too. Keep that in mind. Good value, but you'll have to be a little bit of an inventor too.