Truss base plates are the steel feet that let 12×12 box truss towers and goalposts stand on the floor when you are not hanging from the building. AVLS Rentals rents two square truss base plates, a 2×2 (24 x 24 inches) and a 3×3 (36 x 36 inches), plus a 50 lb pipe base for light-duty uprights, so the feet ship on the same order as the truss.

What do truss base plates do?

Straight truss on its own is not a freestanding structure. A base plate gives each upright a flat steel footprint, a fixed connection point at the bottom of the tower, and a place to add ballast when the engineer or rigger calls for it. It also gives the crew and the venue a clear footprint to mark on the floor plan before load-in.

You will see truss base plates under:

• Ground-supported goalposts and entrance frames
• Lighting towers beside stages, screens, and booths
• Trade-show structures in halls that do not allow rigging from the ceiling
• Outdoor frames, where footprint, ballast, and wind need an engineer’s plan
• Towers that hold up a circle truss ring

Truss base plates AVLS rents

These are the base sizes in the AVLS truss rental catalog. Weights are listed because they matter for freight and floor planning, not as a load rating.

• 2×2 steel truss base: 24 x 24 inch steel plate, 60 lb, with multiple mounting options for 12-inch box truss uprights and ground support.
• 3×3 steel truss base: 36 x 36 inch steel plate, 130 lb, with multiple mounting options. It is the one AVLS lists for heavier ground-support work on 12-inch towers and structures.
• SSRC 50 lb pipe base: welded base with 1-1/2 inch Schedule 40 pipe, a threaded pipe end, and a forged eye top on booms. It is meant for boom arms, pipe uprights, and light-duty ground support next to a truss package, not as a substitute for a truss tower base.

Which plate a structure needs depends on tower height, span, what is hanging on it, ballast, floor surface, and indoor or outdoor conditions. That call belongs to your engineer or rigger. AVLS can quote either size, or a mix, once the design is set.

Ground-supported vs flown truss

Flown truss hangs from venue rigging points or motors. Ground-supported truss stands on base plates and usually takes up more floor space, because the bases and any ballast need room. Many designs combine the two: a flown grid over the stage and ground-supported towers at the sides.

Either way, flown and hung loads need qualified riggers, and ground-supported structures that carry lighting, LED, or scenic overhead should follow an engineered plan. ESTA’s published ANSI standards for trusses, towers, and tower bases, including ANSI E1.2 and ANSI E1.21 for outdoor temporary structures, are the usual references your engineer will work from. Mark on your drawing which parts are flown and which stand on truss base plates so the right package ships.

Safety notes for ground-supported builds

• Follow the manufacturer’s limits, venue rules, and your engineer’s plan. We don’t publish load or ballast numbers here.
• Confirm who supplies ballast, such as sandbags or weights, and how much the plan calls for.
• Protect finished floors under the plates and check the floor surface is level.
• Keep guests out of the build zone until the structure is complete and signed off.

AVLS supplies the rental hardware. Your production team or rigger owns assembly, inspection, and sign-off on site.

What to include in a quote for truss base plates

1. Number of towers or legs, with tower height and span
2. Base size if your engineer has specified one (2×2 or 3×3)
3. Indoor or outdoor, and the floor surface
4. Whether ballast is required and who is supplying it
5. Venue city, load-in date, and load-out date

The truss rental quote checklist covers the rest of the order, and the 12×12 box truss rental guide lists the straight lengths that go on top of the bases.

FAQ: truss base plates

What size truss base plate do I need for 12×12 box truss?

AVLS rents 2×2 (24 x 24 inch) and 3×3 (36 x 36 inch) steel truss base plates for 12-inch box truss. The 3×3 is the larger, heavier plate listed for heavier ground-support work. Your engineer or rigger should choose the size based on height, load, and ballast.

Do truss base plates need sandbags or ballast?

Often, especially for taller towers, outdoor builds, or anything carrying equipment overhead. How much ballast and where it goes is an engineering decision, so get it in writing before load-in.

Can I use a pipe base instead of a truss base plate?

The SSRC 50 lb pipe base is for boom arms, pipe uprights, and light-duty ground support. For 12×12 box truss towers, plan on the 2×2 or 3×3 steel truss base.

Do you ship truss base plates nationwide?

Yes. Bases ship with the truss from AVLS warehouses in the Chicago area, Las Vegas, and Houston to all 50 states. Read how nationwide truss rental shipping works.

AVLS Rentals has supported events since 2001. Request a quote for truss base plates and towers, call (773) 457-3544, or email rentals@avlsrentals.com.