A lightweight equipment transport kit and system for transporting rigid items having a wheel assembly (20); a head piece (70) defining an enclosure for insertion of the front end of the equipment (50); a tail piece (10) defining an enclosure for insertion and support of the rear end of the equipment (50), and further having a mount or axle sleeve (12) for bearing the wheel assembly in a substantially transverse orientation to a direction of transportation, and wherein the wheel assembly (20) supports the tail piece (10); and a tensioner (26) capable of fastening to the head piece (70), fastening to the tail piece (10) or the wheel assembly (20) mounted on tail piece (10), and creating a tension between so as to seat the front end of the equipment (50) within head piece (70) and the rear end of the equipment within the tail piece (10). The equipment transport system is adaptable for manual towing, vehicular towing, and mounting onto an automobile roof rack.