I just bring my 4 ball stacked roller. It comes apart and both way under 50lbs. Can even stick some cloths in the upper bag and its still under 50lbs.
And I fly Southwest were bags fly FREE!

Just purchased round trip airfare for $277.80 for June. Chicago to Reno.

I do that as well.

In fact, my job had to send me on a day trip to Vegas to do some work at our disaster recovery data center. I padded my return flight to give time to stop at K&K's shop and took my 4-ball roller and 2-ball joey with me. roller was definitely under 50 when taken apart, and the joey was carry-on (though the ticket agent on the return flight back said that I can't take it on the flight and pay $50 to check it in, though the agent with the same airline on the flight down didn't even bat an eye at it). Took it through TSA without a problem and lodged a complaint with the airline about it.

Plan on doing the same thing again my next trip as I trade in some of my old gear for new.

BL.

If you fly out of Midway Chicago A 3 ball roller totes and a $10  tip usually gets it through.  if it is 5lbs over they will nail you

A buddy of mine  is a sky cap@ Midway he said sometimes they will crack down on overweight bags  . But they never know when management will check on them.

In the last 10 years never had an issue.

Ask for squeaky if you fly out before Noon @ Midway