How Do You Haul Your Equipment to a Show?

[MNAirHead]

At my wife's company - they had a trailer stolen in the parking lot ... Mid day customers in the lot

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

We all carry our own gear.

+1

[Raymeous]

Originally:
A Nissan Pickup, a Jeep Comanche, and an F150

Later:
It was a Cargo van (working for the family business does rarely present a few benefits)

Today:
Oh wait, that's right! My musical life is pretty stagnant these last couple of years.

[throughthefire]

If it doesn't fit in the back of a Subaru Forester, it isn't going to the gig...

(we can get the entire band in, if people don't mind sitting underneath kit)

[MatticusMania]

My Chevy HHR. Fits my 115 combo, two basses (one in hardshell case, one in gig bag).
If I need to I could fit just about every piece of gear with the exception of the drums in my car, and still have room for my groupie, I mean girlfriend.

[superjesus]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I asked an old timer when I was going to buy a trailer

He told me to buy airline (not ata cases) rounded molded shells ---- they interlock.

His suggestion was to go with 10s or 12s as a powered main.... Interlocking subs

The comment was that folks don't start with cases and they're irregular sizes

He suggested I watch airline crews handle gear - find gear and sizes that will work together like a puzzle

Cords , mixers all go in the same size case

These all fit in the van--- create a single platform... Anvil cases on the sides flat platform on top to lay more cases

Yea - I had to rethink and redesign lighting backdrops stands etc

Sucked to pay for it ---- sucked to plan it all out -- sucked to tell gear hung players that they'd have to either put up of own and haul their own gear

---

Pallet... We built pallets that fit exactly the road cases ... Have tie downs --- used pallet jacks are 50-60

Lift out - place on pallet

Nobody touches the road gear until next gig---

I would love to see a picture or two, loaded and unloaded.

[millsbass5]

Nope. Fortunately, all of our personal gear/P.A. is transported to gigs in our trailer, or in our converted, "pimped-out", former Blue Bird School Bus, complete with all the "fixins'." A stereo (CD player, power amp & Kicker pick-up type speakers ), 19" TV/DVD combo, with a Honda generator (Sooo quiet), to power it all when parked. The stock seats were removed, & replaced with 2 restaurant-style booths, 1 per side up front , & a mattress that's at the ready to be laid in the floor. You know, in case one of us band members develops a case of "narcolepsy" and we have to lay down on break in between sets with a female "friend" . We genuinely care about our guests & try to "always be prepared". Gee, I always knew the Boy Scouts would come in handy ......
Yup. After almost 20 years together (with the same line-up, mind you), we should, by all means, have our "turds in a herd" like we do when it comes to P.A./lighting, gear & transportation. Think of it as a the "bar band's version of a Silver Eagle Tour Bus" .
Needless to say, we're extremely proud of that bus. If anyone's band's interested in picking up a school bus, check with your local Board of Education. They'll usually hold an auction every couple of years, or so, and you can scoop up some pretty low-milage, diesel-engine buses up for birdy (Cheap-cheap!) prices at auction.
Pics to come.

[dmusic148]

Easily fits way more gear than it should reasonably be expected to. With room for a passenger.

[Brad Johnson]

I play in bands where each musician moves his own gear. FOH is hired out if necessary.
I drive sportscars to most of my gigs regardless of venue. I have the smallest rig AND
the best sound I've ever had.

[geoff_in_nc]

We're weekend warriors (at best), so it was my SUV (my gear, powered sub and lights), drummer's SUV (drum stuff), and guitarist's Toyota Prius (everything else - amazing what that thing fits). However the guitarist just upgraded to a new-ish Ford Pickup and is making noises about buying a trailer. I'm on the fence about the trailer, but he lives WAY out in the boonies, so it should be safe at his place.

[seanm]

I built a simple wooden box that I put in the back of the truck for gigs. When (if?) I get some mains, it will have to be enlarged. But for now I went with simple over size.

The nice thing about having it "just the right size" is that nothing shifts around when you are driving. I don't have to strap anything down.

[Kael]

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Never put your band logo on the trailer.
It's a big sign that says "LOOK!!!STEAL ME I HAVE EXPENSIVE STUFF INSIDE!!!"

A buddy of mine has a trailer that his band hauls their gear in.
He has the UofM ( University of Michigan) logo on the rear door and under it, it says "School of mortuary science"

Best idea I have ever heard for a trailer sticker "Municipal City of Norman Teen Soccer League". Who the hell would break in to that trailer?

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I play in bands where each musician moves his own gear. FOH is hired out if necessary.
I drive sportscars to most of my gigs regardless of venue. I have the smallest rig AND
the best sound I've ever had.

We usually take the bus (loaded w/gear) to the venue, and another vehicle (to get back home, of course) to the venue when we set up a few days prior to the gig. After it's unloaded, it stays parked there until load-out. It'll set there up to 2 weeks, depending on how long we're booked. But, it never has gear in it while parked there.
I'm also a sports-car freak. I purchased an'05 BMW M5 w/just 40k+ babied miles on it about 1.5 years ago. Hmm, she don't get babied anymore . She's kinky (the car) & likes it when I stretch her legs out real good on occasion . That's what these works of art are built/designed for! I just about cried when I somehow gouged a hole in those Italian leather-wrapped Recaro seats, haulin' gear in it like an idiot. Hell, I even think I cussed in German outta respect to the car. Which reminds me, I need to get that fixed. I'm very particular about my ride. I epitomize the words, "car nut".

[SactoBass]

And for getting the gear from the vehicle to and from the stage, do yourself a favor and look into the Kart-a-Bag Super 600 folding hand cart. It has a 300 pound weight capacity, and is built like a tank. Worth every penny, IMO.

[Munjibunga]

After we traded the Venza in on a Highlander for my wife, I have to borrow that if I'm hauling the PA. Otherwise, my rigs will fit in the trunk (boot) and back seat of my Lexus.

[spaz21387]

heres our gear hauler an 1980 ford econoline van
479407_213419025442050_100003218625995_353819_1988 931365_o by spaz21387, on Flickr ... and yes the guitarist is wearing a diaper!

[iridiumrocks]

Everyone has a vehicle big enough to haul their own gear - van, pickup, or SUV. My 4-Runner holds all of my gear with plenty of room to spare. We also hire a sound guy who brings all of the big, heavy FOH gear.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

We usually take the bus (loaded w/gear) to the venue, and another vehicle (to get back home, of course) to the venue when we set up a few days prior to the gig. After it's unloaded, it stays parked there until load-out. It'll set there up to 2 weeks, depending on how long we're booked. But, it never has gear in it while parked there.
I'm also a sports-car freak. I purchased an'05 BMW M5 w/just 40k+ babied miles on it about 1.5 years ago. Hmm, she don't get babied anymore . She's kinky (the car) & likes it when I stretch her legs out real good on occasion . That's what these works of art are built/designed for! I just about cried when I somehow gouged a hole in those Italian leather-wrapped Recaro seats, haulin' gear in it like an idiot. Hell, I even think I cussed in German outta respect to the car. Which reminds me, I need to get that fixed. I'm very particular about my ride. I epitomize the words, "car nut".

I wouldn't mind rockin' up to a gig in an M5! I friend of mine owns one and it's a rocket ship.

[Factor88]

Originally Posted by Johnny Crab

I've heard of plenty of trailers disappearing so you either may want to rethnk that OR make <deleted expletive> sure that you have a foolproof/thief-proof security plan. I'd also leave the trailer unmarked or mark it with something no one would want......i.e. J & B Septic Tank Cleaning Service, Biohazard Transporters Inc., Hazardous Waste Handlers Inc., or something similar.

Meh...no logo, misleading logo, correct logo, not going to make much difference in a medium or high crime area. Bad guys think if it is worth enclosing and locking up, it is worth stealing.

Even septic guys and morticians use tools that have value.....

[lwknives]

89 300zx.