My Toyota Matrix is just the right size for my rig. At this point in my life I think it's only fair for everyone to be responsible for getting their own stuff to the gig. The old communal days of hauling everybody else's stuff is long behind me. Now I am using several small Aguilar cabs so I only have to bring what I need for the gig instead of having one or two big, heavy cabs that I have to bug people to help me carry.
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Bass amp and vehicle question
- Thread starter stratovani
- Start date
Ford Edge, with Sync... makes it great to just hook up the iPhone, & study material prior to a gig, & has alot of space for carrying the rig.
My ideal solution:
Plan A: sell car, buy a big gear van and a motorcycle. 90% of the time I'm either driving alone or with a car stuffed with gear. Problem is, I can't hold up a bike
Plan B: Decent small car that's good on gas, but just big enough to hitch a trailer to for moving gear when needed. Downside, still need a mid sized car, plus the hassle of storing and hitching and securing a trailer.
Plan A: sell car, buy a big gear van and a motorcycle. 90% of the time I'm either driving alone or with a car stuffed with gear. Problem is, I can't hold up a bike
Plan B: Decent small car that's good on gas, but just big enough to hitch a trailer to for moving gear when needed. Downside, still need a mid sized car, plus the hassle of storing and hitching and securing a trailer.
That being said I've fit into my little Toyota:
6x10 cab, bass in hardshell case, pedalboard, roadcase w/ head, two guitarists pedals, soft shell guitar, guitar head, and bass drum.
6x10 cab, bass in hardshell case, pedalboard, roadcase w/ head, two guitarists pedals, soft shell guitar, guitar head, and bass drum.
Call it whatever you want!Its a stock '95 Chevy LT1 ("nuttin special" 350) producing 330 Lb-Ft of torque, and a few minor bolt-ons, including a diff gear change. Launches great... Loses a bit in the upper rpms though... Needs valve springs and rolling rockers, and possibly bigger exhaust to improve even another quarter second. It starts getting really expensive after that, and not really wort it for a daily driver...
You can find a couple of vids of 95-ish Caprice/Roadmaster wagons on youtube that are 12 second cars, whupping Stangs, Camaros and Vettes! All supposedly with simple bolt-ons as well...
OK, that's it. Complete BS.
Had a minivan which was great. Now I'm driving an Element which I really like. Easy loading, durable interior, gear is hidden. Can fit my Avatar 212, 6space rack, bass, and drums with me and the drummer riding comfortably up front.
A hatchback or wagon is the way to go. It's astounding how much crap I can stick in the back of my HHR with the seats down.
I completely agree with this. And since I'd rather live in a refrigerator box than drive a minivan (and my wife won't even set foot in one, regardless of our having raised two kids), that leaves an SUV or wagon.
An Audi S4 Sport Wagon ("Avant") would be wonderful, but my Nissan Murano is quick, rides great, holds all my gear and gets more than 20 MPG highway. I like it better every time I drive it - plenty of power, great handling and AWD, too! My former SUV, a '99 Blazer, was also a solid choice.
My "gear hauler"
I used to haul my David Eden Metro around in this. It would sit in the passenger seat while I put both my basses (& cables etc) in the trunk. Kind of a stupid way of doing things, but it did the job just fine.
Obviously I would take leave the casters off the cabinet so it doesn't damage anything.
For reversals, I would leave the amp at the practice place, and bring one guitar (via a gigbag) on my sportbike, carrying it like a back-pack. Oh the looks I would get LOL!
I used to haul my David Eden Metro around in this. It would sit in the passenger seat while I put both my basses (& cables etc) in the trunk. Kind of a stupid way of doing things, but it did the job just fine.
Obviously I would take leave the casters off the cabinet so it doesn't damage anything.
For reversals, I would leave the amp at the practice place, and bring one guitar (via a gigbag) on my sportbike, carrying it like a back-pack. Oh the looks I would get LOL!
My small four door sedan can haul my ampeg 610, my GK head, AND my hardshell case.
In just the backseat.
In just the backseat.
My gear: double gig bag, large, wheeled suitcase for pedal board, Eden Metro combo, Eden 410 cab and a guitar stand that folds into what looks like a small guitar case.
I had a Ford Windstar minivan until 2004. It hauled everything with lots of room for three passangers and luggage.
I replaced the Windstar with a 2004 Nissan Murano. The trunk area holds the two cabs AND the large wheeled suitcase. I put the basses and guitar stand in the back seat. The Murano now has 104,000+ miles and still drives like I bought it yesterday. Even with all the gear in it, there is plenty of pickup! I had planned on driving it for only 5 years, but it still drives great with only one repair in the last 6 years. I'm even thinking of giving it a new paint job for the exterior in about six months. No need for new wheels here.
If I were getting something new, I'd consider another Murano. If I wanted something smaller, I'd consider the Scion mentioned, Honda Element, and a Subaru. But I love the Mini Cooper Clubman. I was glad (and surprised) to hear it can hold two 410 cabs!
I had a Ford Windstar minivan until 2004. It hauled everything with lots of room for three passangers and luggage.
I replaced the Windstar with a 2004 Nissan Murano. The trunk area holds the two cabs AND the large wheeled suitcase. I put the basses and guitar stand in the back seat. The Murano now has 104,000+ miles and still drives like I bought it yesterday. Even with all the gear in it, there is plenty of pickup! I had planned on driving it for only 5 years, but it still drives great with only one repair in the last 6 years. I'm even thinking of giving it a new paint job for the exterior in about six months. No need for new wheels here.
If I were getting something new, I'd consider another Murano. If I wanted something smaller, I'd consider the Scion mentioned, Honda Element, and a Subaru. But I love the Mini Cooper Clubman. I was glad (and surprised) to hear it can hold two 410 cabs!
My Band uses an old postal Van. 7 seats and lots of space for gear, normally:
8x10, two 4x12, three heads, keyboard amp combo, three keyboards, six-ish guitars/basses, a road case containing cases of leads stands mics and so fourth, full drum kits one tom up two toms down, 4 pedal boards. All in Flight cases.
8x10, two 4x12, three heads, keyboard amp combo, three keyboards, six-ish guitars/basses, a road case containing cases of leads stands mics and so fourth, full drum kits one tom up two toms down, 4 pedal boards. All in Flight cases.
Mazda Miata: Headless Basses, LMII head, pedal board, etc in the trunk. Speaker cabinet in the passenger seat.
I'm looking to get a Suzuki Super Carry 1.3. Tiny little van that can take all the amps and a small drum kit and another band member. The rest of the band can make their own way but they don't have to carry their heavy gear.
I load the whole band's stuff and a generator and a playing platform into my Chevy van :::
I bought it for $800 as you see it here, with a new transmission and less than 20,000 miles on a new engine. New brakes and tires front and rear.
It's nice, gets about 15 MPG and I'm looking to get a bigger one before the band trip/vacation to Montana this Summer with everything we own and some fishing gear for along the way.
I want a 1-ton P-series Chevy dually cargo van for that trip.
If I only haul my stuff, I use my '86 K5 or my Amigo:::
I bought it for $800 as you see it here, with a new transmission and less than 20,000 miles on a new engine. New brakes and tires front and rear.
It's nice, gets about 15 MPG and I'm looking to get a bigger one before the band trip/vacation to Montana this Summer with everything we own and some fishing gear for along the way.
I want a 1-ton P-series Chevy dually cargo van for that trip.
If I only haul my stuff, I use my '86 K5 or my Amigo:::
I actually bring my 4x10 rig to practices and gigs in a '98 toyota camry.
i pop the back seats down, slide my HUGE T-Bird hardcase thru the trunk and pop my cab ON the backseat. smashes the roof perfectly so that it stays in place while i drive. Unfortunately, i have no rearview vision, so I don't drive on the highway with it.
i pop the back seats down, slide my HUGE T-Bird hardcase thru the trunk and pop my cab ON the backseat. smashes the roof perfectly so that it stays in place while i drive. Unfortunately, i have no rearview vision, so I don't drive on the highway with it.
haha true dat! My dad drives an '02 tundra and carries the family's boards or just his own when we go beach. We don't have a shell for ours, so he won't let me gig with it =P
