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Sound Guys - what trucks do you run, which do you like ?

Discussion in 'Live Sound [BG]' started by 4Mal, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. Dec 15, 2014 #1
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    I'm in the market for a cube or box of some type. This will be a truck I buy for cash. 5 to 8 K. I'm thinking mid 90's Isuzu NPR, 12 to 16 foot, gas, automatic...what are you guys running ?
     
  2. Dec 15, 2014 #2
    RoadRanger

    RoadRanger Supporting Member

    Feb 18, 2004
    NE CT
    Congrats on having enough large, good paying gigs to pay for that! Just make sure the venues you service can accommodate it, both in the loading area and in having parking for it. It can really suck having a truck like that in the cities :( . A Dodge/Mercedes/Frieghtliner Sprinter is as large as you can go and still use car spaces - they are surprisingly large inside. I've just got a Dodge Grand Caravan myself but I'm small-time.
     
  3. Dec 15, 2014 #3
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    Or sad to be me having to hump all that gear... Cities, ha. Not likely an issue for me where I live... Actually you see a ton of the 12 footers as delivery trucks in the city. Super tight turning radius and near the same length as the 158" Sprinter. The 12' box versions seem to carry a premium because of that I think.

    Used Sprinters are mui expensivo ...

    I'm also thinking about some local cartage /rental income. Might be a hole there I can fill so this sucker might be revenue generating... Doesn't have to be but that would be nice ...
     
  4. Dec 15, 2014 #4
    RoadRanger

    RoadRanger Supporting Member

    Feb 18, 2004
    NE CT
    Yah, Sprinters are stoopid expensive. I'm actually lusting after a Ford Transit Connect myself (also stoopid expensive) but this 1997 Grand Caravan will have to do for now :) . A gutted 9 passenger van is another option. But it all depends on how much gear you need to haul...
     
  5. Dec 15, 2014 #5
    WayneP

    WayneP Supporting Member

    Oct 11, 2004
    Corpus Christi, Texas
  6. Dec 16, 2014 #6
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    Those NPRs are great trucks.

    If you want to stay with (yuk) gas burners, look at the Penske truck sales program. It's the trucks that age out of their rental fleet. I think Ryder has a similar sales program, but I have no experience with those.

    We've bought 4 of the 16ft vans (GMCs and Fords) from Penske and all of them have been really good buys. And they've all head up well.

    For gas-burners, that is...:D
     
  7. Dec 16, 2014 #7
    RoadRanger

    RoadRanger Supporting Member

    Feb 18, 2004
    NE CT
    The rule of thumb used to be that if you run less than 50K miles a year it wasn't worth the increased price of a diesel engine vs the fuel savings. Dunno if that holds true in a used truck of this size...
     
  8. Dec 16, 2014 #8
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    There are a couple of ex-rental E350, 16 footers in range as well. A 7.3l diesel, 5.4 l gas and a triton v10 gas... Have heard a few horror stories about plugs and some ford gas product of that vintage. 2 piece plug that snaps off in the block and things get expensive after that... It's a 100k mile plug though. The 100k service on my outback was around 2500 as I had a leaky intake manifold gasket. I did the 100 k early ... So maybe I shouldn't focus on the plugs...
     
  9. Dec 28, 2014 #9
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    An ex-Budget E350 Super a Duty with a 16 foot box is where I landed. 2006 with 170k, $7500 and in good condition. Has the 'plug in' ramp setup. Blind spot mirrors.... The radio sucks, the cab is pretty noisy. Manual everything except the tranny... 4 speed with OD. No question that it's a truck... I need to fix the box inside lights, used a battery lantern last night on it's maiden voyage. Also going to install a backup camera. It is completely blind back there. Did some quality amazon time this morning and have about $60 in parts for that coming.

    I'll start trolling for an EconoLine carpet set and then some dynamat and carpet for the back of the cab. That should help. For now quiet is fine. I get done with a sound gig, I really want peace and quiet... Going is another story so better tunes off in the distant future...
     
    Geri O likes this.
  10. Dec 29, 2014 #10
    Bufalo

    Bufalo Funk in the Trunk Supporting Member

    Jan 6, 2005
    Harrisburg, PA
    Pics or it didn't happen. ;)
     
    Geri O likes this.
  11. Dec 29, 2014 #11
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    There'a always one, isn't there...:D

    But now that he mentioned it, heyyyy....;)
     
    Bufalo likes this.
  12. Dec 29, 2014 #12
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    Da beast. Thinking about a half blue, half white on the diagonal with 'Gorge Sound and Light' spanning the middle of the color split, done in the opposite color.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 29, 2014
    Bufalo likes this.
  13. Dec 29, 2014 #13
    Bufalo

    Bufalo Funk in the Trunk Supporting Member

    Jan 6, 2005
    Harrisburg, PA
    That'd be gorge-ous.

    Sorry.

    Seriously though, that's a pretty cool truck, and two thumbs up for the color scheme. I am trying to envision my wife's reaction if I was considering that kind of purchase...
     
  14. Dec 29, 2014 #14
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    Oh, hell to the yeah, looks like you done good!

    I don't know if I'd put that name on the truck, though. Kinda advertises what's in it. Which is good and bad. Might turn it into a target. Your call.

    Looks great, though.
     
  15. Dec 30, 2014 #15
    4Mal

    4Mal Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 2, 2002
    Columbia River Gorge
    Got that and I'm kinda on the fence. There is the possibility of some kind of removable signage. I have some vinyl banners that I put around the tent at festival time. I could figure out a way to hang those, or something similar... Leaving the truck in high traffic places unloaded from time to time... Part of my biz is rental and I'd love for that piece to generate more revenue...

    I have to say that 16 foot box was probably overkill... I could probably fit into 10... Then again once you are moving the frontal area, the length can't matter a bunch...
     
  16. Dec 30, 2014 #16
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    I wonder if you can get those magnetic signs I used to see a lot many years ago? I haven't noticed them lately, but with my tunnel vision, I certainly could have missed seeing them...