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Transportation For Roadtrip Gigs

socialleper

socialleper

Bringer of doom and top shelf beer
May 31, 2009
10,158
13,691
Canyon Country, CA
#1
My band is starting to expand beyond nearby cities and looking to start playing shows further away (5-6 hours drive time). When we play locally we all either drive our own vehicles, or if we are playing somewhere with limited parking, rent a van. Renting a van for long distance starts to get really expensive because of mileage, and most cargo vans only seat two people. My guitarist's suggestion was to put an unbolted bench seat in the van, which seems like 1.) a quick way for everyone in the band to die at once; and 2.) extremely uncomfortable for three grown men for a 6 hour, or more, drive.

What sort of transportation do you use for your band when you have to travel long, but drivable, distances on your own dime?
 
#2
I wouldn't ride in a vehicle that didn't have proper seats and seat belts.

I took a couple trips with a band that has a full size van, and it has the front seats plus one bench seat that's bolted down, yet there is still plenty of space for gear, including my upright bass.

If you have a lot of gear, it might be worth considering my rule: It may be cheaper to downsize your gear than to upsize your vehicle. Some minivans let you take out seats one by one.
 
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#3
fdeck said:
I wouldn't ride in a vehicle that didn't have proper seats and seat belts.

I took a couple trips with a band that has a full size van, and it has the front seats plus one bench seat that's bolted down, yet there is still plenty of space for gear, including my upright bass.

If you have a lot of gear, it might be worth considering my rule: It may be cheaper to downsize your gear than to upsize your vehicle. Some minivans let you take out seats one by one.
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Did they own the van or rent it? Do you know the make?
I'm having trouble finding places that rent something besides "cargo vans."
We don't have a lot of gear. The drummer uses a 5 piece set without a rack or anything. I use 2 1x12 GK cabs and a Shuttle head. Each guitarist has a head and a half stack. We have to bring two instruments each due to tunings. We don't have lights or a PA or anything like that.
Personally I can't imagine any SUV that can fit 5 adult men and a drum kit, let alone 3 cabs. And SUVs aren't cheap to rent.
 
#5
socialleper said:
Did they own the van or rent it? Do you know the make?
I'm having trouble finding places that rent something besides "cargo vans."
We don't have a lot of gear. The drummer uses a 5 piece set without a rack or anything. I use 2 1x12 GK cabs and a Shuttle head. Each guitarist has a head and a half stack. We have to bring two instruments each due to tunings. We don't have lights or a PA or anything like that.
Personally I can't imagine any SUV that can fit 5 adult men and a drum kit, let alone 3 cabs. And SUVs aren't cheap to rent.
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An, good point. They owned the van. It was the longest Ford Econoline, several years old by now. It was the same dimensions as a 15 passenger van, but with only one bench seat.

I suppose you could rent a 15 passenger van and un-bolt some of the seats. ;)
 
#10
Kia Grand Carnival..... has seating for 5 big adults and still enough room in the back for the following;

1 x Powered Mixer (Mackie PMP 804m)
2 x FOH top boxes (RCF Art 300)
1 x 18" powered sub
1 x 12" powered wedge
2 x Acoustic guitar in hard cases
2 x basses (one in hard case one in gig bag)
1 x Smallish bass amp (Peavey Max 115 II)
1 x Bag full of leads
1 x Crate full of mic cases
1 x Stands bag
Plus clothes and other stuff.

If you have more PA, drums, guitar amps or big bass cabinet you'd probably need a trailer as well. This vehicle is one of the most comfortable vehicles i've ever driven or been a passenger in for the long haul. We can do a 7-9 hour drive and never get a complaint from the kids on the back seat and it's got more than enough power for overtaking even when fully packed. Only downside is that it chews through a lot of fuel.
 
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#11
fdeck said:
Is it a three piece band? IIRC the typical U-Haul box truck has a bench seat, though the fuel economy sucks.
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5 piece (although the singer doesn't use any gear per say).
So that's 2 4x12 Marshall cabs + 2 heads.
2 x 112 GK cabs + Shuttle Head
6 guitars & basses.
3 pedal boards.
Five piece drum set + stands and cymbals.
 
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#12
If a trailer is out, then buy an older Suburban or Conversion van. I have a 2000 Suburban. They are cavernous. I haul my entire PA, and all our instruments, and still have room for four adults to ride comfortably. I would put fuel economy up against an over-loaded mini-van any day, and also a much safer vehicle under load.

Having pulled band trailers for over 30 years, there is no way I am hooking a trailer load of equipment up behind any mini-van full of people and driving anywhere.
 
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#14
I've done sound work for a friends band that has done shows in Loisiana and Oklahoma, so about 8 hours from Houston... We typically rent a passenger van with a trailer hitch / wiring. The BL has a 6x10 enclosed cargo trailer. The people ride in the van, the gear rides in the trailer.

I think he paid $1K for the trailer used.
 
#16
socialleper said:
My guitarist's suggestion was to put an unbolted bench seat in the van...
Click to expand...

I did this once. It was a bad idea then, and an even worse idea now. Don't do it.

Edit: If I were trying to tour on the cheap, I'd buy a good low mileage passenger van and a box trailer. Trust me, you don't want to travel in a cargo van with a bunch of gear loaded in behind you. In an accident, you are likely to find yourself pinned between the gear and the windshield. This is especially true if the van does not have a properly design and installed cage/divider between you and the cargo. If you can't afford this rig, you probably not ready to go on the road. IMHO
 
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#17
yeah, you're looking for a Ford econoline passenger van or its equivalent. I have a 96 club wagon (same thing really) that could easily haul my 810 with head, 2 412 with head, 5 piece kit and 4 hardcased guitars with plenty of seating. As that band just broke up, I'm looking to downsize.
 
#20
socialleper said:
Who is renting that to you?
Click to expand...

Try Ford dealers in your area. My local Ford dealer here in Texas has a rental office, as does the Ford Dealer in the small town in Oregon where I grew up. I think it is pretty common with them. Don't know if the other brands do it, but you could check, A Chevy Express van would do the trick...

I know Hertz, and Enterprise both rent passenger vans as well.

If we HAD to, we could cram 5 guys into the cab of my F150 and make the trip. I have a SuperCab truck, not a Super Crew, so the leg room is a bit lacking.

Honestly, if you guys are going to give long haul gigs like that any serious consideration, you really need either a crew cab full size pickup truck, or a full size van, at LEAST a half ton, 3/4 ton is better. And trailer brakes make you, and everyone else around you safer. I know. I've been pushed will into an intersection by a trailer with no brakes being hauled by a mini pickup.
 
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