Good vehicles for carrying gear?

[eric]

One of my frustrations with using a big keyboard rig including an 88 note keyboard in a flight case along with other larger items is that the cargo needs are big.

 

I've been using an older Isuzu Trooper to haul everything and it works great. I can fit all my gear plus 2 other people and some extra stuff. The problem is that the fuel economy is not so great and it is not the optimum daily driver for commuting to work. I have done a little investigation into smaller wagons or SUVs but was curious to hear your stories.

 

Once my old Trooper gives up the ghost (which could be years from now--it is very reliable), I would like to find something with better gas mileage that can still haul the big items. What kinds of vehicles do you folks use for hauling gear?

 

Thanks,

Eric

[Dave Pierce]

I absolutely love my '94 Dodge Grand Caravan (Brits: not what you think of a caravan, more of a passenger van). It is notorious for transmission problems, and I've had my share of them. But I keep fixing it, and it keeps running, and has *plenty* of room for gear. Mileage isn't horrible, around 25.

 

I was thinking about replacing it just a few weeks ago, and seriously considered the new Toyota Matrix. My rig would fit in the Matrix, but just barely. It's kind of like a Suburu Outback.

 

For financial reasons, I decided not to buy a new car right now, and instead put some long-deferred maintenance into the van, which has 175,000 miles on it (280,000 kilometers). I just got it back from the shop today, and I'm so glad I did this, I had missed the old beast. Back in the saddle...

 

--Dave

[Mike Martin]

SAAB 9-3, holds an 88 note keyboard(s) in box or road case! Great gas mileage too. I get over 33MPG on the highway and about 25 around town. Thats with my foot on the floor most of the time too.

[Analogaddict]

I drive a 1990 Mitsubishi Galant, and I think they were pretty similar from the late eighties to the mid-90´s. Recently we did a mini-tour (three gigs) with my heavy texas-blues oriented band. We drove about 500 kms with a virtual Hammond, a midi keyboard, a keyboard amp, a rack module, a 2-tier stand, one 4x10 Fender guitar amp, a relatively large pedal board, 2 fender strats, a P-bass, a Jazz bass, a 2x12 bass amp, a complete set of drums (bass drum, snare, 3 toms, stands and a bunch of cymbals) AND 4/5ths of the band (keys, drummer, bass- and guitarplayers). It wasn´t exactly comfortable, but we did it. I believe this car is one of the unknown treasures for transporting stuff. I´ve also travelled alone with a 73-key-Rhodes, a Korg Triton pro-X, a Hammond clone, a couple of rack cases and a Nord Lead 2. Ouch!

take care/J

[Botch.]

Originally posted by Mike Martin - Kurzweil:

SAAB 9-3, holds an 88 note keyboard(s) in box or road case! Great gas mileage too. I get over 33MPG on the highway and about 25 around town. Thats with my foot on the floor most of the time too.

My old Saab 900 hardtop could hold my entire stage rig, a bass guitar and a bass player! My current 1988 900 convertible is absolutely useless as a gear hauler, use a small Toyota pickup for that. I really miss my '77 Volkswagen van, that was the ultimate musician's machine!

[Dan O]

I do like the idea of the new Pontiac's having an AC plug right in the car . You could plug your keyboard in and practice while driving !

 

dano

 

BTW ...my Mazda protege works just fine for my needs ! Better than my wife's 2002 Mercedes!

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Dude...get a 2003 Hummer. Plenty of room for gear, can drive up a 90 degree angle for those hard-to-reach gigs, and costs only...what? $50,000? For a freakin' truck?

 

Never mind.

 

- Jeff

[Rick K.]

My wife's Accord can hold my 88 note board (rear seat down), my 76 note board on top of that. Then my amp goes into the front passenger seat and my gig bag goes on the front passenger floor! It works out pretty nice! Otherwise it has to ride in the back of my pickup truck in the Phoenix heat--definately not the preferable way. Usually it is in one of our trailers. We're now requiring two trailers for our setup, so there's lots of room.

 

Rick

[Superbobus]

Any Lada would do...

For you Americans out there I think Lada must have been the reason for the cold war. Baaaaad Russian car which was famous for rust and breaking down when you least needed that.