What's your band vehicle??

[Badside]

Just a cool conversation about band vehicles!

In our cases, the first "band" vehicle (when we started playing too far away to use 4 cars) was an Chevy Astro (extended). It was quite confortable but cargo space was at a premium. Fortunately, the singer didn't play guitar back then. It was our most fuel efficient vehicle as of yet.

We then "upgraded" (or downgraded since it was a 86' model) to a Dodge Ram Van 250 (a Dodge Econoline if you wish) that came from the electricity company. It was the most basic van you can get, no paneling inside (just bare metal) and a plywood panel as a floor. We bolted a bench in the back to convert it to a 5 places. We no longer missed cargo space, however it was a real dog on the roads. It was the old 3.9 I6 with a 3 speed auto transmission! It could get to 45mph pretty fast, but then it would take 10 minutes to get to 60mph. The handling was horrible. It also died on us in the middle of a busy highway during rush hour.

Fortunately, a member of the band then bought a much more recent Ford F150 king cab with a "cap". Everything was a tight fit in the back and we quickly discovered that the back seat wasn't exaclty confortable. Ever been in this state of mind where you're so tired you can't keep your eyes opened? Yet it's impossible to find a position where you can actually sleep without breaking your neck or back? It's was almost torture!

Current vehicle is a crew cab pickup with a small trailer. Best solution yet: no problem with cargo space (and much easier to step inside a trailer than a truck cab) and no problem with interior space. I just miss the fuel efficiency of the Astro...

My dream vehicle would be a Dodge Sprinter (the longest baddest one). You can actually stand up in the back, yet it's really fuel efficient (like a big sedan) and easy to maneuver in the city. Ideally, I would set up a lounge in the back with 4 big chairs, a table to play cards, a big LCD TV with a kicking sound system. Perhaps a couple racked PODs so we could jam in the van. A microwave and a bar :)
(with "limo" style windows tint of course)

So, what your band vehicle?

[Lee Flier]

Great topic! I love talking about band vehicles. :cool: And it cracks me up how some bands just seem to go out of their way to have the worst vehicle they could possibly have! :D

Our band van story is a pretty amazing one actually. After quite a bit of discussion about what kind of vehicle would be best for us, we decided the thing to do would be to get a full size conversion van, remove the center captain's chairs that are typically in conversion vans, move the rear sofa bed up to the center, and then put a divider cage behind it and make the rear section the cargo area for the gear. That way the gear would be separated, wouldn't kill us if we had to slam on the brakes, and the passenger compartment would still be comfy.

We also really like red :D, so we agreed that our dream van would be a red one! With a nice cushy charcoal gray interior, nice stereo, TV etc.

Only trouble is, like most bands we don't have a whole lot of money, so we despaired of ever finding anything that was actually in decent shape, roadworthy, etc. for what we could afford. Then there would be the cost of converting the space the way we wanted. Things weren't looking too good, but we all kept our eyes open when we were out and about, and I looked on autotrader.com every now and then.

Well... imagine my shock when one day I was on Autotrader and there was a 1990 Ford Econoline, in what looked to be perfect shape, and had less than 100K original miles on it. AND... the interior was already done EXACTLY the way we wanted. 2 front captain's chairs, sofabed behind, and a divider wall behind the sofa. The whole rear was already made into a cargo area with a rubber bedliner, tie down cleats and all. It was crazy. And it was even RED. With a gray interior, and a stereo, and a TV. Totally crazy.

We went out to look at it right away, and it proved to be every bit as perfect as it looked. The original owner was a family who kept it in a garage and only took it out for vacations. To top it all off, because it's such a specialty design, the dealer was having trouble selling it, so we were able to get it for considerably less than the asking price!

We've now had the van for two years, and we love it. One of those "meant to be" things I guess. Just goes to show that if you're patient and persistent, and through the magic of the Internet you can find just about anything.

[caveman]

I have a Jeep Cherokee and chains . Out here a gig is often on the other side of a mountain and snow can be a huge problem.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Mazda B2200 P/U truck with a renovated trailer (8' X 5') that I bought from an auction at U-Haul...not fancy but it serves me well! For solo gigs, I just put the PA system and my guitars in the back of my truck and leave the trailer home. :)

It only seats 2 (my daughter/percussionist and myself) but my usual bassist uses my bass amp anyway, so she just slings her two basses over her back (in a double gig-bag) and rides her Kawasaki to the gig, or when it rains, her VW Bug. Everything else fits into the trailer.

[defense]

I am a solo acoustic guy so I don't need much room but on long tours lots of room is a plus. I just got a super long, fully loaded Chevy Venture. I tore out all of the back seats and layed down an inflatable matress in the back. I left in the front 2 seats for myself and my merch guy. We have plenty of room to fit everything right in the van and we have plenty of room to sleep in the back. It drives like a charm.

[Retrospex]

We have 2 different vehicles. A Dodge RV when comfort and not as much gear needed. And a 1995 Ford Econoline with a 6' x 9' foot trailer for loner trips when we need alot of gear.

[machinegun78_2]

our singer has a mini-van, I have a Jimmy 4x4, our other guitar player has a GMC 1500 extended cab with a cap on it and our drummer has a station wagon. if we need to travel, we'll rent a trailer and caravan....

:cool:

[Electric_Porpoise]

Mine used to be a Toyota Echo. Believe it or not, that little piece of shit could hold a lot of gear. I'd cram a 212 amp, 3 guitars and pedal board in the trunk, a 212 cab in the back seat, PA speakers on top of the cab, mic stands on the floor, mixer behind my seat, gig bag and power amp on the passenger seat. :)

[doctorno]

Anyone remember the Winnebago from Space Balls? Yeah, that. Theirs was in much better condition though.

[Badside]

Originally posted by doctorno
Anyone remember the Winnebago from Space Balls? Yeah, that. Theirs was in much better condition though.

An actual flying Winnebago would be kickass

We could do the Montreal-Rimouski run in 2 hours top :D

[Badside]

Originally posted by Lee Flier
Well... imagine my shock when one day I was on Autotrader and there was a 1990 Ford Econoline, in what looked to be perfect shape, and had less than 100K original miles on it. AND... the interior was already done EXACTLY the way we wanted.

Yeah, one of the good things about internet! This applies to musical gear too! I check the local (well provincial) classifieds every day. You can go weeks without anything interesting, but when something shows up, it usually dissappear within HOURS. The singer in my band had been looking at a new cab for months and we got tired out if, he was about to pay full price for a brand new overpriced one, then out of nowhere appeared a pristine 1960AC (those are rare) which is the perfect match when we play together.

Anyway, cool story you have (and cool van you have too!)

[FuelGTRX]

We have 2, 2 Chevy Silverados (one regular, one extended). We have these because they are my drummer and I's vehicles. We don't have an official band vehicle:(. we'll probably either get an old van or just a trailer, the latter being the most likely.

[Timezarrow]

I recently picked up an old Chevy S10 Blazer 4X4 to keep us from having to drive separately in our cars all the time (we actually made it to one show with two of us in my Cavalier with most of the equipment), and it was used for it's first gig last Thursday.

At about the same time, one of the guys got an old short school bus, which also made the last gig. We could probably get all of the band and equipment into the school bus, but he lives an hour away from me and it doesn't always work out for him to come to my place before the gig. (Mileage on the bus is not good.)

He also handles the lighting for us and some venues and other bands, so he has a lot of that stuff to carry. But, at least part of the time, we'll ride the short bus to the show.

;)

:cool:

[Lee Flier]

Originally posted by Timezarrow
But, at least part of the time, we'll ride the short bus to the show.


LOL that's great. Confirms a lot of people's suspicions about musicians, I'm sure. :D

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by Lee Flier


LOL that's great. Confirms a lot of people's suspicions about musicians, I'm sure. :D

:D Especially those who wore protective headgear...but never really went out for sports! :D

[fuzzball]

I cuttently use a 2003 Buick Rondevue. Comfortable and it can hold a lot of gear, we also use a Dodge ram with a cap.

[doubleR]

Here's MY band vehicle:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/doubleR/010104.jpg


:)

[squealie]

Our drummer bought an $800 van.

Then gave it an $800 paint job.

Drummers are stupid. :(

[THX1138]

Originally posted by squealie
Our drummer bought an $800 van.

Then gave it an $800 paint job.

Drummers are stupid. :(

And just put in a $250 tranny.


WAAAAAYYYYYY stupid.


Me thinks I better get Uhaul on speed dial just in case.

[BndGrl]

Originally posted by squealie
Our drummer bought an $800 van.

Then gave it an $800 paint job.

Drummers are stupid. :(
Originally posted by THX1138


And just put in a $250 tranny.


WAAAAAYYYYYY stupid.


Me thinks I better get Uhaul on speed dial just in case.

Don't forget about the $200 CD player he has in it!

I'm thinking when your stereo is 25% of the cost of your vehicle, you may have over spent just a tad.

[Tedster]

http://webster.fh-hagenberg.at/staff/burger/lva/dim/images/color-wilbur/rusty-truck-small.jpg

[THB]

I have a '92 Nissan PU with a shell that I can carry our PA, my rig, the lead guitarist's rig, extra guitars, stands, milk crate-o-goodies and a few extras if need be. Bass player and drummer drive their own rigs. We haven't done out of town work yet, so travel arrangements haven't come up.

[ZenFly]

We all have separate cars/trucks as we come from as much as 90 miles of each other.

We have a Toyota for the singer the one with the long high roof and a hatachback.
Old Nissan p/u with back for the bass.
I think another Toyota 4 door for the drummer...he gets his intire set in there!

I have a '03 BMW 325iT wagon...best band car I've ever had!

Back in the old days i had:

'69 VW Bug (*Put a full stack of ampeg V4 guitars and luggage in that thing!)
'67 Ford Country Squire wagon
'76 Dodge Tradesman Van
'77 Old's 98 coupe
'87 Acura Integra
'99 Honda Accord Coupe

I

[rebonn]

http://www.blairsdevillestudios.com/images/Img38.jpg

A black limo pulling a white equipment trailer had every cop that saw us acting like they saw a bank robbery in progress.

[Burgess]

Originally posted by doubleR
Here's MY band vehicle:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/doubleR/010104.jpg


:) So how much gear can you put in that thing anyway? ;)



I have to haul my stuff around in this...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/burgessmw/Cars/car.jpg

...everything fits in the trunk except the ext cab that I sit on the floor between back/front seats. I rarely use the ext cab.

[Greazygeo]

1990 Ford E350 Cargo van...it aint pretty but hauls alot and keeps the oil companies in buisness....:)

for gigs that dont require PA or lights, its the 300M. I can fit my halfstack and some misc stuff in the trunk...:cool:

[Cortfan]

Back in the late 60's my band car was a 1949 solid black Cadillac hearse-nothing cooler than that thing at the time. We layed the Kustom black roll and tucked P. A. speaker columns long ways in the back. Nothing was ever stolen from that car. Nowadays, we have a '04? Chevy Avalanche 4 door P/U with a 8' x 20' tandem trailer with a side door and a fold down rear ramp. I'm glad the drummer has money.

[M-1 Fan]

In the future, my wife (bass player) would like to get an SUV and tow all the stuff in a trailer. For now, we've got a Windstar that we fill along with the drummer's open box truck. We're pretty much screwed if it rains.:(

[Strings74]

These are my band vehicles:

http://scarabee.co.uk/marathon/item_taxi.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/new_york/images/newyork4.jpg

[Tedster]

I'd love to have a London Taxicab for hauling small amounts of gear. These things have an unbelievable amount of room, not to mention they look like something off of "The Avengers"

http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/carros/classicos/london-cab-fairway-1.jpg

[Chris Lohr]

London Taxi? That is so fuckin cool.

[wheresgrant3]

Unfortunately a trailer isn't as exciting as a van or a bus....

http://www.nutsinablender.com/images/gallery05_28_2005/images/DCP04957.JPG

But it does prevent me from fitting 3 keyboards, one keyboard amp, 3 guitars, a 2x12 cabinent and Peavey XXX head along with countles cables in my girlfriend's VW Beetle. ;)

[JoeGR]

So, what your band vehicle? [/B][/QUOTE]


Either the "Gray Ghost" ('93 Dodge Caravan) or "The Lazer" (Lord knows what year, Chevy Blazer).

[Next to Nothing]

Originally posted by Strings74
These are my band vehicles:

http://scarabee.co.uk/marathon/item_taxi.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/new_york/images/newyork4.jpg

I have often wondered how NYC band people get their gear to and from gigs.

Seems like quite the issue.

[TechMetalMan]

Originally posted by doubleR
Here's MY band vehicle:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/doubleR/010104.jpg


:)

You must be the singer ;)

[fastplant]

We used to have a converted Cablevision van. It rocked, had a siren on top, a search light (super bright), and was huge. But we sold it. Now I carry my drums in this:

http://www.sideshowband.com/jdsm.jpg

Luckily I play vdrums.

[splatbass]

Neither of my bands have a band vehicle. We each drive our own vehicles (we are on the island of Oahu, so no long distances). Mine is an Xterra. Big enough for my PA and bass rig, plus one passenger.

[BC Powder]

Originally posted by squealie
Our drummer bought an $800 van.

Then gave it an $800 paint job.

Drummers are stupid. :(

LOL!


I gots a 91 Grand Caravan. Paid $1300 for it, it's been from TX to Illinois and North Carolina with zero problems. Cold AC, all the power stuff works, doesn't burn oil, 22 mpg, hauls the gear and 2 guys just fine (that's with a standup bass/acoustic/Telecaster trio).

I have recently put a few hundred $$ into it but I'm still in it for less than $2000.

[Tedster]

This would be perfect if your band all dressed in gray jumpsuits...

http://www.bunnyears.net/gb/ecto-fl3.jpg

[sventvkg]

Some of you know that my band vehicle is an MCI MC5C bus..It rocks and i'm converting it between now and the winter...Fits all my gear, I can take it anywhere, live in it and it pulls any other vehicle to boot!

[rebonn]

I always thought a brinks truck would be nice to have.
Or maybe one of these.
http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/2509617851772596.JPG?0.12075145239157509
http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3126770578045434.JPG?0.6769602411257067

[DTravz]

My guitar player drives an ice cream truck (Snow Cone Joe) in the summer. He ofter drives that to our gigs and makes an extra $50 - $75 at 2:00 in the morning selling to the burnouts that are left hanging around.

I drive a '97 Ford E250 cargo van, with a sliding side door, and mesh bulkhead that I had installed in case of an accident. It can hold all of our gear when packed correctly going TO the gig, but somehow during the (blearey-eyed) load out, it seemed to run out of space the way everyone threw the stuff in. Now I have to supervise where every piece goes. It's nice though because I wait in the van while they haul the gear out to me :)

[HuskerDude]

Ours is (I think) a late 70s blue Chevy econoline. 2 captains chairs in front, and a bench/bed in back. We just got it this week actually. It has its problems, but it was $500 and it's big enough to comfortably fit all five of us and our gear (guitars, amps, drums, and keys) for out-of-town gigs.
We've dubbed it Blue Boy. Yes, after the magazine. No, none of us are gay. :D

[srsfallriver]

In my current band, each member loads his/her car with gear (we break up the load fairly evenly).

I used to be in a band that bought a hospital bus (complete with lift). We ripped the seats out of the back half and sectioned it off for gear. We also sectioned off the cab and left the rest for partying on the way to the gig!