Karaoke Forums

A related post to "What do you use to carry gear?".
I want to know what you use to haul your gear from gig to gig.
I started with a 1994 Ford Ranger extended cab, sometimes putting the gear in the back seat, other times in the box (had a canopy).
Next was a 1996 Dodge Caravan. I took out the very back seat to make the necessary room for all my gear. After going through 3 transmissions in less than 2 months, I decided I will never buy another Dodge product again.
I now own a 1998 Ford Windstar. I am able to leave ALL the seats intact as all my gear fits neatly in the back cargo area. Much roomier and definitely more reliable than the Caravan. But I do want to downsize. I'm currently looking at all options (other than Dodge).

When I started hosting, several years ago, I used our Cadillac Berretz,, but soon outgrew it with too much gear. So I switched over to driving my old International Scout II. Well, that became too costly when the price of gas reached over 4 bucks per gallon. I still have the Scout, but havent driven it in years. Well, I then bought an older Ford Aerostar for 500 bucks, turned out to be the biggest piece of gutless wonder in the world! Winter came and my block froze in it, doing it in.. donated it to the junk yard. Now, that left me with my old Chevy pickup, which just simply didn't work, because I couldn't keep things out of the weather in a pickup. Ok, then I bought a 2001 Dodge Caravan. It has been the best vehicle I have owned, I've put over 130 thousand miles on it myself, going from show to show. In fact the van has the original spark plugs and wires that it came with the day it was new. The van has over 200 thousand miles on it now, and still runs dang good, and has only has minor issues. Still, I outgrew the van this spring, so we now use my Toyota Tundra to pull a 6 x 10 cargo trailer. Its a bit more expensive to drive and pull compared to the van, but it's been a great choice, and I don't think I could ever go back to using anything smaller now.

All my Karaoke/DJ gear gets hauled in our Toytoa Sienna, folding down the back seats is usually enough, for bigger gigs take out the middle seats too. For other production gigs we use either a 7'x14' trailer or the 8'x18'.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

We use a windowless white Chev Savana, with no logos.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

After three years of borrowing the wife's mini-van for every gig (and having to hear about how I am trashing it!), I got a great deal on a used Mercedes ML-350 SUV. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, but with all the miles I drive (83 miles round trip daily just for the day job, not to mention a few hundred a week for Karaoke) I wanted to cruise to my gigs in luxury.

I have an 05 Trailblazer that can fit all my gear but has to be packed just right and I have to be a contortionist to fit it in.

Before I bought the Trailblazer, I bought a 3 year old 5 by 8 cargo trailer for $875 in perfect condition other than 2 cracks in the front plastic runner. Doesn't leak a bit but I still want to cover those.

I put all the heavy stuff in there and store it there. In the trailblazer I haul my rack, laptops, books, and hard drives. Plus back up mixer. All that stuff goes in the house with me when I get home.

I will never put my rack in the trailer. Too much bouncing.

Never backed up a trailer before I got this one and I'm still not the greatest at backing it up but can now back it all the way in my long driveway that I have to do a wicked 90 to get it off the road and started.

I love the trailer, so easy to load my large extra heavy gator bag and sub woofer.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I have an old Chevy Express cargo van. I love having a separate vehicle, because I can leave the gear in it and not have to worry about offloading when I get home.

The cargo van is nice, because the "cage" separating the passenger compartment from the cargo area means I can leave the driver's area open without worry. And the rear window is security-tinted. It is impossible to see what is inside, which I think makes it less likely to be broken into. (Also it's pretty hard with the wired security glass.)

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I have an old Chevy Astro van that I took the seats out of. I don't ever leave the equipment in the van since a friend had her rig stolen. It makes for a long tiring night, but I sleep well once I'm unloaded.

I still use a 5' x 8' trailer for my equipment, but have it parked in a Storage Facility with video surveillance, security gates, etc. After my first trailer got stolen with all my equipment in it. (Some of you remember, I'm sure). I got a good deal on the rent ($60 a month) and they use me for all their private parties and credit me "the pay" towards my account. So I;m almost paying nothing.

To haul the heavier stuff into the venue I use a dolly that I bought used on ebay. Kind of like the one in the attached picture.

I used to have a Rock'N'Roller DJ cart, but that thing was crap. It gave up after only a year of use. So I went heavy duty / industrial and am very happy with it to this day.

Well i use a 2003 ford focus station wagon. With the back seats down, it stores an amazing amount of stuff.

My mom actually moved everything I own from Vancouver to Calgary in that car. Of course, you couldn't see anything out the back window and my seat was pushed all the way up, so we had to take a LOT of rest stops..

Too bad it's falling apart now. The rear suspension needs welding, the shocks need replacing and the brakes are almost gone.

Mazda Miata.

Yep - something to be said about cruising to an event with the top down.... oh yea...

The gear?

I also have a 3 1/2' x 4' trailer I use behind the Miata.

Holds plenty of equipment - 2 Bose L1's, 4 bass bins, my main 'rig' (SKB Gig Rig w/ base), and even some basic lighting if I need it. I recently converted this rig to my 'karaoke rig' for some upcoming charity events I'm doing. Houses an M-Audio NRV-10 mixer, 2 karaoke players, a Tascam SSCDR-1 for recording, Behringer DEQ-2496 mastering processor (EQ/compression/limiting for my final output), a pull out shelf with a Stanton System 3 midi controller and my video switch boxes (Use the system 3 with Traktor for bumper music). I have a few other items installed as well... including a 4U drawer in the base to hold cables, microphones, etc.


Now that I have a downsized rig, I can take my 'mini-rig' (Gator Studio2GO 4U w/ 2 Gig Wings), powered speakers, stands, and lights.


I use a 1 Ton Chevy pickup truck when I do out of town events with more PA or uplighting though...

My first 'KJ Road Rig' was a monster. Coming from the world of live bands, I went way overboard with speakers, amps, racks, lights.. I managed to shoe horn it all into an '85 Chevy Astro van I bought out of the newspaper for $300.

It ran like a watch, but looked like a pile of crap. Figured that might afford a level of security. Who's going to bust into a beat up old van?

After a few months of back breaking work loading and unloading all that gear, I saw the light and downsized my show load considerably, and upgraded to a nice little '91 GMC Jimmy 4x4.

With the back seat down, everything fit beautifully.

Several years later I picked up a 2000 Plymouth Voyager.. and I really liked that van.

I mean I REALLY liked that van.

Unfortunately the transmission took a crap on me one day, and estimates to put a used junkyard tranny in it were over $1,000... if they could find one.

Seems most of the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler mini vans in the junkyard made it there because the transmissions had died.

Rebuilding the transmission was closer to $2,000.. and a new transmission would have required a second mortgage on my home.

So off to the bone yard it went.. and I picked up yet ANOTHER Dodge Caravan.. that lasted about 2 years, and after a busted timing belt, the transmission died two months later.

Still like dodge mini vans.. i'd probably buy another one if it were cheap (under a grand) and just treat it like a disposable vehicle. Drive it till the tranny goes, then send it to the scrap yard.

Currently i'm looking for an old school van to do up with a vehicle wrap, and dragging my gear to and from the gig in a Chrysler 300m.

Speakers and rack fit in the back seat. Collapsible booth, and wirebag go in the trunk along with my monitor stand and my laptop/book bag.

Leaves the 'shotgun seat' open if someone rides in with me, or needs a ride home at the end of the night.