Wagon or minivan

[sine143]

oh the optimism

9/10 inquiries I recieve want 6 t48s for less than I would do 2 for. AND they want me to haul them.

[MissileCrisis]

What kind of gigs need 6 T48? If they need sound for 1k people they should be paying you the big bucks!

[sine143]

I guess the way I like to hear it I use 6 t48s for around 400 to 600. I believe I"m falling victim to voltage sag though, which is probalby nerfing me about 3 to 6 db of output.

[MissileCrisis]

I guess the way I like to hear it I use 6 t48s for around 400 to 600. I believe I"m falling victim to voltage sag though, which is probalby nerfing me about 3 to 6 db of output.

Well you can always test the voltage out to see what your actual load voltage delivered to the drivers is (rather than the no load testing we set our limiters at). of course I wouldn't do so without ear plugs .

[MissileCrisis]

Still though, 400-600 people gigs should pay pretty decently. Where I'm at we are lucky to get <200 person gigs and none would have required that kind of monster sub power.

[sine143]

i do need to do that honestly. worst case is that in almost all venues I'm given 15 amp breakers, when approaching outputs of -6 to -3 db on the xti 4k (in system architect) I notice that the mains voltage is dropping sometime to below 100v (as per the xti's voltage meter).

Yes a 400 to 600 person gig does pay pretty decent usually... about a dollar per person.

[bassmonster]

I'll throw in a vote for a Subaru Forester...a little bit taller than the Outback. It fits my TT with ease. I'd go trailer as well, loading and unloading destroys the interior over time.

[Gauss]

I do both: 2000 Subaru Outback and a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. The van is amazingly useful -- I can take my whole rig plus three friends. In the Subaru, I can just manage my whole system (30" T39, 2x DR200, 3 tubs, stands, rack, and mirrorball.) The T39 sits on the folded down back seat, up to the passenger seat and touching the ceiling at the rear seat. I squeeze one Dr200 between the T39 and the rear hatch, so the sub is about 22 inches from the hatch. I'm not convinced a T60 would fit, due to the curve of the hatchdoor. Mileage is the same with either vehicle.

[MissileCrisis]

I'll throw in a vote for a Subaru Forester...a little bit taller than the Outback. It fits my TT with ease. I'd go trailer as well, loading and unloading destroys the interior over time.

What is the distance from the back of the front seat to the tailgate? Is it over 5 feet? Foresters are a little more than some of the things I've looked at but they aren't any more than the outback. I'll take a look.

[DJ Higgumz]

Will, I fit alot in a grand caravan. my advice would be minivan, but make sure it has the towing package so you get the airshocks on the back.

I fit

2 single t60s, 2 dual 15 tops, a large amp rack, 6 foot table, 30ft of truss (put on the ladder rack) 4 martin roboscans, 4 par cans, a projector, 2 speaker stands, 4 light stands, a projection screen, 5 piece facade, 2 smaller tops, hazer, 100ft audio snake, 2 boxes of cables/power cords, and a desktop computer and 2 monitors. filled to the roof. gets 18 to the gallon

[MissileCrisis]

So many choices... about 2 hours ago I was set on a toyota camry wagon le. Found one in good condition with a v6 for 1650.

[byacey]

From my experiences, avoid the Dodge Caravans and Voyager. The back wheel bearings are too light duty for hauling any kind of weight.

[biodad]

honda odyssy van. consumer reports claimed a couple years back that for the last 10 years, it is the best. or toyota. go import for sure.

dodge, chrysler, any american front wheel drive van is a grocery getter at best. trannys suck. price is material and labor. with american, too much of the price is labor instead of good materials, quality design and build. honda is the only mini van with a real truck body. i recently went through 4 american toilets in 5 years- dodge, chrysler and an astro van. junk. i drive about 40,000 miles a year with full load of band gear and these honda vans eat these american toys and i get 20 mpg or better, 60 - 65 mph. american made mini vans ( probably any american made vehicle ) are over priced, under developed, planned obsolessence junk. at least compared to imports.

i do corporate dueling pianos and cant call in sick, cant call a guitarist or keyboardist to fill in, and since i switched to honda vans, my days of hanging big american beer cans with wheels from a tow truck are over.

[DJPhatman]

Here is a 5'x8' for $1600 obo in Palo Alto.

Here is a BRAND NEW 5'x8' for $1759 + taxes and state fees in Santa Rosa.

Search your local craigslist.org for "enclosed trailer" and set the minimum amount to $100 and the maximum amount to $2000. There are deals out there, you just have to be vigilant and quick to contact.

[bzb]

I work just about every weekend. I currently have a Tahoe, and I was looking at downgrading to something more fuel efficient... but just can't fit everything into anything smaller. For more than half of my gigs, I take a single T39, two OT12s, slant rack, uplights and dancefloor lighting in cases, S4 in case, stands for everything, folding table and linens, two EV ZX1A and other backup gear. I also tow a 3500 lb Pontoon boat... so that's another consideration for me.

I'd love to get a trailer, but I don't have anyplace secure to park it (wife's nice vehicle and toys take up the garage), so I'd be renting a space away from my house - not something I'm OK with. So for the last few weeks, I've been looking at... a new Tahoe.