What do you use for gear movers? Does anyone use dedicated always loaded vehicles or trailers?

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A DJ in my service area is not going to be using a trailer to haul their gear, LOL.

Traversing the DC Metro area with traffic, and then deal with figuring out parking with a garage that has a max height of 6'2, 6'3, or 6,5...NOPE. It's not happening.

Same goes for the Baltimore metro area, BUT if you only service areas north of Baltimore beltway, or on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, then a trailer can be a viable option.

I do like that Dodge Ram 1500 van. I have seen a few of them. Looks like a great vehicle for DJ gigs. Same as the Ford Transit.

I like my Traverse, but I could be limited if I wanted do bring out multiple totems and subs along with a bunch of lighting. ...I never book events that require that much equipment though.
 
i debated about getting the "seated" package...

There are more options now than there were 5 years ago when I bought my minivan, but I don’t know of any that do the stow-n-go seating as well a Chrysler. I have three rows of seating that fold flat into the floor, though I rarely ever use more than one of the second row captain’s chairs. Still, I think the resale is better with the extra seats.
 
i realize its a much more inexpensive choice...

I think this is only true for DJs that already have a vehicle that can pull a decent sized trailer. If you don't have a pickup or something the trailer doesn't save much. And the vehicles that can pull one tend to be slightly more expensive to purchase.
 
Way back, I used a Plymouth Volare wagon. You couldn't kill that car. Next up was a Tacoma with a 6' bed - followed by a Tundra with a 5x10 trailer. The Tacoma's bed wasn't too bad height-wise. The Tundra's bed is even higher. City events that have no room for a trailer get whatever I can fit in the Tundra. The nice thing about trailers is the low deck, pack it and leave it, very low maintenance vs another vehicle and if one tow vehicle goes down, I can pull it with another.
 
started out with a Nissan King Cab pick-up with Cap. Used it for about three years. Replaced it with Toyota Highlander. Put a trailer hitch on it and then purchased a 5x8 Trailer with side door, indoor lighting, and rear loading ramp door. When I purchased my Yorkville system: NX 750 P (2) and 18" LS 801 P subwoofer, it became necessary to roll it in and out of the trailer. I took it everywhere unless I used the smaller system RCF ART 200P 12" (2) and ART 800 P 15" subwoofers. Now, I use the Trailer for storage and no longer take it on DJ gigs; use the Toyota Highlander to transport my RCF Evox 8 system, alon

I love my Highlander too, my daughter actually picked it out. I couldn’t believe how much room it had . Originally I had been thinking about the Acura MDX, until my transmission went out in my TL and I had to replace it ASAP. The Highlander was about 10k, didn’t require premium gas and had even more room. The first time I used it for a gig I thought things were going to be tight but I even had room to throw in 2 rock-‘n’-rollers. My daughter ended up get a RAV4 and that had plenty of room for its size with the seats down
 
Four full size cargo vans and a daily drive mini van. Always loaded and ready roll every weekend.View attachment 37606

Was gonna put some advertising on my minivan similar to yours, but decided it was just an invitation for someone to break in. Even though I have a really loud and obnoxious third party car alarm, a stupid thief would likely break a window or something before being scared away by the alarm, then I’d have to get it fixed. There’s not a lot inside that could easily be carried away, but the stupid thrives wouldn’t know that until AFTER they broke in.
 
Was gonna put some advertising on my minivan similar to yours, but decided it was just an invitation for someone to break in. Even though I have a really loud and obnoxious third party car alarm, a stupid thief would likely break a window or something before being scared away by the alarm, then I’d have to get it fixed. There’s not a lot inside that could easily be carried away, but the stupid thrives wouldn’t know that until AFTER they broke in.

At an early stage in my DJ career I used "magnetic" signage on my Nissan King Cab but removed it the next day; replaced it next gig. Of course the car and truck were always parked in the garage. When you live in Maine during the Winter it's convenient to have your car/truck indoors...SNOW!
When I got my DJ trailer I decided to only get Vanity license plates (Maine requires a Front and Back) the lettering was TWN-SPN. Most people would think last name begins with "N". If you sound the first three and last three you would get TWIN-SPIN. Most new me by AWD. I thought about doing Vanity plates on both the car and truck/trailer. However my wife didn't appreciate AWD-1 and AWD-2. (Odd-1 and Odd2). LOL!
 
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feel the same way...i realize its a much more inexpensive choice... but such a pain to haul..park...etc....plus i needed a runaround vehicle to replace my wifes old beater... so the van was the perfect "kill 2 birds" option

The height is its greatest feature....easily an added two feet of space over a normal medium sized suv...

cc

When I used my DJ trailer I would see stars most nights...when loading late a night after a gig. Hit my head many a night. Seems like I thought I had ducked low enough to miss the opening...NOT! The reason I didn't buy the size where you could stand inside was because it was too high to get through the garage doors.
 
2002 Avalanche, it was great because the three piece cargo covers and locking tailgate, then I had to go and lose one top panels.

We just got( by we I mean my wife got a new daily) a Nissan Murano today, so that could work as a DJ equipment mover, not sure how much I can fit in there yet.
 
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Does anyone use dedicated always loaded vehicles or trailers?
Yes. Equipment for events in larger venues is stored and remains in the trailer.

Smaller events or when using house system, I simply fold the 3rd seat in my Suburban and load the necessary gear.

Same system since forever.
 
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Never had the cash, nor the parking space for a dedicated vehicle.
And I never really booked enough gigs to warrant it.

A friend sold me his cargo trailer for $200, so I jumped on it.
I like knowing that EVERYTHING I need for the gig is in there.
I just gotta hitch up and go!
 
Never had the cash, nor the parking space for a dedicated vehicle.
And I never really booked enough gigs to warrant it.

A friend sold me his cargo trailer for $200, so I jumped on it.
I like knowing that EVERYTHING I need for the gig is in there.
I just gotta hitch up and go!
A trailer is a dedicated vehicle!
 
I had the option (at one time) of either a trailer or a dedicated vehicle. I chose the trailer - much less maintenance and costs. As an added benefit, if something goes wrong with the tow vehicle, it can be replaced (in most cases) rather quickly - and the show can go on.
 
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I had the option (at one time) of either a trailer or a dedicated vehicle. I chose the trailer - much less maintenance and costs.
My goal is a trailer , but I also like the idea of a van, so maybe a van with a trailer:D

Ive also thought about using one of those enclosed utility truck bed, like that are based on the van chassis .
 
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