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I'm pretty-much in the same situation as you Rip... Only one vehicle for everyday use as well as hauling equipment. It's a Dodge Grand Caravan with stow 'n go seats... and, like you, I don't like having to off-load after every gig.. Luckily, I have a garage to store the gear in, but it's unheated, and that can be frustrating with our Canadian winters...

I've been keeping my eye out for a small trailer (4 X 8 approx) that I can keep the equipment in. I would install a small heater inside to keep the wires & cables from turning into iron bars... and so far, the best price I've been able to find is in the $1300 range... so I'm not too sure your figure of $500 is going to get you much. But, you never know what will show up on Kijiji... especially in the Toronto area.

As a "for instance", here's one in Brampton... Looks like the perfect size, and a pretty good deal at $1300. http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z577562794

Good Luck!

Author:	ripman8 [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:55 am ]
Post subject:	Hauling Gear
Hello all from Toronto! It's official, I live here now in Canada! So now that I'm in the big city, already having issues using my 5 x 8 cargo trailer. No where to park on the street, had to kick my wife out of the garage and buy a lower hitch just to clear the doorway. Tons of pot holes in this city and I know I will have issues trying to maneuver in some areas for gigs. So I'm looking for that magic answer to replace my trailer. I want something low to the ground so lifting gear in and out is a non or low impact issue. I want something with lots of room so I can fit all my backup equipment in it. Good gas mileage would be preferred of course. And I don't want to pay more than $500 for it. Well ok I know that's a stretch but you know what I mean. If there is a recent thread on this, sorry really busy getting settled in, just point me to it. Thanks in advance for your input!

Author:	ripman8 [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Almost forgot. Need to be able to cover it and lock it so open truck beds are out. I want to be able to leave the gear in it at all times without worrying about theft.

Author:	ed g [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:43 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Find an Astro van. Easy to load in and out, plenty of room, and good gas mileage. I have used 4 over the years and got 250,000 + out of each one.

Author:	ripman8 [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
ed g wrote: Find an Astro van. Easy to load in and out, plenty of room, and good gas mileage. I have used 4 over the years and got 250,000 + out of each one. Funny you should say that Ed. I was checking out a blog on Serato and a guy showed all kinds of pics of a astro van he had just picked up. He also picked up a 5 foot ramp at home depot that would work better than my home made ramp. Only problem with this set up, I need a separate vehicle to drive for everything else. So not quite the magic answer I'm looking for. I also don't want to go back to unloading gear from vehicle into home after gigs. That was the worst!

Author:	ripman8 [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:27 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img855/8393/18bp.jpg Cool thing about this van though, don't need to crawl thru the back if you need something from the front or side.

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Author:	timberlea [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
We use a full sized Chevy van with a ramp. Wheel in, wheel out.

Author:	JoeChartreuse [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
If it's big enough for you, and it is for a standard system, I'd like to recommend a Transit. Great for city work, easy in and out, very good maneuverability, and great fuel mileage. Many of the utility companies in my area have switched over to them.

Author:	TopherM [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Just a quick Ebay search: Ford Transit with 100K miles = $11,000-12,000 Chevy Astrovan with 100K miles = $1,200-2,000 I lugged my stuff around in a GMC Safari, which is the same thing as an Astrovan, for a couple years. It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done! I bought mine with 60K miles for $4,200 and drove it until 99K miles then traded it in. The V6 motors in those things will definitely last well over 200K if they are maintained properly! You can also get used mini-vans very cheap and unload them pretty low from the ground through the side door. Pull the rear seats out and they'll fit a ton of gear! Good luck!

Author:	mightywiz [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
I bought a dodge grand caravan with sto-n-go seats, they fold into the floor. and the grand caravan will haul boards 4x8 flat on the floor so that's lots of storage space to pack my equipment. and both side doors clear the opening when open. best investment ever, will never not own a van.

Author:	chrisavis [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
JoeChartreuse wrote: If it's big enough for you, and it is for a standard system, I'd like to recommend a Transit. Great for city work, easy in and out, very good maneuverability, and great fuel mileage. Many of the utility companies in my area have switched over to them. I am looking to buy a Transit myself. Going to brand it/wrap it.

Author:	Smoothedge69 [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
I use my Grand Cherokee. Easy in, easy out. Rear seats fold down, makes for plenty of room. 2 15" speakers, accessory box, rack, board, 2 lappies, and a folding 6" table, stool and monitor stand. I carry everything. It's good exercise, though my back doesn't always like me.

Author:	Earl [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:14 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
I'm pretty-much in the same situation as you Rip... Only one vehicle for everyday use as well as hauling equipment. It's a Dodge Grand Caravan with stow 'n go seats... and, like you, I don't like having to off-load after every gig.. Luckily, I have a garage to store the gear in, but it's unheated, and that can be frustrating with our Canadian winters... I've been keeping my eye out for a small trailer (4 X 8 approx) that I can keep the equipment in. I would install a small heater inside to keep the wires & cables from turning into iron bars... and so far, the best price I've been able to find is in the $1300 range... so I'm not too sure your figure of $500 is going to get you much. But, you never know what will show up on Kijiji... especially in the Toronto area. As a "for instance", here's one in Brampton... Looks like the perfect size, and a pretty good deal at $1300. http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z577562794 Good Luck!

Author:	ed g [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:01 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
The astro had an extended version (about 18" at rear) my gear fit easily behind back seat (3rd row) and could still haul family. It would be easy to build a cover to hide everything but most vans had a ton of rear tint. By the way , that photo is one of the shorties.

Author:	BigJer [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:08 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
I've generally had good luck with astro vans as well. Have driven 3 of them as a courier and for hauling gear. Every single one of them has managed at least 220,000 miles and you can pick up a used one relatively cheap. I averaged 19 mpg with them.

Author:	DannyG2006 [ Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:17 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Had an Astro four months. Got rid of it due to there being a short in it that forced me to disconnect the battery when not running or the battery would be dead when I tried to start it.

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Author:	Robin Dean [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:00 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Or smaller and more compact equipment!

Author:	Brian A [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:13 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
I use a Dodge Savana 1500 van. Big enough to haul all my gear. Lot of room to haul around just about anything.

Author:	ripman8 [ Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:31 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Earl wrote: I'm pretty-much in the same situation as you Rip... Only one vehicle for everyday use as well as hauling equipment. It's a Dodge Grand Caravan with stow 'n go seats... and, like you, I don't like having to off-load after every gig.. Luckily, I have a garage to store the gear in, but it's unheated, and that can be frustrating with our Canadian winters... I've been keeping my eye out for a small trailer (4 X 8 approx) that I can keep the equipment in. I would install a small heater inside to keep the wires & cables from turning into iron bars... and so far, the best price I've been able to find is in the $1300 range... so I'm not too sure your figure of $500 is going to get you much. But, you never know what will show up on Kijiji... especially in the Toronto area. As a "for instance", here's one in Brampton... Looks like the perfect size, and a pretty good deal at $1300. http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z577562794 Good Luck! Earl, that looks like my 5x8 trailer I paid 875 for when it was 3 years. I can fit everything in it and still have lots of space. That includes 2 sets of mains, 2 large subs, lights, back up mixers, etc. Very convenient to keep stuff in. Just not so convenient when it's time to pull it off the road, Strongly considering a minivan.

Author:	ripman8 [ Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:37 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
Been considering the Transit for months, wanted to wait until I arrived in Toronto, then shop around. Liking the idea, just not the price I will most likely have to pay.

Author:	Kuelman1 [ Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Hauling Gear
We have 8 Ford Transits at my day job that our salesman & delivery drivers use. 4 of them are 2010 models with 125k on them. They have been very reliable vehicles so far. No major repairs yet just oil changes, tires & brakes. They average 26 mpg and you would be surprised how much you can get in them. We just bought a 2014 model it's shorter but a bit longer. It rides nicer and gets 29 mpg. That being said I too had a all wheel drive Astro van extended version. It had 168k on it when I sold it. It was very reliable and never had any major repairs. But as said earlier gas mileage was only around 18-19 mpg.