Anyone use an estate for smaller gigs?

[mrrawuk]

Apologies if it's been covered before but anyone who does gigs or 150 and under use a smaller mode of transport such as an Estate car?

[soundscapes]

I've used an estate for bigger gigs, and with a bit of Tetris packing back in the day could get my biggest rig ( 2 x wharfedale evp-x15, cd/mixer, 2 x irock 5b, 2 x ishow 4, 2 x irock 5c, 2m wind up truss, speaker stands and 4ft deck stand and 4 slapped trolley cd cases ) into a nissan primera hatch and still had room for a passenger. It's all a question of packing and takes longer to pack/unpack at the end of a night.
My brother in law used to be able to fit a fair sized rig into a pug 106.
Be prepared for lots of damaged trim though. My headlining was scuffed to death as we're the door cards and there was a mark on one of the seats from a hot smoke machine. It stank of mint fog favouring too after a couple of splillages

[Nakatomi]

I manage to get my 'full' rig in my Pug 307 hatchback.. that's 2 active 15" speakers, ultimax 4 ft stand with shelves & uprights, front panel screen (like equinox screen), 2x scanners, 2x lasers, hazer, led moonflowers, Chauvet WashFX, mixer case, laptop case, controller case & mic case, Stairville LED PAR bar, Equinox GigaBar, tripods... oh and the cable box.. and I still likely have space for a 15" sub

I'm planning on getting a van at some point though. Or maybe something like a Pug Partner carvan.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Me

Liteconsole
2xhk nano 600s
Large mixer case
Rock n roller
Bags for liggting
Bags for cable
Case for cable rucksake with laptops, paperwork, camera, change of gear etc...

And I can still see out the back window

[mrrawuk]

Cheers for info guys.

I ran two cars last year and i found it expensive. I drive an audi a4 convertible at moment and even without the need to use a car for mobile work i was looking to change it.

Hence one car that does it all.

[musicology]

I do all mine with an estate too

[Sapphire Disco]

Always used to get all of mine in a Passat estate but I recently got a RAV 4 you can take the back seats fully out with great ease, wished I had changed years ago now much easier, space is a little more but but seems a lot more and the bonus is if we get any snow I should be able to get there.

PS I've never tried with my other car.

[scott23]

I'd managed to fit a full rig including 2 podiums into a fiat punto active. It got wrecked inside with scratches! I would suggest a big Skoda! Love mine! 4 wheel drive if you can get one? Maybe that's just cos I am in Scotland though and some venues are in mountains. Ahh miss the wee punto but needs must eh!

[Excalibur]

Always used to get all of mine in a Passat estate but I recently got a RAV 4 you can take the back seats fully out with great ease,

Pug 308 is anything between a 7 seat MPV ( although 2 passengers have to be children ) and a van.

Never forget though, estate cars don't have bulkheads. Have you ever seen the centre of a lighting tripod extend under braking? I have. A dog guard might be some help.

Alternatively, get a trailer. You'll be limited to 50mph ( but effectively, so is Thunderbird 2 ) and manoeuvring is trickier with the trailer.

[mrrawuk]

Pug 308 is anything between a 7 seat MPV ( although 2 passengers have to be children ) and a van.

Never forget though, estate cars don't have bulkheads. Have you ever seen the centre of a lighting tripod extend under braking? I have. A dog guard might be some help.

Alternatively, get a trailer. You'll be limited to 50mph ( but effectively, so is Thunderbird 2 ) and manoeuvring is trickier with the trailer.

Yes i have read a fair bit about bulkheads etc, but same scenario for anyone carrying anything in an estate inc Ikea flat pack stuff etc.

Can't really afford to run two cars again. If i was gigging a few times pw then sure thing i would get a peugeot partner van or a transit