Backup Backup Backup

[Vectis]

So there's been plenty of threads about backup gear, backup music, backup in case of illness and so on.

But I've noticed a rash of threads in the last few days about vehicle troubles threatening to (or actually managing to) blow out gigs.

So, am I the only person to have a comprehensive vehicle backup strategy?

Admittedly it's easier for me because of the limited geography, but my backup process is as follows:

1. Full AA relay service
2. One of the selection criteria for the wife's car is that it will hold at least a minimal rig (ie pair of Mackies, clutch of lighting effects, playout and cables)
3. Inlaws who live 3 miles away have a 4x4 and an estate car; one of them at least is usually at home
4. Informal arrangement with the next-door neighbour who has a landy and a decent sized trailer
5. The numbers of three local taxi firms who hire 8 seater minibuses on demand. I've also had specific conversations with these company owners about my potential requirement and had their approval.

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p

[SC Events]

Maybe just a tad, although it's not a bad thing! :D

...I was down your neck of the woods last week Martin, I took the aeroplane out for a jolly and had a nice day trip down to Bembridge, then went to catch some sunburn on the beach lol.

[nisfo]

I'd say obsessed mate, unless you work over the water.

Nice to think your prepared though ;)

[rob1963]

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p

Yes!

My vehicle back up is as follows:

Breakdown cover.

That's it!

:shrug:

[DJWilson]

Better to be safe then sorry!

[Vectis]

But at least I'm prepared, and I have a procedure to follow.

You won't find me sitting by the roadside fretting about being late for a gig. As soon as the inevitable inevitably happens, it's dealt with.

(I had a puncture on the way to a wedding recently; couldn't get the wheel off without breaking the flimsy wrench; AA said 60 minutes told them to sod off; Father in law arrived with the X-trail about 15 minutes later; all gear moved across in 10 mins; arrived at venue mid-speeches; B&G none the wiser).

[DazzyD]

Our vehicle back up consists of a Ford Escort which can happily transport our small rig, another car (don't know which make and model other than I think it's French! - I'm not a car fanatic!) and access to a Transit van.

We also have AA cover and, of course, the local taxi firm's phone number!

[Tony Scott]

After my experience last weekend where the engine blew up on my 1 year old VW Caddy on the way to a gig I know only too well the benefit of having back up vehicle cover.

I have my VW Caddy(when I get it back from the garage), my wife's Focus, My Mum's X5, My brother-in-laws VW Transporter or my brothers Merc Sprinter... all within 10mins of my house.

I have personal AA cover on my Wife's car which covers us both for that car and any other vehicle we are in. I also have RAC cover for 3 years on the Caddy which is what I called upon last week... they got to me within 2 minutes!!

I hope that's enough? :D

This is what I have on loan while mine gets fixed... seriously considering chopping my Caddy in for this very vehicle... 170 BHP NUTTER VAN!!! :D

[Starlight]

Here's my backup van......












:lol: :D

[rob1963]

I have my VW Caddy(when I get it back from the garage), my wife's Focus, My Mum's X5, My brother-in-laws VW Transporter or my brothers Merc Sprinter... all within 10mins of my house.

I have personal AA cover on my Wife's car which covers us both for that car and any other vehicle we are in. I also have RAC cover for 3 years on the Caddy which is what I called upon last week

I don't believe it...you're even worse than Vectis!

:D

[Mark Wild]

So there's been plenty of threads about backup gear, backup music, backup in case of illness and so on.

But I've noticed a rash of threads in the last few days about vehicle troubles threatening to (or actually managing to) blow out gigs.

So, am I the only person to have a comprehensive vehicle backup strategy?

Admittedly it's easier for me because of the limited geography, but my backup process is as follows:

1. Full AA relay service
2. One of the selection criteria for the wife's car is that it will hold at least a minimal rig (ie pair of Mackies, clutch of lighting effects, playout and cables)
3. Inlaws who live 3 miles away have a 4x4 and an estate car; one of them at least is usually at home
4. Informal arrangement with the next-door neighbour who has a landy and a decent sized trailer
5. The numbers of three local taxi firms who hire 8 seater minibuses on demand. I've also had specific conversations with these company owners about my potential requirement and had their approval.

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p

Nah, just seems like a list of obvious solutions elaborated on to me.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

My backup plan consists of my fathers car (audi A4 estate) which will easily tow the trailer...oh and RAC cover :)

[Shaun]

So there's been plenty of threads about backup gear, backup music, backup in case of illness and so on.

But I've noticed a rash of threads in the last few days about vehicle troubles threatening to (or actually managing to) blow out gigs.

So, am I the only person to have a comprehensive vehicle backup strategy?

Admittedly it's easier for me because of the limited geography, but my backup process is as follows:

1. Full AA relay service
2. One of the selection criteria for the wife's car is that it will hold at least a minimal rig (ie pair of Mackies, clutch of lighting effects, playout and cables)
3. Inlaws who live 3 miles away have a 4x4 and an estate car; one of them at least is usually at home
4. Informal arrangement with the next-door neighbour who has a landy and a decent sized trailer
5. The numbers of three local taxi firms who hire 8 seater minibuses on demand. I've also had specific conversations with these company owners about my potential requirement and had their approval.

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p

You're not alone with the 'obsession'

Mines are are follows....

1 Full AA relay service
2 Minimal rig I can fit in the car (at a squeeze)
3 Brother in law with a trailer
4 Brother with a van
5 Cousin with a van.

Also got the number of a local van hire firm in my mobile.

[Twinspin]

1. My sisters husband has a citroen picasso with a towbar fitted. They dont go out on a sat night and her husband would come at last minute even on the gig.

2. My mother is a delivery driver for her best friends florist and her best friend will lend the van anytime we need to borrow it. We dont have to ask all we have to do is put fuel in the van and job done.

3. My mothers sisters partner owns a scaffolding business with a fleet of trucks and vans. I do them favours by doing guvvy jobs maintaining and upgrading their IT stuff. So he said he will come out hiself in a van to help me shift the gear if he cant my sisters husband works for him and so does my cousin who are insured to drive any of them vehicles and they will help me as well.

4. A family friend who lives opposite has his own signwriting business and he has a car with a towbar and also a Mercedes Sprinter which is his work van.
either way he has said he will help if we ever need it.

5. Im very good mates with another local dj called Martin he has a residency but he doesnt need to go as early to setup. If Martin is available he has said he will always help me move my gear if i need help.

the list goes on... I can think of another 5 easy options. That dont include taxis or anyone that i dont know. So in terms of backup im well covered. If all 10 options fail then i can fall back... onto taxis

[rob1963]

I've toyed with the idea of buying a car which could be used as back up to get to a quiz or disco in the event of the van letting me down, but have always decided against this for a couple of reasons:

1) It would only work if the van wouldn't start in the first place, not if it broke down half way to a venue.

2) The cost.

[gaza]

Here's my backup van......












:lol: :D



Is that Fabio Capello driving that van.:D

[Megamix]

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what?
Well. I am beginning to wonder...:p

[CRAZY K]

So there's been plenty of threads about backup gear, backup music, backup in case of illness and so on.

But I've noticed a rash of threads in the last few days about vehicle troubles threatening to (or actually managing to) blow out gigs.

So, am I the only person to have a comprehensive vehicle backup strategy?

Admittedly it's easier for me because of the limited geography, but my backup process is as follows:

1. Full AA relay service
2. One of the selection criteria for the wife's car is that it will hold at least a minimal rig (ie pair of Mackies, clutch of lighting effects, playout and cables)
3. Inlaws who live 3 miles away have a 4x4 and an estate car; one of them at least is usually at home
4. Informal arrangement with the next-door neighbour who has a landy and a decent sized trailer
5. The numbers of three local taxi firms who hire 8 seater minibuses on demand. I've also had specific conversations with these company owners about my potential requirement and had their approval.

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p

Nope--I have my wifes car which can carry enough gear to get by.

Breakdown cover---tow me to the gig Scotty;)

Leave in plenty of time to allow for breakdowns, puncture etc.

Keep on top of vehicle maintenance, servicing, double checking for tell tale problems, keep an eye on tyre pressures regularly.

Usual sensible things--mind you its surprising a lot of modern vehicles seem to be having problems :confused:

[Excalibur]

Nope--I have my wifes car which can carry enough gear to get by.

Breakdown cover---tow me to the gig Scotty;)

Leave in plenty of time to allow for breakdowns, puncture etc.

Keep on top of vehicle maintenance, servicing, double checking for tell tale problems, keep an eye on tyre pressures regularly.

Usual sensible things--mind you its surprising a lot of modern vehicles seem to be having problems :confused:
I'll dig out the letter from Currys, if I can find it later.




So there's been plenty of threads about backup gear, backup music, backup in case of illness and so on.

But I've noticed a rash of threads in the last few days about vehicle troubles threatening to (or actually managing to) blow out gigs.

So, am I the only person to have a comprehensive vehicle backup strategy?

Admittedly it's easier for me because of the limited geography, but my backup process is as follows:

1. Full AA relay service
2. One of the selection criteria for the wife's car is that it will hold at least a minimal rig (ie pair of Mackies, clutch of lighting effects, playout and cables)
3. Inlaws who live 3 miles away have a 4x4 and an estate car; one of them at least is usually at home
4. Informal arrangement with the next-door neighbour who has a landy and a decent sized trailer
5. The numbers of three local taxi firms who hire 8 seater minibuses on demand. I've also had specific conversations with these company owners about my potential requirement and had their approval.

Am I just totally backup obsessed or what? :p
You're obsessed. :p And you forgot 6), pictured below.

[Vectis]

You're obsessed. :p And you forgot 6), pictured below.

Oh yeah - of course, silly me.

And #7, pictured below :)

[Mark Wild]

Oh yeah - of course, silly me.

And #7, pictured below :)

A giraffe? wtf lol

[Vectis]

Oh, incidentally, since the puncture incident and the inability of the supplied wrench to remove the wheel nuts without snapping in half, I now have one of these fellas.

Never tried one, dunno if they work, but at least I tried to think of everything :p

[Vectis]

A giraffe? wtf lol

:confused:

[Mark Wild]

:confused:

Post 20 looks more like a giraffe than an @ss

[funksoulbrother]

David Guetta seems to get by ok with a shopping trolley in the video "When love takes over" pmsl ! ! !:D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Oh, incidentally, since the puncture incident and the inability of the supplied wrench to remove the wheel nuts without snapping in half, I now have one of these fellas.

Never tried one, dunno if they work, but at least I tried to think of everything :p


Stock them at the garages popular product but naturally its an tempt fix so depending on the damage if you suffer an incident on the way to the gig you might need to save some for doing the same to get back, though thats not such an issue I'd imagine.

Thinking about it I dont really have any set in stone back up plan. Family all live back up in Southport and only got basic breakdown cover......... :S

Naturally will have to look for something suitable.

[djsteve10]

I have my car, My dad's car that also has a tow bar fitted to it. A lot of the time now I am using hire vans and the hire company are open 24 hours a day so I can always get in touch with them and get a replacement vehicle within the hour.

[gaza]

Oh, incidentally, since the puncture incident and the inability of the supplied wrench to remove the wheel nuts without snapping in half, I now have one of these fellas.

Never tried one, dunno if they work, but at least I tried to think of everything :p





They do work, i once used one on a large box van for a day.

[Excalibur]

Oh, incidentally, since the puncture incident and the inability of the supplied wrench to remove the wheel nuts without snapping in half, I now have one of these fellas.


Vectis, Im surprised you haven't followed my old mate Archie's advice. :confused: :confused:

" Give me a lever long enough and strong enough, and I will move the world. " Or at least a set of stubborn wheel nuts. ;) :D :D

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht163-extending-wheel-wrench/path/automotive-tools

Another little tip: " Beware garage mechanics bearing air wrenches ". If the motor has been in there, and had the wheel tightened with one of these, check at home that you can undo them before being caught out on the road. They should use a torque limiting device to refit them, but not necessarily. :( :( :( :(

[Vectis]

Another little tip: " Beware garage mechanics bearing air wrenches ". If the motor has been in there, and had the wheel tightened with one of these, check at home that you can undo them before being caught out on the road. They should use a torque limiting device to refit them, but not necessarily. :( :( :( :(

Fair point, hands up :) Beaten (temporarily) by a lack of foresight :(

I now have a shiny new and infinitely more capable wrench made of strong metal stuff rather than the playdoh of the OEM device, and a can of tyre weld so I'm thinking I now have this one covered as well as the multi-puncture scenario to boot :)

Edit: Maybe I should carry two extra cans of tyreweld to make sure I've got enough for a trip over a stinger. Actually make it 6 to minimise the risk of them being a) insufficient to do a whole tyre and b) having blocked nozzles. But then ought it be 8 in case for some reason the spare (which is hanging underneath the rear of the vehicle) is also damaged in a freak tyre-popping fest.... Hmm. This could go on a bit

[Excalibur]

Edit: Maybe I should carry two extra cans of tyreweld to make sure I've got enough for a trip over a stinger. Actually make it 6 to minimise the risk of them being a) insufficient to do a whole tyre and b) having blocked nozzles. But then ought it be 8 in case for some reason the spare (which is hanging underneath the rear of the vehicle) is also damaged in a freak tyre-popping fest.... Hmm. This could go on a bit

Now you're just being silly. ( Said the Pot to the Kettle. :D :D :D :D )

As an aside, but not unconnected point, a mate of mine bought a new Ford Focus. No spare wheel, just a can of tyreweld, and a compressor. He's registered disabled, so when he got a puncture, the RAC came to help him. The man said he'd been to nearly twenty such events, and not once had he been able to mend puncure with the repair kit!! :eek: :eek: :( :( Cue a ride home for my mate in a breakdown truck. Brilliant, eh?

And it gets better. To give the tyreweld a chance to work, you need to spin the tyre to coat the interior with the magic fluid. Sadly, since they haven't given you a spare wheel, they don't give you a jack, either!! :bang:

[DazzyD]

Oh, incidentally, since the puncture incident and the inability of the supplied wrench to remove the wheel nuts without snapping in half, I now have one of these fellas.

Never tried one, dunno if they work, but at least I tried to think of everything :p

This stuff got us home the day the Galaxy died. Mind you, on the way back we lost gearbox and developed several other faults which came to about £1,500 to repair.

It was the day from hell! :eek:

[Starlight]

Is that Fabio Capello driving that van.:D
:lol::D

Neil.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I have tyreweld for the trailer....

[DJMaxG]

here's my backup :p

http://www.orangebadge.com/new_images/walkingsticks.jpg

[Excalibur]

I have tyreweld for the trailer....

I have trailers with two axles. ;) Times I've got home on one tyre, one side. ;) ;)

[Twinspin]

I thought of an another method as well. Someone down the street has 3 syberian huskies and a sledge. Them things run fast.

[Excalibur]

Usual sensible things--mind you its surprising a lot of modern vehicles seem to be having problems :confused:

The problems of modern technology. :( :( Be a Luddite, you know it makes sense. ;) :D :D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Heres a backup i need and didnt have with me last night....Headphones :bang:

[Shaun]

Heres a backup i need and didnt have with me last night....Headphones :bang:

Stick your spare mic in the headphone output and put the mic to your ear. It works but expect strange looks. :d

[Vectis]

Stick your spare mic in the headphone output and put the mic to your ear. It works but expect strange looks. :d

Been there, done that :)

Conversely, although not tried in public, sticking your headphones in the mic socket and speaking loudly into the cup kinda works, if a bit muffly :D

[yourdj]

Never tried one, dunno if they work, but at least I tried to think of everything :p

Tyre weld - i have three in each car. much quicker than changing the tyre if in a rush. You have to buy a new tyre but in an emergency its worth it.

I may add that i bought an AA complete £100 policy via quidco and got £50 quid back which is amazing! That includes home start and towing to ANY UK location. how you get back though is your problem but too not turn up to someone's wedding would seriously upset me.

I have a Berlingo van that im selling and a subaru impreza estate which is amazing and i wish was a diesiel :mad: Only cost me £50 to devon-chichester-southampton with all my gear though (vegetable oil is much cheaper shhh).

Im also selling that and getting a VW sharan i think (or another van) :)

[addoaddo]

One alternative is have two companies supply recovery. If you breakdown on the way to a gig get one to take you there and then call the other at the end of the gig

[DJMaxG]

Shaun - I have tried that but with headphones in the mic port, it works, but I'd much rather use a D5 or something along those lines.

addoaddo - That is an idea, there are probably other ways though, like buying a more premium recovery package with the one agent. Whichever works out cheaper. :approve: