Hi,

So what do you guys use or recomend......

Van, Trailer or Car?? Or maybe a horse and cart?

At the moment i use a car but for one thing I don't think it seems very proffesional at a gig....I am thinking of getting a Astra Van but then again may be a trailer??




Help??

Gav

I've always used a Van for gigs, and swear by Diesels. If your show is small enough, go for the car derived type van - Astra, Escort, Berlingo, Kangoo etc they are easier on the insurance. I'm currently using a VW Caddy Tdi - lovely nippy little van drives like a car, and very very economical, my business partner has a transit which is used for larger gigs.

Tried the Car & Trailor option - but not suitable for where I live since turnng around is a nightmare due to parking in the cul de sac.

Previously owned Escort 55, Astra, Maestro 500, Leyland Daf - all good reliable workhorses.

QUOTE (DJGAVT @ Apr 29 2003, 06:55 PM)

So what do you guys use or recomend...... Van, Trailer or Car?? Or maybe a horse and cart?

I reccomend a bike. Super efficiant, no tax , no petrol costs.

And best of all a huge boot to get ure stuff in.

Keep a van.alway had them from LWB Nissans to Escorts, and get a diesel as I swear by them

Last four modes of transport to gigs and milage when sold are

Ford Escort Van 253,000 miles
Nissan Urvan 161,000 miles
Vauxhall Carlton 163,000 miles
Vauxhall Astra 187,000 and still going strong !!

Anyone got a higher milage vehicle ?

QUOTE

Anyone got a higher milage vehicle ?

No, but close, the Maestro I had several years ago had 220,000 on it before it was scrapped - good engine shame, about the body!.

I do around 35k miles a year so there is still time to beat your record

Ez, Hi if you dont understand the lingo,

I personally don't have a massive show but I use a 6x4 trailer that hooks on to the back of the car, while I am doing a gig I disconnect the trailer from the car and turn it around so that when I park the car, the hook of the trailer sits under the front of the car so basically no one can move it . Mine is a box trailer that houses the four speakers, amp, stand and cables.The rest goes in the back of the car with the seats down. Another good thing about trailers is that you can put your Name and number all over it-free advertising

Also when buying a trailer go for one with suspention and a solid base.

Dj SBD

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Another good thing about trailers is that you can put your Name and number all over it-free advertising

I have a van with my name plastered all over it and a car with my wife's company on it too, it's not just trailers that you can put signwriting on

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your Name and number all over it-free advertising

Also a big moving advert for all the local thieves "I'm full of expensive gear, break into me". Okay if you don't use it to store your gear between gigs, but you may find that they break into it anyway - even if its only to find out its' empty.

A national insurance company once ran a poll, I think it is was AXA, for their business clients (Plumbers, Joiners etc) who had made claims, and found that most of the clients claiming had their vans signwritten - maybe a coincidence, but I wouldn't want to draw attention to my transport in that respect.

I have my trusty Volvo, 173K on the clock. Just been serviced, and the mechanic said see you in 50K.

I am debating about a trailer as well.

I keep the van locked away most of the time, with 2 alarms switched on.
So Mikee is the closest to my 187,000 miles and I've still got another 55,000 miles to go to catch my record up !!

I use my trusty range rover... ideal for getting everything in and if I need to take a much larger rig out than usual wedding sized gear I simply hook on a trailer which takes all the astrlite etc etc... yes up there for thinking and down there for dancing as they would say!

My Merc 208D van is sitting at 220K at the moment , MOT due on 25th may hoping for another couple years work from it yet

I must admit I've used a trailer for the past 12 years, no MOT, no worries re tax etc and they don't depreciate!! Bought it for £1000 and I reckon I would still get that selling it again.

I unhook it it goes into the garden in the garage and my German Shep prowls around guarding it. (Checkout the website) And he has a worse attitude than any woman, hates everybody so anybody reading fancies their chances, it ain't worth it! Last attempt was seen flying over a 7ft fence minus the seat and one leg of their trousers!........ good boy!!

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And he has a worse attitude than any woman, hates everybody so anybody reading fancies their chances, it ain't worth it!

Can we make him a mod??

Don't tell Paula

LoL Get a Van man...Looks better (unless you got WAY too much stuff, then u have to get a trailer (my opinion: SUV looks the best, but van will do)

Ok guys and gals!! Well as a german motor enthusiast ( think thats the spelling as it late LOL)
Im well into my VW Audis and the like!!

I read about a Golf a lady and her husband had from new, this was a F reg 1.6 Diesel Golf Mk2 which to cut along story short went into VW history books and the Guiness Book of record for the longest running car etc at check this 680,000 miles and apparently still gives 40MPG no problems and the condition was pretty good to as i saw the photo!!

It was amazing all they done was the oil, filter change every 6K, which i do to my golf anyway or when i see the oil turning black lol

Thought this was a good one to stick here

Cheers

Rick

Rick is really Jeremy Clarkeson without the perm

That post should have started with a "I don't work for VW but...." style disclaimer.

Give me the swedish tank any day.
But the wife has now decided she wants an Audi A4, thats buggered the bank balance

When it comes to mobile discos I use my car but if I do eventually want to purchase a little van what do you tell your insurance company because they always ask what you are carrying and if you mentioned disco equipment they wont even think about it? Let me know what you guys do about getting your vans insured

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Let me know what you guys do about getting your vans insured

Firstly, always TELL THEM THE TRUTH insuring your van for "Fishing Trips" or Social domestic and pleasure only or even telling them that you are a Plumber may seem like a good idea at the time to get your premium cheaper but it will get you into trouble if you ever come to claim and they find your gear in the back, and technically you would be driving without insurance - if you caused a fatality or serious injury to another party and were uninsured then this would land you in court on serious charges.

To give an example I use C.I.S (Co-Op) and have just renewed my insurance with them. I have 13 years no claims and it costs me £520 for a VW Caddy Tdi (Small Van - Escort size) and £380 for a 2.0ltr Vectra - both for business use. Like all insurance policies it does vary with age, driving experience and the area in which you live.

Yes, telling them that you are a D.J will cost more (It would only cost me £210 for the van on a SDP non business policy).

Maybe we could pressure a company as a group, along with the TVDJA to get some competitive deals for D.J's with an insurer?. Maybe any insurers / brokers reading this would be interested in contacting me.

There is another thread on this subject in the D.J's Insurance area of the forum.

I echo what Chris said always tell the truth, ok so it costs more but at the end of the day you are paying for them to replace a lot of valuable equipment should the worst happen!

But even so most insurance companies wouldnt even entertain insuring DJs and there equipment, when i spoke to one company they said no straight away as soon as i mentioned disco equipment , even when i was a redcoat (the good old days) my premium went sky high and when i asked WHY they said in case you pick up anybody that was famous(as if) and you crash then it would be very expensive for them... so how can you get around this I seen some insurance companies will take you on but can you run two vehicles under two insurance companies??? (sorry about all the questions )

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But even so most insurance companies wouldnt even entertain insuring DJs and there equipment

Quite true and that point is subject to my rant about insurers in the relevant section. I don't think it's fair that with full no claims and a clean licence that I should pay more for insurance than a 19 year old with penalty points just because of my chosen profession...and I do currently!.

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my premium went sky high and when i asked WHY they said in case you pick up anybody that was famous(as if) and you crash then it would be very expensive for them

Sounds a load of B/S to me, the chances of you giving Anthea Turner a lift must be marginal, just another insurance term for "We'll screw you for your premium anyway".

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can you run two vehicles under two insurance companies

Yes, you can run two vehicles when insured by the same broker / company provided that there is a seperate policy for each vehicle. If you grow to the point that you need 3+ vehicles, then you can have them all on one certificate, using a fleet policy.

If you have a no claims discount on an existing vehicle then you can't use this against a second vehicle, meaning that if you run a car and have a no claims discount, and you buy an additional vehcile for your disco, then you can't use your car's no claims against the 2nd vehicle, it has to start from scratch. I don't understand this, I mean you can't be driving both vehicles at the same time can you? - just another excuse for the insurers rip you off.

There are ways of getting cheaper policies, if you are under 21 then ask a parent to insure the vehicle for you in their name with you on the policy as a named regular driver. That you you can benefit from a policy priced for an older person, rather than a 17 year old (Which is gonna cost you ££££'s without even mentioning that you are a D.J!!).

Hi,

This problem does not only effect DJ's, try telling your car insurance company you work in radio!! They think you drive to work every day with Robbie Williams in your car!!