Carrying Musical Instrument(s) in Trailer

[Belbein]

I carry one or two musical instruments with me, and we're in 25, so it's there's not much space. The instruments are a mandolin or mandola and an octave mandolin which is about the size of a classical guitar. I tried stuffing them in the hanging closed (the "large" [!!!] closet), but with the cases in there, there wasn't' room for anything else.

One thought I had … the 25 has a cabinet hanging on the forward bulkhed, kind of a "quarter-round" shape. There's probably room to hang an instrument hanger, then I'd have to secure it from banging.

I'm sure others have dealt with this problem. Hints?

[Landshark]

Seems like one of the floor-level storage lockers would be a good place to start, assuming your coach has some? Even if you had to cut a small hole through a supporting bulkhead or something to fit them in, floor-level sounds safer to me. Wrap them in your bedding or stuff some pillows around them to keep them from bashing around.

I sometimes travel with a bassoon, so I understand the problem, but at least it is a fairly simple rectangular shape to deal with!

Good luck!

Vivian

[Vantair]

Originally Posted by Belbein

I carry one or two musical instruments with me, and we're in 25, so it's there's not much space. The instruments are a mandolin or mandola and an octave mandolin which is about the size of a classical guitar. I tried stuffing them in the hanging closed (the "large" [!!!] closet), but with the cases in there, there wasn't' room for anything else.

One thought I had … the 25 has a cabinet hanging on the forward bulkhed, kind of a "quarter-round" shape. There's probably room to hang an instrument hanger, then I'd have to secure it from banging.

I'm sure others have dealt with this problem. Hints?

Hi Belbein,

In very similar 25ft predicament as well. Like you have mandola, full size acoustics/nylon, electrics, pedal steel, Roland drums left behind home based studio setup. No way to bring even one full size guitar and case without loosing severe storage. Worry about the temp extremes which keeps most all at home. Agonizing if and what mics, small mixer/DAW recording interface to pack ! Terrible.

So far, only brought a Baby Tacoma in soft gig bag i wouldn't have to worry about. Perhaps bongos next. Avoiding anything under the touneau truck bed due to extremes.

[crazylev]

I just put my instrument on the bed. I’ll then place something with weight like clothes bag against case to keep it in place during travel. Sometimes I’ve forgotten to do this but have not had a problem in 16 years.

[Caffeinated]

I keep my acoustic guitar on the queen bed when we are traveling, and in the shower when parked just to keep it out of the way. My uke fits in the closet. I take one or the other, not both.

Mike

[brick1]

A bassoon! Ha! I play a 7/8 stand-up bass...

[Beerboy]

We keep the guitar and ukelele on the bed when traveling. When stopped, we have guitar and ukelele brackets mounted to the bedroom wall (curb side that has the thermostat, not the TV).


Here is the guitar bracket:



https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...r-black-walnut


The brackets are mounted with vhb tape.

[stevejones]

I decided to go with a Traveler Guitar (https://travelerguitar.com/). This is the smallest, lightest guitar there is and has a full size neck/scale. I have both the Ultralight Acoustic and the Ultralight Electric. They are small enough that I keep them in the overhead locker above our queen bed but you could put them just about anywhere. The downsize is you have to amplify it, even the "acoustic". I solve this problem with an audio interface (have both a Line 6 Sonic Port and an iRig HD 2) that plugs into my iPhone and I use apps on the iPhone for amplification/effects. Can run output into Garageband if I want to record. Can listen on earbuds or headphones for private enjoyment, or plug into a small Bose speaker I have to share with others.

Not everyone's cup of tea but I have a blast with it. I played the Ultralight Acoustic in the "Gong Show" at Alumapalooza and used it to play in a worship service at a church in Bend, Oregon -- so these guitars are not toys.

Steve

[slpiotro]

the only instrument I play is the radio, but my spouse brings her 1950's martin in a guitar (hard) case and leaves it on the bed when we travel. Temps can be somewhat of an issue, but usually we are traveling in above freezing, or to get to above freezing, weather. Re-tuning is required, but it works out quite well. For the person with a full band of instruments, I suspect a follow vehicle is necessary. ;-0

[Rocinante]

With our 27FB, we kept our guitar on the queen bed during travel, protected from the windows with bed pillows. It never moved from it's cushioned location. In a 25FB with a sideways bed, I'd do something about the possibility that an instrument could slide forward off the bed in a quick stop, but otherwise, the bed could be a good solution. I'd be worried about using the bed as storage in an RB unit, because you probably get more vertical travel in the back of the trailer, and a quick stop could cause forward slippage.

[kidjedi]

Like everyone else (from what seems to be trending in this thread), my guitars go on the bed while traveling, and then get shuffled around during stays (usually under the dinette or between the beds).

[JCWDCW]

DITTO ...on the bed and covered with a blanket or comforter to hold them in place. I also lay my TV face down on the mattress and hook the base over the edge of the mattress at the wall to prevent it from shifting....has worked for 20 plus years.
JCW

[tbashin]

My electric bass is in a soft case in the closet. Plenty of room in there.

[mikesSE]

Tens of thousands of miles,my Fender acoustic had ridden along in it’s Hanger at the foot of my bed,on the cupboard wall.Never has fallen of been damaged.

[Belbein]

Mike: That's kind of what I was thinking about. BUT ... when the trailer is bouncing around on the highway, doesn't the guitar knock into the wall?

[Belbein]

I guess your wife must tow your trailer. (People usually list their tow vehicle under their trailer description.)



Don't you get any flack about "cute"? I think my wife would punch me. Of course as long as she'd continue pulling the trailer, that's ok.

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by brick1

A bassoon! Ha! I play a 7/8 stand-up bass...

Well, we're in the same range, but it's hard to find someone to play with since I'm a classical person.

But music is what makes the world go round, wherever you find it! Enjoy your bass!

[Caffeinated]

There is nothing quite like being in your trailer during a thunder storm playing slide in a open tuning.

Mike

[brick1]

Originally Posted by Cerberus

Well, we're in the same range, but it's hard to find someone to play with since I'm a classical person.

But music is what makes the world go round, wherever you find it! Enjoy your bass!

I was just teasing. My sister plays the bassoon, too.

[Janet H]

We travel with instrument cases on the floor and wedged with a cushion to prevent any sliding - no chance of a fall that way. Once parked, cases are moved into the shower (upright) or placed on the upper bunk.

We cut a yoga mat to fill the footprint of the shower. This prevents the case buckles from damaging the tub and can easily be removed/rolled up when needed.