A good friend of mine has a vintage Gretsch kit. He had gigs on 2 consecutive nights, so he decided to leave them in back of his truck (he has a locking topper). On the day of the 2nd gig, a lady ran a red light and he T-boned her. The force of impact caused everything to fly forward into the front wall of the box. He had fiber hard cases, but it still severely damaged some of the shells. If he had quality plastic cases with plenty of internal padding, it may have made a difference.
My truck has the hard Plastic bed liner and things slide around very easily. I always try to pack everything as far forward as possible and then secure it with a 2x4 that I drop into the "pockets" that are molded into the side of the bed liner. Not many people realize what those pockets are for, and even fewer use them. A regular tie-down strap can be used as well. Anything that will keep the items from sliding around will help minimize the chance for severe damage. When we load for a gig, my drums always go in last. That way if I hit a deer on the way home at 2:30AM, my drums aren't between 1000Lbs of amps & speakers and the front wall of the truck box.
-Brian
"Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"
Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!
"I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham
You must be referring to these side pockets? I assumed the slots were designed to hold 2x6 planks to create shelving across the width of the truck liner but I can see how the slots could hold 2x4s to use as dividers to provide separation and protect the load. Thanks for the great ideas you always bring to this forum.
Yes, but see the vertical slots beside them? If you turn the 2x6 or 2x4 on edge, it should also slide down the vertical slots...all the way to the bottom. I keep a 2x4 in the very back slot of mine....about 24" in front of the tailgate. Since I installed a topper, I got tired of having to crawl all the way up into the front of the box to retrieve groceries (especially canned vegetables) that slid forward on the way home. Now, I just place the bags between the tailgate and the 2x4 and they stay put! Getting old sucks.
-Brian
"Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"
Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!
"I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham
Bumping this up for an update on the two hardware cases after seven local weekend gigs:
The brunt of the wear and tear on the hardware utility box was on the pull out handle:
Deep gashes and scratches cover the entire length of the handle due to the box having to rest on it as the box is loaded/unloaded:
The footing on the box has already started to deform:
All of those rubber feet have come off my hardware case too...
when I sent in my claim for the handles they shipped me all the pieces. I assume for the feet they would send you all new feet and you'd have to rerivet them yourself. Cheaper than shipping a box there and back for sure.
yeah and they shipped it fast with no hassle. Was pretty cool. Then I just had to install the new stuff but it was easy. Not sure with the feet though as those are rivets I believe.
I picked up an old used SKB case last year, longer (taller?) than the one in the OP, and I love it. Holds my three cymbal stands, two of which are old heavy Tama boom styles. And all three have an extra arm attached. Plus my hi hat, snare stand and throne.
And I haven't put anything in the top section yet its plenty heavy now as it is.
It fits across the back seat of my four door sedan, and it even barely fit in my old sub compact previously.
Love it!
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