Transporting Vibraphone to local gigs

I don’t know about those current Toyota models, but years ago I had a Corolla and could only use my M48. The M55 did not fit.  I think that it’s worth checking to see if they fit in a Prius with the front passenger seat pushed a little forward; I think they might fit because I have a drummer friend who regularly fits LOTS of gear in his.  The back goes surprisingly flat.

For years after that, I drove Honda Odysseys (which were optimal).  M55 plus a PA, plus a bass player and all his gear, no problem.  Downsizing to the CR-V has been a task, but I’m making it work with some smaller PA gear and more frequent use of my M48 when I need a huge PA.  Most gigs, the M55 is fine in the CR-V.

I tried several makes/models when I bought it… M55 does not fit well in a Subaru Outback or their other similar models. There were no good models of Ford, Chevy, Jeep other than their huge, gas guzzling SUVs, vans and trucks.  One of my criteria was it had to be a hybrid.

I transport my Vibes in a Honda element and they  fit in perfectly without having to break them down. It has a flat floor and you can anchor the  to the tiedowns.

I transport my Vibes in a Honda element and they  fit in perfectly without having to break them down. It has a flat floor and you can anchor the  to the tiedowns.

Hi NYCKeith,
When I go vehicle shopping, new or used, I always carry a tape measure. First question is "will the vibes fit?" This has inconvenienced me my entire adult life, and annoyed more than one spouse.

I think the key word in your question is "comfortably." No sedan, even the old huge American sedans, is ever "comfortable" for a vibraphone. (52 years of experience here; trust me.) At a minimum, you need a vehicle where the back folds nearly flat and has a width of 32" and depth of 20" and a length of 57"-- but that's the minimum. The ProVibe harp section is about 56" long x 7" deep x 31" (wide end) or 16" (narrow end). The resonators are not as long and need 3" of depth if laid in flat large to small end flipped, or 7" if you put them one atop the other. Bars can fit in a bag in the front seat. And of course you need to make room for padding to protect the instrument. (Measure yours as I'm working from memory.)

The Honda Element is a great suggestion but they are no longer made and as they are great vehicles, are a bit sought-after, which increases their price. Similar would be one of the small delivery vehicles such as the Ram Promaster City, Ford Transit Connect, or Nissan NV200, (the Promaster City is only 5" longer than a Corrolla ); or a minivan such as the Kia Sedona or Dodge Caravan--but for NYC these latter may be larger than you want. As far as smaller vehicles, you should not look at sedans but rather a small wagon or hatchback or the Honda Fit, which has an amazing amount of room. I have a Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid, and it will fit in that folded and bagged up, but it is much easier in Minneapolis-St. Paul to use our small campervan (a full-sized Ram Promaster 2500) as I can keep the vibes set up/strapped down--bars off for safety) and simply unload it as you would with a Honda Element or one of the city cargo vans.

If you only gig now and then, I'd go for a small hatchback and take the instrument apart--when possible, setting it up on the sidewalk and rolling it into the gig. If you are gigging a lot and don't have to think about children or moving more than one other person, then one of the city cargo van things like the NV200 or Promaster City or even the Honda Element would be ideal, as you can move the instrument set up (still best to remove bars) and strap it in that way. Saves a lot of hassle.

If small vehicle size is absolutely critical, then getting Pro Traveller that breaks down into a bunch of parts is a better solution for you, as it can fit in any vehicle. But it is a huge pain to tear apart and set up and this brings its own problems with getting even dampening, etc. , when setting up in a dark bar/restaurant in a hurry after a long day as a wage slave.

this is the problem with a 3.5 octave instrument. I remember talk to Leigh Stevens about making the vibraphone go down to an E. Just talk, brainstorming. I said the problem is that in my experience with my cars, they vibes usually just fit in my hatch backs. the latest being a subaru emprezza (2019). a 3.5 octave won't fit in the car. maybe putting the passenger seat down and putting the vibes up on the folded seat. but it would be a pain in the ass. 

I think I said before, but I think the vibes will fit in most but not all hatch backs. i say this having rented cars a bunch of times and my cars, but not checking out all hatch backs. I have never had a problem. 

I like the idea, i think someone said it here. carry your empty cases with you when you look at cars. 

I love these discussions! I think there's a lot of info on this site that would only interest vibe players!