I play drums for several, local bands and usually carry my drum set in our Honda CRV. However, my wife and sister needed the CRV Saturday afternoon to go to several nurseries for new flowers and plants. I had a gig with an 18-piece dance band that night, so I tried to load the drum set in the Prius. What a surprise! The entire set fit into the Prius with the back seats down. Even though the back window was completely blocked, I had no problem backing up, thanks to the back-up camera. Here is what fit into the Prius. 18†x 22†Bass Drum in case 16†x 16†Floor Tom in case 13†x 11†Mounted Tom in case 12†x 10†Mounted Tom in case 6.5†x 14†Snare Drum in case 38.5†x 11†x 12†Large Hardware Bag 25†x 16†x 10†Small Hardware Bag 22†Cymbal Bag Many of the band members watched me load up after the gig, because they didn’t believe the Prius could hold that much. Most of them drive vans to carry their gear. I may have a few converts.
Awesome. Sounds like a funny - but poignant - YoutTube video in the making: start with the drum set assembled then fast-speed video of you breaking it down and stuffing it into the back of the Prius.
I regularly astonish my cycling friends when I show up with TWO full-size road bikes in the back - complete with all wheels attached. I've done three, but I need a helping hand. Two I can do by myself. I can fit four bikes with the wheels off.
Count yourself lucky you're not tall... There's hardly a vehicle in the world that I can fit my (ridiculously large) frame in without taking at least the front wheel off. Even my parents' full-size Ford Econoline van can't fit it in the back; it's too long. It can just barely fit in the middle of the van, but only by turning the front wheel sideways. Most other vehicles are limited by my bike's height. For that matter, I can't even use the bike lockers at my office because they're not tall enough. I biked to the dealer to pick up my Prius; I was able to get away with only taking the front wheel off, which isn't too bad. I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to fit it through the hatch with the front wheel still attached, especially since the bar ends add a bit of height and width to the handlebars.
I see a little healthy competition going on here. Keep it coming with photos! "Outside Minimum, Inside Maximum." —Chief Engineer Akihito Otsuka, 2009.
Good idea, Tony. I don't have the equipment or the software to do that yet; but I'll put your idea on my list. In the meantime, I'll try to remember to take a pic of the drums in the Prius on the way to this weekend's gig.
Most people think I'm tall. I'm at least a bit taller than average at 6'. But yeah... not ridiculously tall! A rack on the back or the roof is your friend, I think! Or better..... how about a trailer! For a while I had aerobars on my road bike - and that screwed up everything. The bike wouldn't fit standing up in my Rav4EV, and it was a real problem in the Prius as well. I've since changed bars that will not accept the aero's... and now everything fits easiliy again.
Darell, I bet you could fit the tandem in, as long as the stoker doesn't mind sitting behind you in the car, too.
What an excellent post, 2to4! I, too, am a drummer, and I will soon be in the market for a new car (lease expiring). Presently, I haul around my set in a 2008 Saturn VUE, which swallows it with no problem. The problem I have with the Saturn (and any SUV/truck/van, really) is the gas mileage (23, tops, straight highway, on a good day!). I wanted my next car to be a hybrid, but the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner didn't appeal to me. I had discounted the Prius because, quite frankly, and sadly, it didn't look like it would hold my drums. I was zeroing in on the Subaru Outback, which gets slightly better mileage than the Saturn, and then I stumbled upon your post. I am now very excited about getting a Prius. I intend to take my cases to a dealer (or connect with a friend who has a Prius) and confirm they will fit (no offense), and I have confidence they will, thanks to you. My lease doesn't expire until Dec. 2010, so I have time. The 2011 models may be out by then. The next seven months are going to test my patience. I got the fever! Thanks, again. Glen
It's the secret we've known in europe for decades, hatchbacks are brilliant for putting stuff in, especially those with a saloon/sedan shaped body.
We knew that too in the 1970's, but then hatchbacks became uncool. They were the family station wagons of the era, before they were replaced by mini-vans. Thankfully the Prius design favors function over form. Tom
My pleasure, Glen. No offense taken. We drummers have different cases for our gear, and you never know how your cases will fit in a car unless you try them. BTW, first I put the bass in on the right (passenger) side, laying down. Then I put the 16x16 F Tom on the left side with the snare on top. Then I put the 13x11 on the left with the 12x10 on top. The the cymbal bag goes on the right. Then the small bag goes on the right next to the toms. Finally, the large bag goes parallel across the back. (Edit: Sorry. I removed the reference to the congas and the bongos. My wife reminded me that I used the CRV for the gig with those extra instruments. She wanted the Prius that night.) Let me know it works out for you. In the meantime, enjoy this number by my favorite drummer ...
While Joe Morello was (and still is) a great drummer, Buddy Rich was the best, in my opinion. I got to see him in a small club and was transfixed. Sat through both shows. I even met him between shows, got his autograph and a stick. He was short and arrogant, of course, but his skills...wow.
All my drums (Slingerland) are in hard cases (SKB and Fibre): 14" x 20" bass, 16" X 16" floor, 14" X 14" floor, 12" X 10" mounted, 5 1/2" X 14" snare, plus a 22" cymbal vault and a 30" X 24" X 11" trap case on wheels (heavy bugger!). I also carry a rug. The trap case is my main concern. How wide is the floor in your Prius?