Car-top cargo boxes

[Thomas Erickson]

Anybody know of a roof top cargo box that is deep enough to fit a bass? The biggest one Yakima makes is 18" - seems like that might barely be enough but I'm not sure if it's an inside or outside measurement.

If somebody made a truly waterproof bass bag, I'd be ok with just strapping it to a rack mount basket or something, but I have yet to see such a bag...

Thoughts?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

Anybody know of a roof top cargo box that is deep enough to fit a bass? The biggest one Yakima makes is 18" - seems like that might barely be enough but I'm not sure if it's an inside or outside measurement.

If somebody made a truly waterproof bass bag, I'd be ok with just strapping it to a rack mount basket or something, but I have yet to see such a bag...

Thoughts?

ONE time in my life I put a bass on the roof. That's because my Italian was IN the car and I bought an old German while on a week-long Gig in PA about 6 hours from NYC. I took off the Top in my hotel room and had no room in the car so it traveled home on the roof. Never have I ever thought of putting a working bass on the roof. People maybe, but the bass stays INSIDE.. lol

[Thomas Erickson]

Well, clearly extra caution would be in order in parking garages and the like, but I think things would be perfectly safe in a nice water tight hard shell cargo box. I mean, people put expensive road racing bikes, kayaks and the like up there all the time. With just a soft case I can see there being some danger of stray tree branches or something though. Clearly the taller the vehicle the more risk.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

Well, clearly extra caution would be in order in parking garages and the like, but I think things would be perfectly safe in a nice water tight hard shell cargo box. I mean, people put expensive road racing bikes, kayaks and the like up there all the time. With just a soft case I can see there being some danger of stray tree branches or something though. Clearly the taller the vehicle the more risk.

Well, racing bikes and kayaks don't crack from weather and humidity swings like basses do. Do as you wish with your bass but that's my advice.

[Thomas Erickson]

I tend to think that walking across town with a bass, putting it in a cargo box or just putting it into a hot/cold car are all going to pose the same unavoidable temp/humidity shift, which in a decent bag shouldn't be a problem. I mean, if just transporting an instrument to a gig is going to cause damage, that's not a very serviceable instrument. It's not like were talking about how to transport a bass coast-to-coast or from BC to Mexico after all - rather, just how to get around town with a bass or two and not have to drive an SUV.

Anyway, I think I'll stop by the "rack shop" with a bass and see about that Yakima box, unless somebody's tried it already... hopefully whatever bass I take won't explode on the way over there.

[Adam Linz]

Someone should design a double bass transport case for roofs. If the whole band is coming along I would rather it in a secure box on the roof than getting a drum hardware case shoved into the top. If someone made one that was sturdy and safe I would definitely use it. If they made it user friendly that it could be switched between different types of vehicles that would help people in larger cities that do a lot of renting of cars for small tours. I'm in! Someone please make this so we can bring the bass more places!