AC Cargo in the Car Roof Box. Loosen Strings?

[rnantel]

I'm finally traveling with my travel guitar, an CA Cargo. It will be in the roof box for a 12 hour drive. Apart from making sure it's well protected and doesn't move around, do I need to do anything else? Should I loosen the strings?

At this point, I'm sort of glad my travel guitar is rugged and made of carbon fiber. I'd hate to spend 12 hours worrying about fine wood instrument up there.

[patticake]

are you going to be driving through hot areas? if so, i'd be concerned since heat can melt the glue that holds on the fingerboard.

[Ilovetaylors]

should be fine, especially if your going 50 miles per hour. Should be cool enough.....Those cargos are pretty sturdy!!

[MisterZeus]

We just spent two of the hottest days of this summer on the east coast with my Cargo spending 8+ hours in the trunk of a dark gray sedan.
It was still in tune when we got back home.

I didn't think to loosen the strings but it might be a good idea under extreme conditions...just to be prudent.

Drive careful Richard.

Russ

[Marley]

no need to loosen the strings

[Aaron Smith]

Carbon fiber or not, I would not dream of putting a guitar in a roof box on a car. I have a Cargo and it is very stable and durable, but why take the chance? Can't you keep it in the passenger compartment of the car and put something else in the roofbox?

[chistrummer]

Originally Posted by patticake

are you going to be driving through hot areas? if so, i'd be concerned since heat can melt the glue that holds on the fingerboard.

Is there any truth to this? Anyone know what glue CA used on the fretboard and at what temperature it will start to melt?

[Bltprf502]

You'd just have to re tune it if you loosen the strings. No need. I have had 2 and they are bltprf!

[rnantel]

I should probably have specified that I'm driving from Montreal to Prince Edward Island and the weather will be in the mid-80s F at the most. I'm not driving through the Arizona desert in 110 degree heat. Consequently, do I need to worry about heat and its effect on glue?

Thanks for your help.

[HudsDad]

Originally Posted by rnantel

I should probably have specified that I'm driving from Montreal to Prince Edward Island and the weather will be in the mid-80s F at the most. I'm not driving through the Arizona desert in 110 degree heat. Consequently, do I need to worry about heat and its effect on glue?

Thanks for your help.

If it's sunny and you have the typical black polymer roof box, the temp in the roof box will far exceed the ambient air temperature. We often carry water in our roof box when we go camping so it will get hot enough for showers at the end of the day...even on cool days.

I don't know if this is hot enough to affect the glue on the Cargo, but it's not a risk I'd take.

[MikeD]

Being such a small guitar, why not just cram it in the car somewhere? I'm sure you can find somewhere for it in there. I don't think anything will happen to it, but just to be on the safe side, put it in the AC. Personally, I wouldn't do it... I would put something else up there if space in the car is a concern. If something were to happen to it, you'd be SOL since CA is closed down and won't be able to fix it. Just my $.02.

[gitnoob]

The glue will start to fail at somewhere between 135-150 deg F.

The interior of a car in direct sun can get up to 150 deg F.

I would try to keep the Cargo insulated.

[Jaygits]

no problem, no need to loosen strings ....

worry free - have fun!

Jay

[guitargabor]

Not certain at which temp the glue would soften.

Otherwise it's very tough.

I had mine on a stand outdoors last week.A gust of wind blew it right over soundhole side down on concrete....not a scratch ,plays great...

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by Aaron Smith

Can't you keep it in the passenger compartment of the car and put something else in the roofbox?

He probably could, but the kids might get lonely up there.