Can I leave my ukulele in the car?

Mfturner said:
I used to leave my Flight TUS in the car all the time, even in summer heat. Just lying on the back seat, no special care. Tuning would always need attention of course.
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The Flight TUS series are stable and pretty much indestructible. Those (TUC-55 and TUS-55) are my travel ukes. In a good way, they have a sound of their own and are easy to play.
 
What an interesting array of responses. Thanks! I wouldn't be keeping it long term in the car, just maybe 4 hours at a time if I'm running errands, or want to play somewhere after work without running home first. I never thought of getting a wood-alternative instrument to keep in the car all the time!

Also, my instruments are replaceable, so not that there is 0% chance my car could be broken into, I just care 0% if that happens. (maybe a little more than 0% in reality but not much). Back when I had a violin, it was very expensive, was not insured, and I needed it daily for school. I didn't like how burdensome it was to worry about it all the time, even if I had to run into the grocery store I'd be nervous to leave it in the car. I want those worrisome days to be over, and if I need a new uke for some reason, its okay to let go and find new things.

Thanks for all your thoughts! Y'all are da real MVP
 
John Colter said:
"When leaving a cheap uke in your car, do you usually stand it in a corner of a passenger seat, lay it in a trunk/ boot, use a hard case, wrap its strap over the top of a seat and let it hang behind that seat, or hide it under some sort of lightweight item?"

Mine lives in a stout fabric gig bag and just lies around on the back seat. I can't remember the last time a passenger rode in the back.
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I have my Ohana SK-15WG (solid top laminate sides & back) and Cordoba Mini II (ditto for woods) strapped into the seat belts in the back seat in their gig bags when travelling to & from our lessons, and while we have lunch after our lessons. I don't need extra ukulele- or guitar-shaped projectiles in case of sudden stop or crash.
 
ploverwing said:
I have my Ohana SK-15WG (solid top laminate sides & back) and Cordoba Mini II (ditto for woods) strapped into the seat belts in the back seat in their gig bags when travelling to & from our lessons, and while we have lunch after our lessons. I don't need extra ukulele- or guitar-shaped projectiles in case of sudden stop or crash.
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There are much worse ways to die than by having a ukulele hit you in the neck at 40mph.
 
Since you say it will not be too hot or too cold, it probably won't be a problem. You can always get a cheap temperature gauge and leave it in the car to see how hot it gets inside the locked car/trunk.

I've read that the temperatures should stay below 90*/95* F.

I think many of us go on vacation and the inside house temperature may exceed that when we are gone. Also, if we take an instrument and put in in the trunk while we are driving it could easily exceed that. And there are instances of instruments sitting in attics for years without adverse effects.

That said, you may be able to wrap the ukulele in a high heat insulated blanket/bag as a precaution.

John

Edit Added: This looks interesting...
https://www.amazon.com/Fireproof-Wa...mzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc
 
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And if I asked Yowling Tom his opinion, I'd expect the response of, "Sure. Let's just stuff you in the trunk this 82F afternoon and see how ya like it!" He's snarky when he has new strings . . . except when they're catgut.
 
ripock said:
Here in New Mexico you don't leave anything in the car: ukuleles, sandwiches, jehovah Witness brochures. Anything will be stolen.
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Same in my area.

But it's great to hear that other areas of the country don't have to worry about that.

IMO, it's not just having to replace stolen items, (ukulele and/or anything in the car), but also the shattered window and any other damage done.
My ukuleles all stay home. But if weather and theft aren't an issue for someone, then it would seem reasonable to have one in the car as needed.
 
I feel for you people who have theft as a real issue. It does happen around here of course, yet it's so rare that the last time I had anything stolen from my car (pocket change) was in the 1990's when I left the car parked outside at night while I was working.

Anyway, my ukuleles and equipent is kept in a case and out of sight/out of mind in the luggage area.
I am mindful to find an undercover or shaded parking spot if I'm leaving the car parked when its hot. Where I live, undercover shopping mall carparks are common (EDIT: and cheap).
If I had no choice as to where I parked on a hot day I would take the ukulele with me.
 
Do not leave a ukulele in a Martin Gig Bag where it can be seen. Thieves see the name "Martin" and think it's an expensive instrument they can hock!

I would not keep an expensive uke in my car if the temps get too hot or cold. The thermal shock can be brutal on the wood, glues & strings. If it's cold or hot in the car, you may want to give the solid wood uke some time to adjust when you take it indoors.

On the other hand, many of us have purchased ukes online that have been shipped to us in delivery trucks. That are not always heated or air conditioned.

A car interior in the summer sun can very quickly get up to 125°F or higher. Even here in Wisconsin. And even if the windows and sun roof are cracked open. (I think mail carriers are going to roast in those ugly new mail trucks.) A nice moderate temperature Spring or Fall day, should be Okay.
 
My rule of thumb has always been......if I wouldn't leave my dog in the car at that temp./ for that length of time, then I won't leave my ukulele in there either.
 
FWIW, for shorter "stays" in the trunk or back seat, I keep the uke in one of the better thick foam gig bags or hard case. I consider that to be some extra insulation from rising temps. Brought from a 68-70 F degree house, that amount of insulation will add a few hours. I agree with the "out of sight" comments, especially avoiding brand labels. My recent acquisition of a Donner Rising U also lessens my concerns and lengthens the stay times.
 
I have a cheap laminate uke that I keep in the car. I just toss it in the back seat with a towel over it. It generally stays put.

I don't use a bag because if I want to play it, I don't want to take the time to futz with a bag. I just want to grab it and play.
 
4 hours in a hot car could surely kill a uke, just like it could harm a pet or child in much less time, all that hot sun coming in through the glass, like a hothouse terrarium. If a person would not be comfortable in there, neither would a uke, unless it's a plastic uke like an Outdoor. If I had no choice, I'd put it in the trunk for as short as possible, but even then would be leery.
 
Thank you one and all. I've been experimenting the last couple of days with different weather and temperature and good results! The idea is I often have down-time at work and since my upstairs neighbor hasn't taken kindly to my practicing at home, I can just step out to the car and play while I'm on my break, that's 15 or 30 minutes a day easily. In fact I'm considering removing the front passenger seat of my car so that I can have a little more space just to "lounge" in the back seat I guess? while I'm playing. I've always been fascinated by little micro conversion campers and stealth campers. But I certainly never camp..... what I need is a stealth living room? A stealth..... sofa on wheels? Like one of those Japanese nap pods, except to just play music for a few minutes when I'm away from home? Lol shrug emoji........More details on that if/when I can make it happen, I'll share a picture. Maybe I'll put down a nice rug :D
 
JEngle1122 said:
Thank you one and all. I've been experimenting the last couple of days with different weather and temperature and good results! The idea is I often have down-time at work and since my upstairs neighbor hasn't taken kindly to my practicing at home, I can just step out to the car and play while I'm on my break, that's 15 or 30 minutes a day easily. In fact I'm considering removing the front passenger seat of my car so that I can have a little more space just to "lounge" in the back seat I guess? while I'm playing. I've always been fascinated by little micro conversion campers and stealth campers. But I certainly never camp..... what I need is a stealth living room? A stealth..... sofa on wheels? Like one of those Japanese nap pods, except to just play music for a few minutes when I'm away from home? Lol shrug emoji........More details on that if/when I can make it happen, I'll share a picture. Maybe I'll put down a nice rug :D
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I would not advise installing a chandelier, Make do with just a couple of candelabra.:cool:
 
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