We're considering changing to a TT or folder but have concerns about being able to carry as much equipment in the outfit as we are used to.
At the moment (see gallery pic) we use a trailer which also takes 2/3 cycles and our car is not that generous with luggage room. Usually the boot is taken up with coats, a picnic for en-route, a case with the next days clothes (we travel to southern France) and the expensive stuff that goes into an overnight motel room with us.
Everything else goes in the trailer (and that includes wine on the return journey)
We have no idea how much space is left over in the various models of TT or folder for 'extras'. Can anybody give us some idea or are there any pictures that would show the available free space?
hi we have found that there is very little space left over when you have packed all your kit into a tt there are roofrack type frames that will give some extra carrying capacity but you have to be careful not to go over the max weight of the tt,we are curruntly looking at cahanging the car for an estate but the pennies will have suffice for now
Everything except the fishing tackle fits in the pathfinder. Bedding stays on the bed tv microwave etc all fits in. We put the clothes in the roof box but our under bed storage is virtually empty and it would go in easily. Tree had trouble when she had a bike rack fitted to her crusader but I have no experience of taking bikes.
------------- Good friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.
We used to fit table and 6 chairs, parasol and as Jan says leave the bedding in the beds. That is on top of the obvious, awning, curtains, inner lining etc.
Sad I know but hubby used to keep a packing plan to remind him how to pack it all in, lol!
We had a Conway Challenger and we used to leave the bedding on the beds and put the awning on top underneath the cover. Even then, by the time we had water containers, ground sheet, table, chairs etc. in the space in the middle, there was no room for anything else. Clothes, food etc. all went in the boot or on the floor in the back of the car (dog takes up whole back seat and doesn't do sharing).
We find that with Conway & Cabanon trailer tents there is lots of space in the footwell and if you then fit a nose box no the frame there is even more.
I had - untill last month - a conway TT. There is considerable capacity for 'stuff' in the trailer. The weight limit of the trailer enabled 100Kg of additional items. In our we managed to take:
3 folding tables, 4 folding chairs, cooking equipment, Cadaq BBQ, 2 gas bottles, crockery, cutlery, beding for 4, clothing for 4 (one week), childs scooter, linnen for 4, beach stuff, .... basically everything except coats and picnic for the trip down. We had a front box, which swallowed up the dirty things like the BBQ.
I packed items on the floor of the trailer, in the side lockers and the front box. I used plastic crates on top of the canvas and under the top cover, as these were easy to move out of the way to erect the TT - and they where waterproof if it rained when we arrived.
Thanks folks,
So it looks like it IS possible to carry a fair amount in the trailer. I just need to make a list of the ones that have most room now.
It's a shame manufacturers don't give the spare room capacity in a similar fashion to car makers and their boot/hatchback sizes.
As you can see by the gallery picture, we have to carry cycles on the trailer. No doubt when we have worked out which make/model of TT has luggage room together with the ability to fix a cycle rack onto it, it will be a very short list.
Folding campers generally have much more storage space in transit than tts as the cupboards can all be left filled when packed down - we have a Pullman and like others we get all the holiday kit in the FC only need to put canoe stuff in the boot of the car. I think both Pullman and Conway folders can be fitted with load bars which can be used to fit bike racks.
Quote: Originally posted by Waldovia PM on 11/10/2004
As you can see by the gallery picture, we have to carry cycles on the trailer. No doubt when we have worked out which make/model of TT has luggage room together with the ability to fix a cycle rack onto it, it will be a very short list.
We tow a Conway TT (Corniche) and have a towball mounted rack for three bikes. (Plus three more on the roof rack, but I see you have a top box.) We`ve never found this a problem, but I don`t know if it would work with a heavier folding camper. Might increase your options?
Incidentally we (family of four) can get most of the heavy kit like two tables, chairs, food, wine, barbecue, awning, poles, gas, water containers etc into the TT, with a lot of flatter things like duvets under the TT cover. I can`t fold mine with bedding on the beds...hinges are too tight. We don`t have a top box because of the bikes, so the rest...fridge, clothes, general equipment plus bike seat for baby....goes in our estate car. Don`t forget you don`t have to carry cooking equipment in the car because you have (perhaps) a built in kitchen with storage on most TTs. I have space to spare with a TT.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 11/10/2004
We tow a Conway TT (Corniche) and have a towball mounted rack for three bikes. (Plus three more on the roof rack, but I see you have a top box.)
I tried the bikes between the car and trailer but not being able to get in the boot/hatch was too much of a pain. The top box has been scrapped, too much wind drag. Wind drag is one of the reasons the bikes are mounted low down on the trailer, everything is below the car roofline.
I would be prepared to mount them above a TT/Folder but maybe on their side so that they are lower.
(travelling at 130kp/h for 1,000 miles you tend to notice head winds and fuel consumption.)
Well when you`re towing a TT you won`t be going above 60mph anyway, surely?
We do the trip Edinburgh-Portsmouth-France and back for our main holiday which adds up to a lot of miles too, but given that we like our bikes we just accept the lower speeds and the higher fuel consumption. Can`t have everything! You`re right about not getting into the hatch...total PIB. We just pack accordingly so that we can reach necessities over the back seat.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 11/10/2004
Well when you`re towing a TT you won`t be going above 60mph anyway, surely?
That reminds me of a set of wheels/tyres I bought from Towsure (145x10) they started vibrating at certain speeds last year. I assumed it was because they hadn't been balanced. It turns out they only had a K or L speed rating (68-75mph) Obviously adequate for the UK but something that should be remembered if you intend using them abroad. I changed them for a decent set with a T rating (118mph) as I like a nice wide safety margin.
The speed limit for car towing trailers on the Peage is 81mph which I can honestly say I never exceed.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Luggage capacity in a TT or folder
