We have bought a converted VW campervan. It has a side opening pop top. There is a Fiamma bike rack attached to one of the back doors. Does anyone know if we carry other stuff on the bike rack? Or whether we can put a roof rack on the poptop?
I am particularly thinking of how we could carry a driveaway awning, chairs etc.(which I didn't consider before I bought it!)
All that is required is that the gear is securely fixed on so it don't fall off, apart from that you have a free hand. The bike rack can be used for carrying luggage & you can get a box to bolt on in place of the bike rails.
Putting a roof rack on the poptop to allow it to still be opened will require drilling through the poptop & using metal reinforcement underneath bolts. Google 'poptop roofrack' & you will get some ideas.
Probably easiest just to use bike rack as is. put chairs on with awning on top & secure with ratchet straps.
Thanks for your reply. Do you mean that I can strap the awning to the bike rack? I wasn't sure how much weight I could put on it, or whether it would put a strain on the door hinges.
If you consider the weight of 2-3 bikes 40 odd kg it is designed to carry then it is unlikely chairs & awning will weigh more than that so you will be ok.
hi, fiamma do a ultra box in two sizes, which fits directly onto the bike rack & also a "cargo back" that is a anti-rip nylon bag.
don't forget anything you fit on the back will need locking on.
We have had a Trident camper van for many years now with a pop top. We have a bike rack for two bikes on the back. We have an awning which we slot in if we want extra shade, no drive away awning, this fits inside the back door along the width of the van when not in use.
We don't use the heavy table made for the van but have a smallish plastic folding table which we slot behind the small table behind the passenger seat along with two folding chairs. We also carry two folding stools which slot in behind the drivers seat. I have made a three pocket carrier which hangs on a pole from cup hooks above back seat. (Useful for holding suncream, make up bag, first aid stuff torches etc etc .We also have mugs hanging on cup hooks above the work top. We bought the non slip rubber stuff and that is on top of the work top and keeps a tray and a basket for fruit steady while on the move. Our clothes are either hung in the wardrobe though we find this a bit tricky getting them in and out, so we have two small plastic baskets which fit behind the back seats when we are travelling. These hold tee shirts and shorts and when we stop we move them to the driver's and passenger's seats. The under seat drawer is large enough for the ramps , boules set, sandals etc. we can fold the rock and roll bed up with the bed made up and just put a cheap Ikea throw over it all. I like to think we've got it sorted now!,
...although not "stylish", they (and others similar)are a helluve lot cheaper than the "proper" Fiamma boxes
Having said that, if it's in a decent, sturdy bag(that won't come unzipped, allowing poles, pegs etc to bounce down the road!), then as has been said,an awning could just be securely strapped to the rack...
Just keep an eye on the all-up weight on the rack though..Okay,the rack may be "rated" as "X amount" but you don't want it bending the edged of the rear tailgate/doors(..as has been the case on some of the Fiat X250 Ducatos)
We don't have a separate awning, so no need for storage. We also don't use the van table, just a cheap plastic fold up behind the driving seat which goes outside too. Chairs live on the floor whilst travelling as we have Brompton folding bikes sitting on the back of the bed next to the rear window. OH cut narrow planks to fit across the top of the back of the 'sill' which make a shelf when the roof is up. We either use it for storage whilst camped, or put the chairs up there overnight. The bikes move to the front footwells overnight. The plank shelf has a narrow gap when the roof is down, just enough for towels or the odd garment, or maybe a spare blanket.
We have just got a vw t5 lwb and have just purchased an awning which we intend to carry in it's bag on the floor of the van with the chairs while we're driving. There is a vw forum where you might get more answers to your question.http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/index.php
Which camper van do you own? There are different styles of roof rack depending on where you need to mount it on the roof. Maybe a front mounted roof rack for your camping gear? Here are some general ones to get you started.
We. Are just back from a month in France in our camper van a Trooper pop top.we carried home 80 bottles of wine, a 3 foothigh peach tree and bargain beach hairs from a vide greenies for our son in Brighton.....as well as folding table, 2 stools, 2 folding chairs,2 beach chairs of our own our clothes a change of sheets walking sandals, presents ...... No problem!!
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I have realised that we have plenty of room for everything, even the dog. The problem will be when we take two large teenagers away with us next week!
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Topic: Carrying stuff on a Campervan
