I have a Thule Pacific 200 roof box which has a "fast Grip" mounting mechanism which is simplicity itself to fit and remove with roof bars of similar ease of fitting.I put the lighter objects in it such as sleeping bags, folding chairs and rucksacks.I admit that a trailer is a good idea but the drawback is safe storage at home and outlay(electrics and tow bar).I remember my father -in-law told me that just after the 2nd world war he took the familly camping without a car and sent all the equipment ahead by train! Delivery can now be made next day by road and it would be good if sites had storage facilities to receive and we could all drive smart cars reducing our footprint and see out of the back windows.
Trailer for me, everytime! Left ready packed in the garage for the quick get-aways at the weekends. Oh, and a roofbox for the longer trips, for body boards, wetsuits, etc.
I'm fitting the 30cm height extension kit to my erde 122 this afternoon. OH knew it would be too small, but I never listen.
Quote: Originally posted by mikehorne on 24/8/2007
ok, so how do you all secure your trailers when arriving at campsite? what do you all do when you go out for the day?
I saw someone who had turned their trailer upside down & removed a wheel (presumably locked in the car boot) Now thats a cheap way of immobilising a trailer.
I love that side of camping too - buying lots of crap that you don't need and then buying big roofboxes and trailers to transport all your crap to the field and then wonder if you remembered to bring that thing with you...what's it called?
Oh yeah,...a 'tent'.
Yep did that last time we went camping!
OH "did you remember the poles"
Me "errrrrrr oh bugger"
Anyway, put a 350l roof box on the freelander and it made a fantastic difference. Stuffed all the lighweight stuff in there, sleeping, sitting and clothes!.
Next stage for me is to rip the back seats out, put a floor extender in and new side panels - got them already!
That should do us for next season. If the buying continues I am going to sell the freelander and buy a defender with a safari roof rack - and I bet she still fills it up with cr(rubbish)ap
Hi. We use a roofbox, I would love a trailer, but my wife is terrified of us towing something, even though I have towed caravans without any problems for years.If you decide to use a roofbox then I agree with others....leave the box bolted to the bars and just drop the box and bars into place and lock them on.We keep all the light bulky stuff in our box such as all our bedding,toilet, wellies and all sorts of other bits and bats.We just leave it all in the box ( yes we do wash it all in-between trips) and then just put the whole lot on top of our Renault Scenic.We are lucky enough to have a big Outwell Bearlake 6, so we put the box and bars into the spare bedroom and then use that as a storage box for clothes etc when we are on site.If you decide to use a roofbox,then get the largest one that you can afford that is suitable for your car....you will soon fill it.But please use it to carry all your lighter bulky stuff....keep the heavy stuff lower down inside your car!
Have fun!
Hi. Just a tip if your buying a roofbox, don;t get a halfords one like we did. They have U bolts that go up from the underside of the bars and a quick fit bracket inside the box. I came out of the house one day to find a U bolt on the floor.....after the box had been on the car for months (and yes I do check it all regularly for tightness etc). Our friends have a Thule Atlantis roofbox which is mega easy to fit via knobs on the inside and a claw like clamp underneath - simple, nothing to fall off!!! Also the Thule boxes open both sides which might make life easier. Spend your money wisley on an Thule version.
However we are considering the trailer option for future though after reading some of the posts in this topic.
Cheers,
------------- Canvas - paint on it or sleep under it....
Sounds like a trailer might be the answer then ... although I might save up and buy a bigger car, maybe an estate ... but leaving the stuff in the trailer does sound like an esay way of storing stuff.
I also like the idea of the trailer with a roofbox on top. I saw one in the New Forest a few weeks back while we were camping and thought they were great. Might just have to secretly investigate the cost of that.
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: Trailer or Roofbox?
and then buying big roofboxes and trailers to transport all your crap to the field and then wonder if you remembered to bring that thing with you...what's it called? 
thinking of getting an estate.....
