I have a dilemma and hope the more experienced campers can give me some advice and pointers please.
I have run out of space in my car and roof box to be able to take my folding bike with me, due to increase in volume of my new tent the Hypercamp Escala 4.
In order to carry the bike on a rack externally, I have to have a tow ball bike rack as my car has a spoiler and cannot have a rear door rack.
The dilemma I have is to decide whether to get a Thule Xpress 970 bike rack at about 50 GBP, and carry the bike outside; or spend a bit more and get the Thule Easybase and Easybag (about 270 GBP together) so that I can carry the tent outside and the bike inside the car.
The reason for spending a small fortune on a folding bike with full suspensions is to allow it to be carried inside the car.
Hence I am in two minds about carrying the bike on a rack on the outside as I would need to stop overnight at motels on long journeys.
Ideally, I would like to get a trailer. However, I shall not be able to get the trailer that I want (about 1k GBP) this year due to financial constraints. However, I have sufficient fund for the Easybase + Easybag.
If I find the Easybase + Easybag gives me sufficient extra room for all my gear, then I may not buy a trailer.
The soft foldable Easybag is preferred over the hard Thule Backup box is that I can take the bag as well as the Easybase off the tow ball and store in the car when I am at camp.
So campers, what would you do if you were in my situation?
I am leaning towards the Easybase + Easybag, however, there may be other considerations or solutions that I have overlooked.
Hence I thought I should ask for advice, and thanks to anyone who may be able to help me decide.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
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When we use our easybase we use a garden storage box on it to put only very light stuff in. I think by the time you put an easybase on you have to be very carefull you don't over load it hence only put things like bowls and buckets in. I would also not leave your tent on there if you were staying in a hotel over night.
I wouldn't leave my bike on the rack overnight at a motel, but I wouldn't want to leave my tent in a soft box either! A bike would be easier to take into the room with you.
It will not be the entire tent in there, just the main canvas, and some of the bedding will go in there too.
Thanks for advice so far, keep them coming please.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
The reason I am thinking about getting the soft bag is that it can be collapsed while still attached to the base when I am unloading the car, without having to detach it completely from the base first.
Instead of storing the tent canvas in the Easybag, I can store other items in there, such as the box containing the kitchen stuff, the Weber Go Anywhere BBQ etc...
As far as I can remember, it can have a maximum load of 50kg and its volume is 315L.
Thanks for the pics of your Backup box, as they certainly helped in giving me ideas what I can put into the soft bag if not the tent canvas.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
The reason I am thinking about getting the soft bag is that it can be collapsed while still attached to the base when I am unloading the car, without having to detach it completely from the base first.
Instead of storing the tent canvas in the Easybag, I can store other items in there, such as the box containing the kitchen stuff, the Weber Go Anywhere BBQ etc...
As far as I can remember, it can have a maximum load of 50kg and its volume is 315L.Â
Thanks for the pics of your Backup box, as they certainly helped in giving me ideas what I can put into the soft bag if not the tent canvas.
DK
We had the base and Backup box but sold them last year when we got a trailer tent.
We never took the box off the base when we had sent up camp, just lifted the whole lot off and then used it for storage which was handy, because it's waterproof and lockable. We put a chain around it and secured it to the nearest tree, so it didn't go walkabout!
I'm not sure you'll be able to store the base in your car when not in use, it take up lots of room!
I shall leave the base and the soft bag in the tent, out of sight instead of taking them in the car, as I shall have the bike with me.
Thanks for the advice.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
You do have to be aware of the additional length, as it can ground you a bit if you go over bumps or up steep inclines. We used ours on a 4x4 (now exchanged for something less expensive to run), which means it was well up from the ground, so not really a problem.
You can buy an optional lock, to secure the Easy Base to the towbar, by the way, so you can leave it on the car if you don't want to be faffing around with removing it. I guess that, if you had the soft bag instead of the Backup Box, you might still be able to access the rear of your vehicle (might have to lean over quite a bit, though!).
We used ours for carting soft stuff (bedding, bags of clothes etc) and it worked a treat; there are restraining straps inside the Backup Box which you can use to really compress a soft load.
I think the soft bag is a better option for a solo camper because it will be far less heavy and bulky to put on and remove. Lifting and balancing the Backup Box and base is a two-man job, we found.
I'm not sure about using it on a mini though, D.K., so wonder it might be worth a new thread just to ask if anyone has done this, and whether they found it was okay? It would be a pain to buy one and then find you are constantly grounding it. I know minis are no longer really low to the ground,but reckon it's worth further investigation before parting with your hard-earned, you know?
Hmmmm, I am sure I posted a reply earlier to say I have ordered the base and the soft bag today.
My car has not been modified or lowered, therefore, I do not envisage an issue.
However, time will tell if that is the case or not.
Thanks for the advice!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I have to abandon the idea of having an EasyBase and EasyBag, as I would risk grinding the tyres against the wheel arches at the back. DOH!!!
Nevermind.
No bike for the trip over Easter, however, it is no big a deal as the weather is not looking too good, and I am no good on the bike at this moment in time.
I shall definitely get a trailer now.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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Topic: Thule Easybase + bag OR cycle rack?
