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We cant decide on roofbox or trailer!

There are 7 of us in the family, we have a 7 seater car, but not much room for our camping equipment.  I feel a trailer would be better to take our camping things, but hubby thinks we only need a roofbox.  In a roofbox, our tent weighs half the weight limit in a 450L.

Ive also told him, we would need to take something for the kids to do when we are just lounging around the tent, and he also went mad when i said i wanted to take the gazebo .

I know the idea is to take as less as you can, and as light as you can, so i told him, if its raining he is doing the cooking without a gazebo 

Can anyone settle our differences, or even give us pros and cons for both.......at this rate, one of us will be in the tent sooner than they think!

Thanks

There are pros and cons for both.  We use a roof box and there are loads of things that we don't like about it.  However, for us, it's better than a trailer for the simple reason that we can store the roof box but a trailer will not fit up our stairs to get it to the back garden (no rear entry).  The roof box we have just about gets through without pulling wallpaper off.

The only other con for a trailer is that parking can be a problem sometimes and there are certain speed restrictions.  With those exceptions, a trailer would be best because you can put heavier loads in it.

Hi i cant say much about the roofbox we havent got one but we have got a trailer and have no problems at all. We can fit everything in easily and so far haven't had any problems parking it up when we get there. We have been lucky we have had an edge pitch, and its shoved into the edge. I have seen other campers with them and they just put them at the side of the tent like you would a car. We have thought about a roofbox for short trips but im still undecided myself.

we had the same dilema and chose a roofbox ,but as you may have a different set of circumstances you may make a different choice ,our reasons for choosing a box were -

1 ) nowhere to store a trailer

2)dont have to worry about securing a trailer on site

3)didnt want to pay the earth for a trailer ob ferry crossing ( but since found out they possibly charge for roofboxes too ?? aint checked yet )

4)Can go faster

5) less upkeep and maintenance on a box

Hi, We have no choice but to use a trailer as our car cannot take a roofbox/rack. If you have somwhere to store a trailer then the pros outweigh the cons!!

In response to skatty, ferry companies do now charge for roofboxes therefore not making much difference on travel costs.

muzzy 

Thanks all for your thoughts/advice.

I think i have convinced him on a trailer, although he isnt too keen on towing, but agrees that having the weight of the 7 of us, and all the camping equipment, the car will be on the floor!