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Quote: Originally posted by jonellis on 02/5/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 02/5/2006

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I can`t have either a roof box (too many bikes to carry!) or a trailer (nowhere to keep it) so it`s a matter of sour grapes for me!

(PS. If I did have a choice, I`d have a trailer. Less stress on the car, as the extra axle carries some of the weight.)

Hi

we can't have a trailer for the same reason (london flat) but I bought a thule 903 bike carrier (which folds away) it sits on the towbar and can carry 4 bikes - and we have a roof box on top

 

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We have two tandems and a triplet tandem.....they don`t fit across a back towball rack. They have to go on the roof. So no room for a roof box.

The solos go on our Thule towball rack.....yes, we take LOTS of bikes on holiday, lol!

We have to have a VW Transporter Van (transit size) and we have a big roofbox on it. I am looking at getting a small stepladder as there is no way I at 6ft tall can reach inside never mind see inside.

I would prefer a trailer if trooth be known, we would prefer a trailer tent but that's not gonna happen. But we can't have a trailer because we can't tow it. We have a wheelchair lift on the back of the van so it would mean unbolting the towball to get daughter out with wheelchair. They do make one of those new detachable ball towbars now for the van but it is very expensive and so is a trailer. So we went for the roofbox so now I need some steps that are not too bulky and fold flat. May end up with half a normal ladder yet.

If anyone see's anything let me know please.

We started with a roof box and it was ok, but a little cramped inside the car.  We have now bought a trailer and can't wait to try it out!  We have been buying more stuff though so it will probably still only just fit!

.........for what it's worth we have both, attached to a 3 series tourer. Inside are 2 adults, 2 kids (7&4 by the time we go to france) + 4 bikes.

Poor car !!

Dave

one more for trailer, last year before we got the van we crammed everthing into the car and a roof box, if I'd had had a tow bar on the car I'd have bought a trailer, I saw a trailer at Halfords the other day for £150.00 about the same price as a roof box and roof bars.  I have a tow bar on the van and I'm thinking of a trailer!!!

I have a roof box and my car is a Peugoet 806 eight seater.  I use a small step ladder to get to the box when packing, and stand in the car's doorway, hold onto the roof bar with one hand and throw things at the kids to catch with the other when unpacking (all adds to the holiday fun I feel!!  ).  I put it slightly to one side on the bars (ie over to the side of the car where the box opening is).  I used to have a roof box on a Galaxy and found that I had to do the same thing.  I don't have a towbar, so a trailer wasn't an option for me, but even if it had of been, I would still go for roof box - I park like a real girlie... and I would probably forget it was there and do something terrible!!

Borrowed a roofbox last year, found it a bit of a faff to unload, load, attach, so bought a trailer, then swapped after a week for a larger trialer, then didn't realise how expensive the towbar would be!  Total package cost me about £1200!

However it's now fully loaded and ready to hitch up at a moments notice, and I can put the bikes on there as well.  I just hope now there's room to sit in the car, otherwise I will be left with a very red face,   

We have both - although I've got to make sure that the roof bar fitting will fit the current car.   Although I've not actually used both at the same time.

The advantage with the trailer being that it can be used for 1001 other purposes.   In our case trips to the tip.   Saves mucking up the inside of the car - kids do that for me.  

It is very much a mater of personal preference.    

What about this:

This is the Khyam cargo rack and bag:

Khyam Cargo Rack The Cargo Rack simply drops onto a standard 50mm ball hitch (you get rid of that with talc) at the rear of your car and will immediately double the loading capacity of most mid-sized saloons. Perfect for use with the Khyam Cargo Bag, the Rack will also happily accommodate mountain bikes, bags of garden refuse, and a myriad of other items. Dimensions: 105 x 53cm;     Khyam Cargo Bag The Khyam Cargo Bag is designed to hold all tents in the Ridgi-Dome Range (not at once). It is a durable, fully waterproof bag fitted with multiple compression straps, grab handles and tough polycarbonate wheels so you can easily move the contents into pitching position. Designed for use with the Khyam Cargo Rack but can also be used by itself. Dimensions: 120 x 50 x 50cm; I have been looking at these for years, despite that we have a trailer and roof box. The thing that appeals to me is that it, although it clearly does not hold nearly as much as a trailer, it is ideal for weekends away or when you do not need to take so much swag and has no speed restrictions as there are when towing. The other thing, which recently occurred to me whilst reading a thread on here about mice munching their way through tents whilst in storage, is that the cargo bag would surely be an ideal way to store the tent etc over winter - tougher than any tent bag and easy to move around because of the wheels. I have decided to put my money where my mouth is, so have ordered one today - I will let you know if it turns out to be a success story or a disaster!

Hi, we too have a problem with to much stuff!  learnt a valuable lesson at Easter, we take to much stuff half of it we didnt need.  Our next holiday is in the summer i am traverling with my husband and 3 boys age 10, 11, 15, in a Vauxhall Zafira with a top box.  Top box has lift and storage straps on garage roof very useful for storing the box when no in use, great for packing and lowering onto car, i know not everone could do this.  Only take what is essential as you always buy more stuff when your away.  Do agree with the comment of own toiletries in a bag kids think its great.  If traverling with kids we have found a dvd player invaluable, keeps them busy for ours. I found that roof boxes are very expensive to buy, so if you can try and borrow or rent one and try it out.  Wouldt pull a trailer as dont like towing so our top box is great and works for us.

hope you find the best solution for you