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I am very tempted to buy one of these after trying to get all my camping stuff, 2 mastiffs, 2 children, my partner and a yorkie in my car at the weekend. ( don't think car has recovered yet!!!)

I just wondered if any one has got one of these and if they are as good as the advertising says they are? I have entered the competition but can't believe that I would be lucky enough to win one.

Any comments would be gratefully recieved. Thanks.

Laura x x

I've seen them on the UKCS competition site, and been on their website, but never seen one in the flesh so to speak. Just wondered if anyone had used them and what they thought.

laura

Hi Laura

My hubbies work colleague has one of these and swears by it the only downside of it so he says is that it ties inside the car so if it rains there is a chance that the rain will seep into the car - other than that they have found it very useful through the years.

Is it ok for motorway usage? or does he just use it for short emergency trips?

laura

I take it we are talking about the inflatable ones you "pump up"?

TBH I would not stand on my car room, let alone put a bag on there tied to some inflatable thing. I have heard bad things about them from a windsurfing perspective.

If it were a surfboard I was going 2 miles with then yes I would do it, but I was lucky enough to get propper Ford roof bars for my car for £35 inc P+P.

Best thing you can do is to put a shout out for your car model and see if anyone has any lirking about, as its best to go perminent that a temporary fix.

Hi Rich

Been trying to find roof bars or a roof rack for my R reg Toyota Rav 4 for ages but no-one seems to have any on the cheap. All too expensive for me........ oh well maybe just keep saving the pennies hey?

laura

They are suitable for motorways as well as shorter trips.  I have found it a very versatile piece of kit.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=228

Cheers  Ratty

Have you thought about one of these

http://www.rackinabag.co.uk/

Cool, no i had not seen those but don't think that it would fit as my boot door opens sideways and not upwards.

Laura

My dad has the HandiRack for use when we go to their place in France - primarily for lugging his kayak from the holiday cottage to the beach. A few weeks ago we used it on his Ford Puma and on my classic Mini and we had no real problems as long as all the straps are done tightly and you use roads that aren't too bumpy (otherwise the air in the rack can create a bit of bounce).

All weight-bearing racks (roof-racks or roof bars) for my Mini attach to the side gutters and I was a little unsure about putting weight directly onto my rounded roof but it wasn't too bad. Because we were just pottering locally we never got to test it at higher speeds though.