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We are about to sell v. practical family car...loads of boot space and buy soft top car with enough boot space for a small handbag. Must be a mid-life crisis...

Anyway, in order to transport our tent/chairs/table/porta-potti and all the other essential (!) items, we are going to have to buy a trailer to tow and also bike racks.

Any advice on the best configuration would be much appreciated.

Never towed before. Need a fairly large capacity trailer. Don't know about bike rack on back of soft-top. Is it better on top of trailer or on tow bar. If on top that would make the load a bit high...

Sorry to sound completely ignorant... but I am. Read this website all the time and there is so much knowledge out there amongst you all!!

Thanks in advance,

Caroline

Witter do an excellent bike carrier which fits behind the tow ball. It fits and removes in seconds, I bought one from Indespension who fitted it all for less than the roof carrier I now use due to the removable tow bar replacing the fixed one.

The Addy is Here

the model number is ZX98

Thanks for that, oldbwl.

We're changing tents soon, too... and getting a Cabanon!

We've recently bought a Brenderup 1150s trailer with the flat (as opposed to ABS) hardtop option to which I intend to fit bike carriers. Apart from being a good solid platform to mount the bike carriers this option also offers us the security that we wanted as the lid is lockable.

The decision to go with the Brenderup was largely based on the recommendation of a colleague but I also did a fair amount of research and leg work looking at other options. I have no regrets with the decision made and would thoroughly recommend this brand to anyone.

All that said I'd be very surprised if we don't use almost all of the capacity of the boot still - after all nature abhors a vacuum!

I purchased my Brenderup from Anglian Trailer Centre who I found to be most helpful.

JayGee

Caroline

If it's any use i bought an Alliance 159 as seen on this link (though i didn't actually buy it from them)

New Forest Trailer Centre

Martin

Caroline

Like JayGee, we too bought a Brenderup (called Brenda) 1150s with the lockable hardtop roof.  We have since added the extension sides - 'cos we still couldn't fit everything in!!  We keep ours at the house with a waterproof covering over the top for additional protection, which means the all camp gear can stay in it all year round, freeing up space in the house/garage.

It is a top quality trailer, ideal for towing longer distances (has proper size wheels and a 'V' shaped draw bar).  We have got a towball bike carrier too and can carry  3 bikes/trailer at the same time.  Again, like JayGee, we had it in mind to fit bike carriers to the lid - but we have now taken to caravanning in preference to camping, so the trailer will have less use than we planned.

Having sung its praises, it has to be said it comes at a cost - Brenderups are very pricey.

Sorry for the delay in saying "thankyou" :-) for those suggestions. We haven't actually changed the car yet... still looking, but all this information is such a help. Thanks for taking the time to post replies. I'll keep you informed about what we do!

Caroline