Trailer vs Roofbox

[claireybeee]

Hi

We’re in the very early stages of planning to become camping converts! I’m trying to figure out which is going to be the better option longer term and what other seasoned campers would recommend. There’s four of us, husband and I and four and seven year old and we’ll be camping hopefully for weekends and week long holidays. What do you use to transport all of your camping gear and what would you recommend? Thanks!

www.amazon.co.uk/Litre-Roof-Rack-Cargo-Soft/dp/B0099K82F2?tag=mumsnetforum-21

My friend uses one of these as its easier to store than a hard roof box...

She has a big boot too tho.... what size car do you have?

I like a trailer as you can store things in there when not in use. You can also have it packed ready to go easier. But you have to have somewhere safe to keep it and be mindful of weight and driving license limits and buy a tow bar. Im not a fan of roof boxes as they are generally noisy (depending on the bars you get, sometimes just leaving the bars on causes an annoying noise in the car) and i have a completely irrational paranoia its going to rip off!!

Thanks for your replies. We only have a Honda Civic so not tiny but not a massive boot by any means. It already has a towbar should we decide to go with a trailer but would have to pay to store it somewhere which would add to the cost.

Do you have/plan to have a tow bar fitted bike rack? You can get something like this which folds up from Thule:

http://www.roofracks-roofboxes.co.uk/thule-easybag.html?utmsource=googleeshopping&gclid=CjwKCAiA4vbSBRBNEiwAMorERz3tuRt334og8QlbxZblvE1j6XMerYoZPU2dCTW3hklEJ77szq8fxoCRIoQAvDDBwE

Obviously can't use bikes at same time though but you could roof mount them.

We camp a lot (because ... boys) and have a 420L roofbox. Someone told me to spend money on the roofbars and economise on the actual box itself. Seems like good advice, the bars are very quiet at high speed.

I've not considered a trailer, as I have no where to store it when not using. I put the roof box on shed roof packed with camping gear and covered in tarp during winter.
The only thing with a trailer is that I may restrict parking options on route but apart from that they also seem a good option.

We have both and an estate car but our dog has the entire boot.

We use the roof box for weekends when we have stuff on the spare half of the backseat and use the trailer for anything longer.

When we use the trailer we have nothing in the car apart from people, dog and day bags which is really lovely on a long drive.

We can still put bikes on top of the car with the trailer, can still put a bike on top with the roof box but only one. We have never had any issues finding anywhere to park with the trailer on.

I wouldn't economise on the roof box. Ours is 13 years old and still as good as new.

Both...