Passengers: Two adults, 1 year-old kid, & a pug.
Cargo: tent, blow-up mattress, clothes for a week, full-size cooler.

I'm thinking I definately need more cargo space.

Options I have come up with so far.

Roof rack with cargo carrier ($$$).
Roof rack with cargo bag ($$, probable noise)
Cargo bag with door hooks ($, scary)

Deck (trunk) rack (great idea esp for FE, but they are only made for roadsters as far as I can tell:


Any other ideas? I'd like to spend less than $200.

Thanks, Ian

 

Pricey, but neat @ $369

 

I think it's hard to use the words "roof" and "less than $200" in the same sentance. A Yakima or Thule setup will probably run around $200 just for the towers, clips and bars, and you get what you pay for in terms of cargo boxes. We bought a cheap Rocket Box it was a real PITA. We ended up returning it for a Thule Evolution ($400) and have been very happy.

Even so, the rack isn't supposed to hold more than 115 pounds IIRC so you need to be strategic with packing (bulky, light stuff goes on top).

If you were in Colorado, I'd let you borrow my setup. You might look around your area and see if anyone has stuff to lend.

Edit: That trunk rack would SUCK if you needed something out of the trunk

 

Yes, those Thule racks are ideal and many look quite aerodynamic. Like you said, I'd be looking at $700+.

The idea is to save money from flying all over the place, by going on camping road-trips for awhile.

Personally, I'd bungee a big duffel on the trunk-mounted roof rack. When I needed to get in the trunk, take the duffel off. I don't think it'd be that bad.

Thanks for the input and offer, though.

 

Well, if this is something you will be doing frequently, one pop of $700 would be way less than two (three?) plane tickets and dog boarding. Alternatively, the boxes are big and difficult to store. We have ours hanging from the garage on a pulley system so it's out of the way. I would say with two people, you could put the rack and the box on in less than 10 minutes.

I have not put the box on the HCHII yet, but we did a week long trip in Yellowstone with it last summer on the Protoge. With the Evolution, you can easily get in the box from both sides which makes organization much easier. If there is a chance you'll ever be camping in bear country, it's nice to have easy access to the trunk (which reminds me, I never posted pictures of the bear paws on the HCH window did I?).

We got very good mileage on that trip--38mpg in Yellowstone with a huge silver sarcaphogus on the roof in the Protoge (31mpg EPA highway). I am looking forward to trying the box on the HCH, but so far we've only done weekend trips where it hasn't been needed.

 

Again, that is ideal and the news about the FE is good to hear.

We are just beginning to get started camping as a family. I'm sure the gear will get better as we go.

We have a trunk-mounted Yakima rack that I think will fit our HCHII (I have to double check), so I am not dying to buy a roof system.

And after looking at the panel grabbing hooks the rack uses, I am inclined to experiment with mounting our waterproof duffel to the top of the trunk. It should not hinder trunk access.

I am still in discovery phase.

Thanks for your help and encouragement. Gives me something to save up for.

Ian

 

I like this, but it's for hatches:


http://www.autorucksack.de/index.html

 

What about this?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...131&hasJS=true

I think it weighs 50 lbs.

Etrailer:
http://www.etrailer.com/productdetai...rfrom=2006&h=e
States it's capacity is 200lbs for tonue weight, but to check your owner's manual.


Our owners manual (2006)
States on page 159:
Load Limits
The maximum load for your vehicle
is 850 lbs (385 kg) for U.S.A, 395 kg
for Canada. This figure includes the
total weight of all occupants, cargo,
and accessories, and the tongue load
if you are towing a trailer.

 

That looks like a bad idea - absolutely zero rear visibility. And even if you could drop the bag to the upper lid of the bumper, it would block access to the hatchback handle and be the first thing that drivers behind you would crush in a rear-end collision, damaging its contents. I wouldn't recommend this option.

 

HA!

See I'm okay with the loss in rear visibility. Now that I drive the speed limit, I keep the rv-mirror in night mode all the time -- rarely checking it.

It's the best way I can deal with tail-gaters!