Where does everyone store all there gear when going on a trip? Roof rack bags, in car, trailers, et

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Thanks Roger! I love the look of the Exped Mega mats. Are they durable also??

Rob, we have had ours 2 and a half years, total camping nights probably in the order of 14-15 weeks. One failed at the inflate valve and leaked in the first six months, and was replaced without question.

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

I use both the Exped Megamat and the Malamoo 3 second tent, but then these days there's only me in the vehicle when touring.

The Megamat is the comfiest self inflating mattress I've ever slept on, the easiest to deflate and smallest (for its size) when rolled up.

The Malamoo really does open up in 3 seconds, but takes a couple of minutes to fold up and it hasn't hit me in the chin once yet, but part of it has shot out from the side and hit me in the shins a few times . Once again its nice and compact when packed away but really is just a one man tent. I've never had to peg it down once my bedding etc is inside and you can walk around with it opened up until you find the perfect spot.

Here's a pic of my Malamoo at Palm Spring, east of Halls Creek (with the Megamat and sleeping bag inside).

[SimpleSi Member Find all posts View Profile Close SimpleSi]

P.S. The only trailer I would ever consider towing is one with a boat on it.

Recently took the tinny to Moreton purely for its carrying capacity!



Looking at that pic shows how heavy we were. Dragged the hitch through the sand around Cowan and got bogged. Need to learn to pack better.... and need a 2"lift

[jamieprado Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamieprado]

Like most, I have the usual drawers/fridge in the back and soft bedding in the middle row next to my 3 year old. On the Rhino platform rack I carry the OZtent and a custom canvas roof top bag made by www.infrontcanvas.com.au plus 2x milk crates in canvas bags also made by them (good for storing oils, greasy, dirty, smelly stuff you don't want in the cabin), also have a large rear wheel bag made by them which i'd say would be their best product.

If buying from www.infrontcanvas.com.au wait for a sale as they always have something on. At the moment it's 45% off everything - code is “ Australia day” use untill 26th Jan

The only thing I would say about their roof top bags is don't tie them down too tight using their tie downs as the canvas can tear along the seam and create a leak as mine did, now having it reinforced.

Good luck!

[RobCrick Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobCrick]

Hi Jamieprado, i love the idea of the milk crates in canvas bags!! Strong, light and protected!! Cheers, Rob

Like most, I have the usual drawers/fridge in the back and soft bedding in the middle row next to my 3 year old. On the Rhino platform rack I carry the OZtent and a custom canvas roof top bag made by www.infrontcanvas.com.au plus 2x milk crates in canvas bags also made by them (good for storing oils, greasy, soiled, smelly stuff you don't want in the cabin), also have a large rear wheel bag made by them which i'd say would be their best product.

If buying from www.infrontcanvas.com.au wait for a sale as they always have something on. At the moment it's 45% off everything - code is “ Australia day” use untill 26th Jan

The only thing I would say about their roof top bags is don't tie them down too tight using their tie downs as the canvas can tear along the seam and create a leak as mine did, now having it reinforced.

Good luck!

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

My wife is petite, but it never stops surprising me how much stuff is stored in her foot well! Food, bags, maps, drinks, her feet (somewhere), some tools, gloves, tyre deflator, compressor line and tyre pump, clothing, hats, and then everything I cannot recognise that needs to be in easy reach.

There was a time where I braked and she hadn't fastened her seat belt. She actually slid into the footwell, all of her!

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Mate of mine swears by a four man tent. Him, his missus and her makeup.

[RobCrick Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobCrick]

Another question to see if anyone has faced the same dilemma; I have recently purchased the new F25DX Jettent. I was planning on putting it on the roof racks when we go away just for weekends, however it ways about 40kg.... whilst I can lift it, getting it roof rack height safely is going to pose a challenge. Has anyone any solutions to this problem??

[jamieprado Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamieprado]

Hi Rob,
I have a F30X in the garage and yes, when i used it it was a real balancing act being so heavy. You could try fitting one of these Rhino Rollers...



Cheers,
Jamie

[RobCrick Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobCrick]

Hi Rob,
I have a F30X in the garage and yes, when i used it it was a real balancing act being so heavy. You could try fitting one of these Rhino Rollers...



Cheers,
Jamie

yeah good idea Jamie, I had thought of something similiar but didn't know if there was a product on the market like this. Thanks I will look into it further. Cheers.

Also, how have you liked the F30X??

I set up the F25DX tonight for a trial and whilst it is an awesome tent, it is quite big and there is a fair bit of time setting it up with all ropes and poles and side panels, etc...

[jamieprado Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamieprado]

PM sent to keep thread on topic...

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

Pondering this same problem - where the hell does everything fit! Trying to pack for 2 adults and 3 kids for 3 weeks for a trip to central Australia and back across the Simpson.

It's items like the second spare, 2 x jerry's of extra fuel and c100-150 litres of water that are throwing a spanner in the works! Second issue is its a work vehicle, so loathe to splash out on a set of drawers just for the trip (plus the issue of having to to pull the third row seats out, which we use a lot the rest of the time, everytime I want to use the drawers).

We pack pretty lite and use the foot-wells under the kids for small stuff - but....

On the verge of going down the off-road trailer (not camper) route - works out about the same cost as a set of drawers + barrier and upgrading my Aldi roof rack to a Pioneer platform - only concern is crossing the Simpson with it.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hi Rob,
I have a F30X in the garage and yes, when i used it it was a real balancing act being so heavy. You could try fitting one of these Rhino Rollers...

I've purchased one of those for my Pioneer Platform for the purpose of getting the cargo box and Black Wolf Turbo Tent on the roof. They are made to fit on to the back of the platform with brackets that slot into the channels on the rack. I haven't fitted it yet as the rack will need to come off to do it (need to drill from underneath plus possibly trim width of roller, depends on rack model).

The Black Wolf weighs approx 30kgs and while we can get it across the back seat of the 150 it does limit packing room. We also put a large cargo box purchased from Masters on the roof and put all the light stuff up there like pots and pans, etc. The only issue with the box is you pretty much have to pack and unpack it after the box is already on the roof, would be too heavy to get up there fully packed.

[Retreads Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Retreads]

Just re-reading this post and noticed you mention you store your webber on the roof, Any chance you could send a pic or two? I am interested in doing the same but haven't quite worked out how to secure it along with all the other garbage I store up there (oztent, gas bottle, rhino luggage bag, maxtrax etc.

Hi Rob

Tent, chairs, tables, tarp, poles, webber, gas bottle all go on the Rhino Platform on the roof. All cooking, eating equipment, plus any food in tins or bottle goes in the drawer as well as any tools or fishing stuff. Excess food goes in containers above the drawers, as well as stuff like buckets, clothes and other stuff. All sleeping stuff goes on the 2/3 rds of the back seat not taken up by our 8 year old daughter.

We are always looking at what we can leave behind next time to try and keep gear to a minimum, does not always work.

We both use Exped Mega mats, the most comfortable self inflating we have ever used. In winter we use sleeping bags, that end up fairly small, summer we just take normal sheets. Tent is a Kodiak 10x14, does not have a lot of poles. We are always on the lookout for gear that folds up smaller.

Here is what our car looked like loaded up for 3 weeks at Fraser just before Christmas
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Regards Roger

P.S. The only trailer I would ever consider towing is one with a boat on it.

[RobboPrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RobboPrado]

Thanks Mike, you have made up my mind, I won't get a roof rack. I just bought a Prado (fully city base one), have a wife and one kid and never gone on very long distance trips so was thinking about need for roof rack, fridge, extra fuel, water etc.

I don't think we will get a fridge either, save on needing to get dual battery system and also storage space. Extra fuel I don't think is needed, as our VX has 180L petrol tank, so that is about 900km+ I reckon and there is normally some form of petrol station within 400km of anywhere we have gone so far ie. across Nullabor Plains, and Adelaide through to Uluru.

My personal opinion: if you need a roof rack you carry too much stuff (no offence to somebody who uses one).

But personal experience of friends with lost roof racks (including solid big brand names), the additional height and higher center of gravity PLUS me than having the honour of getting everything up and down was limiting me to the inside of the car only.
Similar goes for trailers as it was limiting my options where to get to, was adding additional complexity and weight.

And hey, we managed with two kids, full camping gear, fridge, 40 litres of Jerry cans, 50 litres of water etc to cross the Simpson in a Prado 95 without roof rack or trailer.

What helped was:
- down feather sleeping bags which compress much better than hollow fibre (but you have to make sure they don't get damp otherwise they loose a lot of insulation capabilities)
- Small rest-therm self-inflating mattresses
-A drawer system in the back with fridge slide and cargo barrier
- Taking out the smaller part of the back seat for long range trip for additional storage box when the kids where little
- Nylon tent as they are smaller and lighter than canvas (it is said that canvas last longer but my oldest nylon tent is now close to 30 years, next younger is 20 years, 10 years and two years, I still use all of them depending on the situation)

nowadays we use (only two of us) :
-Black Wolf Turbo 240 (nylon not canvas)
-Leave all the back seats in
-Expedite sleeping mats ( larger but we need only two)
-Still same drawer system which moved from the 95 to the 120
-Larger hollow fibre sleeping bags which require more space but more resilient in case they get a bit wet
-65 liter flexitank between drawer system and side trim

Still no need for a roof rack even for the Simpson / Madigan line we did last September ;-)

Hope that helps

Cheers
Mike