Camping with an MX5 , an answer ?
Discussion
I have just seen the answer to how transport sufficient luggage and equipment in/on an MX5 , in order to have a comfortable camping holiday , and at the same time enjoy being able to enjoy to roads here in the Dordogne region of France .
We are on a caravan/camping site here , and a Dutch couple have just turned up in their Mk2 with one of these on the back of the car
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/cargo-carrier/towba...
It raises one or two question in my mind ,
Firstly it requires a towbar to be fitted , I thought they were unavailable as the car is not type approved , although the Dutch chap tells me for a bicycle carrier a towbar can be fitted ?
The load capacity is 45kg , how much camping gear can you get out of 45kg .and can the towbar mounting points support that weight plus the strain of the inertia of the weight on the mountings
Handling , The Dutch chap said the car is definitely down on the rear and he can feel it in the way the car handles , so no hacking round the bends etc , and looking at the car , the rear suspension is well compressed .
But still Very interesting .
A photo will follow when I can get an alternative to PB sorted
We are on a caravan/camping site here , and a Dutch couple have just turned up in their Mk2 with one of these on the back of the car
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/cargo-carrier/towba...
It raises one or two question in my mind ,
Firstly it requires a towbar to be fitted , I thought they were unavailable as the car is not type approved , although the Dutch chap tells me for a bicycle carrier a towbar can be fitted ?
The load capacity is 45kg , how much camping gear can you get out of 45kg .and can the towbar mounting points support that weight plus the strain of the inertia of the weight on the mountings
Handling , The Dutch chap said the car is definitely down on the rear and he can feel it in the way the car handles , so no hacking round the bends etc , and looking at the car , the rear suspension is well compressed .
But still Very interesting .
A photo will follow when I can get an alternative to PB sorted
I spent over a week in Scotland with my brother camping in my previous NC. I had no extra luggage spaces at all, pack most stuff without putting them in bags. If you do use bags for clothes use soft ones. I also found I could fit loads of stuff in the parcel shelf, plus I also found I could fit in carry mats and quite a few other things in there with the roof down as well, just need to put it in with the roof half way down before clicking it into place. You've also got the cubby holes behind the seats and you can put things in behind the seats. He car was rammed but we still managed to pack beers and wine into it all.
OverSteery said:
Whilst I could be wrong, I would expect type approval is only needed to tow something.
Is it a nasty place to put a load on a car - hanging so far out behind the rear wheels.
I would also check with insurance company's, they might not take kindly to a mod that isn't supposed to be there at all whether you are towing or not. Get rear ended and the damage may be put on you for having a tow bar attached when the car isn't approved for one. VOSA might be able to help advise on it as wellIs it a nasty place to put a load on a car - hanging so far out behind the rear wheels.
http://www.ntta.co.uk
I've asked these if they can give info about putting a towbar on a NC. I was previously thinking of getting one so I could carry my bicycles a lot easier but never looked into it in much detail.
Finding one that fits is hard as no-one really builds them outside the USA for the MX-5 although you could order one to be shipped over such as the Curt Hitch
http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/find?year=2010&...
I've asked these if they can give info about putting a towbar on a NC. I was previously thinking of getting one so I could carry my bicycles a lot easier but never looked into it in much detail.
Finding one that fits is hard as no-one really builds them outside the USA for the MX-5 although you could order one to be shipped over such as the Curt Hitch
http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/find?year=2010&...
I have one of these available: https://boot-bag.com/store/boot-bags/boot-bag-orig...
Bought last Christmas for use on my S2000 for the annual Le Mans trip but I then bought a Boxster (which has two boots!) and the Honda is now for sale. The bag has never been used. Mail me if interested.
Bought last Christmas for use on my S2000 for the annual Le Mans trip but I then bought a Boxster (which has two boots!) and the Honda is now for sale. The bag has never been used. Mail me if interested.
Plenty of room for one person, I imagine if you go without such a large toolbox you could fit a 2nd sleeping bag and ground mat in there the passengers clothes back might need to go in the foot well.
A couple of expansion options being:
1. Boot rack you can fit a few rucksacks on for a couple of hundred £ on mx5parts
2. Hardtop, if you are going roof up the whole time you can fit a couple of bags behind the seats, suits me well in winter, would kind of suck in summer.
Pack light.
Cheaper solution could be http://www.boot-bag.com/mx5.htm , as long as you keep heavy stuff in the boot and slighter stuff on the boot.
I went even cheaper and bought a pair of 40L dry bags indented for motorbike touring (http://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/motorbike-drybag.html), plus some protective matting and soft ratchet straps. Severed me well for some big camping trips, in all weathers too:
I went even cheaper and bought a pair of 40L dry bags indented for motorbike touring (http://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/motorbike-drybag.html), plus some protective matting and soft ratchet straps. Severed me well for some big camping trips, in all weathers too:
OverSteery said:
Whilst I could be wrong, I would expect type approval is only needed to tow something.
Is it a nasty place to put a load on a car - hanging so far out behind the rear wheels.
I have to agree,'re overhang ,I just posed the question to gauge opinion.Is it a nasty place to put a load on a car - hanging so far out behind the rear wheels.
For my self ,we did a 3 week tour of France,roughly,anticlockwise ,staying in small hotels.taking in some of the.best driving roads in the country
My solution to the luggage problem,was to obtain a second hand boot lid,ebay, and to bolt on a stainless MX5 parts boot rack,again ebay, this I was able to load up without fear of straps or brackets coming loose.
Supplemented with soft travel bags,and small powered cold box on the boot rack ,we had a great time
SmilerFTM said:
http://www.ntta.co.uk
I've asked these if they can give info about putting a towbar on a NC. I was previously thinking of getting one so I could carry my bicycles a lot easier but never looked into it in much detail.
Finding one that fits is hard as no-one really builds them outside the USA for the MX-5 although you could order one to be shipped over such as the Curt Hitch
http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/find?year=2010&...
Just quickly going back to this the ntta said don't bother, you may struggle legally, with insurance. Mind he did try and say the ball would be the wrong size of you but an American one but it's the exact same size we use.I've asked these if they can give info about putting a towbar on a NC. I was previously thinking of getting one so I could carry my bicycles a lot easier but never looked into it in much detail.
Finding one that fits is hard as no-one really builds them outside the USA for the MX-5 although you could order one to be shipped over such as the Curt Hitch
http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/find?year=2010&...
That boot open pic up ^^^^^ shows MX5 has much bigger boot than my Fiat.
Those boxes linked in the OP are huge but you can only put 45 kg in it ?
Although having a huge weight hanging off the back is bound to make steering light.
I've done 2 weeks camping with the Fiat,solo but I take nearly all my food n drink with me so it all goes in the boot somehow.
Those boxes linked in the OP are huge but you can only put 45 kg in it ?
Although having a huge weight hanging off the back is bound to make steering light.
I've done 2 weeks camping with the Fiat,solo but I take nearly all my food n drink with me so it all goes in the boot somehow.
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