Hitch or Roof Rack

[borealtransition]

I am thinking of getting either a roof rack or a hitch in order to carry more when I am camping or moving things.

Can anyone can offer advice or experience with one or the other. Does having a loaded roof use up more fuel than towing a small trailer on the highway? Which do people prefer? Which would people recommend?

Thanks

[patty]

all i gotta say is its really hard to find a good roof rack, though im picky as hell

[borealtransition]

Thanks Patty. Can you tell me what you are looking for in a roof rack?

[TardisDeli]

The TardisDeli went with the tow hitch, and a removable metal basket thingy from Princess Auto that we can use if we aren't towing a boat. The metal basket makes a great seating or cooking area underneath the open roof. Door still opens as the hitch is far enuf back from the bumper. Spare tire still underneath. Can carry crap like firewood in the basket easier than on the roof. also wanted to keep the centre of gravity low. Hitch from the usual place E&H Hitch in Burnaby. cheers, Christine,

[borealtransition]

Thanks Christine. That sounds pretty good.

[konadog]

I like the sounds of that "removable metal basket thingy from Princess Auto" any chance of a picture of TardisDeli kited up with it Christine? In our case though, we will be lugging our bikes back there so for us the choice for extra cargo space will be a roof rack. When making your own decision consider the nature of the trips you expect to take. If you are going to travel on lots of rough, tight backroads a trailer would be a real burden giving you another axle to get over and though any obstacles and two more tires to get flats, not to mention making turn-a-rounds a potential nightmare. Manoeuvring and parking in city situations with a trailer is more cumbersome too. I am comfortable dragging and manoeuvring a utility trailer and in fact do so everyday, but am sure happy when I can leave it at home. I can see that accessing stuff on the roof is awkward and for sure reduces your fuel efficiency (I suspect more so than a trailer, but don't know for sure), but your stuff is more compact and together in the one machine. My 2 cents on the issue anyway

[borealtransition]

Thanks Konadog, that's just the kind of advice I am looking for.

[patty]

i am looking for almost a full length safari rack (need alittle sopace for future light bar) that fairly light, and because im a low roof i want one thats close to my roof,which basically means its got to be custome,luckley i got a freind who is a steal fabricater....though hes probably very bitter seeing that he made me one already and i didint liek it so didint take it.

[borealtransition]

Yes that is quite specific. Thanks Patty and good luck with that.

[mararmeisto]

I am thinking of getting either a roof rack or a hitch in order to carry more when I am camping or moving things.

Can anyone can offer advice or experience with one or the other. Does having a loaded roof use up more fuel than towing a small trailer on the highway? Which do people prefer? Which would people recommend?

Thanks

Don't think about "either/or" - get both! Okay, the Moon Machine came with a rack (lucked out we did), but we added a ladder (to get to the rack) and a hitch (for the trailers).

As for fuel economy, these vehicle are what I refer to as 'rolling bricks' - they ain't terribly aerodynamic, if you get my drift. That being said, I've found more of a decrease towing a trailer than mounting the rack (we took the rack off for a while, but put it back on).

Which is more useful? Put stuff up top that your not going to use all that often on the rack (like the spare tire or the extra fuel cans), and put the stuff you're taking out all the time in the trailer (like the tent, the bikes, the food, etc). That's what we've been doing.

[borealtransition]

Thanks J. Paul. I was thinking about getting both and may just do that.

[Adam]

I like the sounds of that "removable metal basket thingy from Princess Auto" any chance of a picture of TardisDeli kited up with it Christine?

The hitch baskets look to be on sale at CDN Tire this week for $151. I like the design of them better than the Princess Auto ones that don't fold up towards the vehicle, they are the butterfly style folding baskets.

[GREENME@U]

wow thats looks good i what that one!

[mdrive]

we do have folding hitch basket, let me know if you are interested. for delica.ca members $120.00

[Erebus]

I'm planning on a rooftop rack and ladder combination. I do like the idea of the hitch basket for easy access, but see two disadvantages: easier to steal from, and on gravel/dirt roads the stuff in the basket will get covered in crud.