Towbar mounted carry boxes?

BillK · 26 January 2022, 16:59

Hi folks. I’m looking into fitting a towbar mounted carry box to my campervan. This will carry part of my SIB. I think the Thule ones have a 45 kgs limit, so could carry the outboard and bulky but light items. Boat itself can go on the roof. So does anyone have any experience of this type of system? I’m trying to avoid using a trailer… many thanks..Bill.

jeffstevens763@g · 26 January 2022, 18:17

There are some rated at 100kg bill I’ve seen one on the back landrover look ok too.

Old seahorse · 26 January 2022, 19:09

Hi BillK, have a look at post ‘ Towbar carriers ‘ in trailers and towing section, using search facility.
It was about racks rather than boxes, but might be some help.
There are also waterproof bags on the market to fit on them.

BillK · 27 January 2022, 10:27

Thanks!

citygent111 · 27 January 2022, 11:33

Bit of a random one, but we bought a towbar mounted bike rack (4 bikes) from Halfords. The upright bike supports fold flat which allows us to use the rack for transport, and we got a waterproof "roof bag" - Amazon Basics brand, which straps to the rack and is massive.

Proved really useful for camping as the dogs cage was in the boot and the roofbox is always full of crap!

BillK · 29 January 2022, 20:43

thanks, will look into that!

TmMorris · 05 February 2022, 19:19

I bought a rack via Excel Boats. I can't recall the rating. Either 75 or 100kg.

My boat is 66kg. As the hardest item to lug around that goes on the rack with the engine and other kit in the boot.

Tommy c · 05 February 2022, 20:33

One thing to keep in mind is what your actual car and towbar are designed to carry.
My zafira's towbar is only allowed to have 75kg on it as was my previous focus and before that vectra. Then subtract the weight of the carrier itself.
A towbars nose weight is approximately 5 to 7% of the vehicles towing capacity

beamishken · 06 February 2022, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy c

One thing to keep in mind is what your actual car and towbar are designed to carry.
My zafira's towbar is only allowed to have 75kg on it as was my previous focus and before that vectra. Then subtract the weight of the carrier itself.
A towbars nose weight is approximately 5 to 7% of the vehicles towing capacity

I'd be very wary of putting anywhere near the vehicles maximum nose weight on one of those racks. When a trailer is hung on all the nose weight is on the ball, with those racks it's much further back which actually increases the leverage affect of the bar. In effect they are leavering the rear of the car down which lifts the front of the car, the further back the load the worse the situation they will put stresses on the tow bar mounting points that they were never intended for & could result in damage to the vehicle structure. They will also have a bad affect on the vehicles handling due to a load hung behind the car like a pendulum & less weight on the front wheels. I'd be very cautious fitting one to a smaller monocoque vehicle. Less of an issue with a heavier 4x4 with a proper chassis but not for me on a smaller car. A small trailer will be far safer & carry far more imho

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

Kingsview · 15 February 2022, 00:28

I have one of these, it's solidly built and rated to 60kg load. It can be swivelled down to gain access to the boot without removing. I also got the optional two-bike adaptor kit.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rb...7B~cC4ure_i02d

BillK · 17 February 2022, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingsview

I have one of these, it's solidly built and rated to 60kg load. It can be swivelled down to gain access to the boot without removing. I also got the optional two-bike adaptor kit.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rb...7B~cC4ure_i02d

Thanks for that. It looks spot on and a good price too. How do you split the load. Outboard on the rack, plus parts of the boat.? I have a Mercury 20hp it weighs about 45 kgs, and my boat has an ally floor which probably would take it up to 65 kgs. I need to measure it all to see if it fits. Then the boat itself can go in the van. That’s my theory!

BillK · 17 February 2022, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TmMorris

I bought a rack via Excel Boats. I can't recall the rating. Either 75 or 100kg.

My boat is 66kg. As the hardest item to lug around that goes on the rack with the engine and other kit in the boot.

Thanks I rang them, out of stock til April but will consider..

Nasher · 17 February 2022, 12:22

I've been using a Towbar mounted bike rack for years, and find it extremely useful.

It's carried all sorts of things with the bike support frame removed.

This image is probably @13yrs old, and it has a bit more 'Patina' now.

BillK · 17 February 2022, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

I've been using a Towbar mounted bike rack for years, and find it extremely useful.

It's carried all sorts of things with the bike support frame removed.

This image is probably @13yrs old, and it has a bit more 'Patina' now.

Thanks Nasher. Seems like there are a few around. If I get one with 60-70 kgs load rating then I can carry the outboard plus floor boards on the back, then boat itself in its bag, in the van. Seems like this will be the way forward…

mm289 · 17 February 2022, 21:16

Some pics of mine on this thread https://www.rib.net/forum/f49/tow-ba...ers-86040.html

We out the Frib on the rack and engine in the boot

Cheers

MM