Topbags?

[Sparticus]

Looking at getting a topbag for camping in my new Bongo. (Lack storage space for a topbox)
Anyone got one? would anyone have any advice please?
The one on the BongyFury site is a reasonable price, but there is little info. about it, like is it waterproof.

argos has a cheap one with reviews of it splitting on first use, this is what I want to avoid.

Argos £50
bongoFury £60
Thule Nomad £120
Xl Car Roof Traveltouring Top Cargo Pack £60 http://www.roofboxstore.org.uk/xl-car-r ... s-for-bars

[Gasy]

I've got one made by classic accessory s
Great bit of kit 2 bags one is a wheeled holdall
One is a large bag
They both clip together and have straps to clip to roof
And you get a cover that goes over the top with extra straps
They both have waterproof zips with flaps
Never been really wet
Used it quite abit warring well
Same colour as one in your link
Think it was about £70 5/6 years ago

[winchman]

I got a £30 Ebay roof box and just leave it on all the time, make no difference to my MPG

[Sparticus]

Read the reviews of all the bags here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=roof+bags

the only one to have good reviews was the Thurle Nomad, so that's the way I'm leaning.

can't leave a topbox on, need to put canoes on!

[Simon Jones]

I've used Thule Ranger with good results. Ideal for use on channel ferries as you can arrive at the port with it empty so you can sneak in under their height restrictions for lower price categories and then you can fill it back up when you get off the other side.

If you have an AFT, the spacing between the threaded inserts will be too far apart for most roof boxes / bags without modification. If it's a tintop, then you can just fit the bars wherever you need them. I've used mine on a safari style rack:

[Sparticus]

I have an AFT.
I was thinking of putting on some roof bars, but that roof rack of yours is very cool. And is that a ladder on the back?

[Simon Jones]

Cheers - it is a beast of a roof rack and yes, the ladder at the back did come in handy to get up to it. I have re-incarnated that roof rack a few times including for use with a couple of kayaks:



Since getting a new van with later style Aero roof which is slightly different, I tend to use a long thin roof box on stainless tubular bars. As I recall the bars are about 120cm or 140cm apart, so I had to drill extra holes in the base of the box to suit the spacing:

[Sparticus]

Is that a bespoke rack?
And where can I get that ladder? Apart from being useful, my twin boys would pay for it themselves, to have a that on the back of the Bongo!

[Chris-W]

I didn't know anyone ever took those bags seriously. I thought they were for people that desperately wanted the Thule brand name but couldn't properly afford it, and couldn't possibly be seen with a Halfords topbox.

[Sparticus]

People have different needs, varying requirements. My neighbour bought a Porshe, I bought a Bongo.
Hadn't ever heard of a topbag 24hours ago. But I need more transport space when camping but have no garage and two bursting sheds.
Cost is not my first priority, storage space is. Labels don't even come into it. If I needed a topbox, it would't worry me if Durex made it (come to think of it, that would be quite a statement!)

I have some hard suitcases in the loft. (Hard as in ridged, not as in well tough) but generally when travelling we've opted for soft bags; easier to fit in the car (pre bongo), easier to move, stack and put away when not in use. I would assume, that the same holds true for a top box vs a top bag.

[Simon Jones]

Is that a bespoke rack?
And where can I get that ladder? Apart from being useful, my twin boys would pay for it themselves, to have a that on the back of the Bongo!

The safari rack was available in Japan and they do come up for sale now again. There was one on eBay the other week starting at £400 but it didn't get any bids. At some point I'll put mine back together and sell it as I no longer use it. The kayak rack is a Kari Tec ELRR which I dont have much use for since I sold the kayaks. The tubular bars were courtesy of a member on the forum, but you can get them from Bongobits. The ladder was from eBay which I've had professionally vapour blasted and powder coated, and then I've rebuilt with new stainless steel bolts. I've got a couple more awaiting refurbishment, but they've already got potential new owners lined up. Just need to find the time to finish all my various projects...