Thread: DRIVING STYLE WITH LOADED ROOF RACK

Originally Posted by Iain_B

There is a huge difference between going away for the weekend and going away for a few months to very remote places especially if you will not stay in a caravan park.

Absolutely but by the same token, it's no excuse for taking too much stuff and overloading the car beyond the GVW.

M

Originally Posted by Iain_B

So true, al oto f our stuff on the last trip was to be able to do things. We carry a 5.5m inflatable boat, 2.3hp outboard, life jackets, oars and paddles, safety flares etc, we also had snorkels and flippers . We have a small tent for when we go up river or off to islands and two lightweight sleeping bags as well. Our still and video camera gear is two large cases, tripod, monopod, reflector, flashes, two lap tops, chargers, back-up discs We both have hiking boots, and day packs and various hats. We carry a lounger, so my wife can get some rest from all the act ivies

When traveling for extended period, the weather varies from +40 degrees and sunny, to 5 degrees and raining. To cope with these extremes, you need different clothes and extra blankets. Total fire bans seem to be more common these days in National Parks.

We also have a pretty substantial first aid/medical kit for the car, and a smaller one for our day packs. We carry a small chemist shop around due to my wife's condition, and everything from cold and flu medicine, antibiotics to very strong pain killers.

Tools wise, full socket set and ring spanners, screw drivers, vice grips, pliers, crimping tool, we had an R&R Beadbreaker, and 3 tyre levers, but now have Tyrepliers which actually works a lot better. Axe, a small bow saw, hammer/pick, mini grease gun, fuel filter funnel (works great for taking out water and junk from dodgy servos)

Spares wise, fan belts, all the weird hose a Defender requires, set of wheel bearings, uni joints, shock rubbers, two fuel filters, two air filters, two oil filters and 10 litres of the fancy Land Rover oil, radiator stop leak, fuel tank repair putty , brake fluid, diff oil, rescue tape, fuses, small selection of nuts and bolts, self tapping, screws, relays, wire terminals, bulbs.

There is a huge difference between going away for the weekend and going away for a few months to very remote places especially if you will not stay in a caravan park.

I know people who love going out bush for a week or two with just a tarp and a few swags, but doing that for months on end, and having to cope with in all sorts of weather is a different story.

Our Unimog, whilst only a small one, will have a lot more gear (probably some folding mountain bikes and electric scooters and maybe even some scuba gear), as well plan to live in it for a few years. We have found it is the little luxury items, like the lounger, the Nespresso machine and our inflatable boat that makes things just that more enjoyable.

Yep, it's a challenge - I'm currently looking to reconfigure so I can carry my mtbs inside the truck - which is proving challenging!

CL I agree completely - I've probably weighed my truck and its contents as much as any out there!

On a positive note, at least we're all here discussing this issue rather than blindly bolting more and more crap onto trucks that have a limited load capacity (Patrols,etc) and not even giving GVM/COG a second thought!

FWIW to the OP, I'm trying to get my roof load down to 75kg max for handling and structural reasons.