Towbar Mounted Storage Box

[EcosseExile]

Good morning,

Does anyone use a towbar mounted storage box with their van? I'm after one to keep wet/dirty camping gear in, to free up space when travelling.

Ideally it would drop down like a bike rack to allow opening of the tailgate.

Does such a thing exist or have I dreamt it

 

[CAB]

Good morning,

Does anyone use a towbar mounted storage box with their van? I'm after one to keep wet/dirty camping gear in, to free up space when travelling.

Ideally it would drop down like a bike rack to allow opening of the tailgate.

Does such a thing exist or have I dreamt it

Towbox.

Very expensive, but useful for us.

Drops down, but as we have barn doors I have no idea if the tailgate will open.

If you were closer I would offer to try it on your towball, in fact if you are ever passing Manchester then feel free to drop in and try it on.



Edit: just seen it looks lopsided on that pic! But it was definitely straight

 

[CAB]

My mini 'review':

Team Leisuredrive

Happy to do so at the weekend, if that's ok? Yes that would be brilliant mate - appreciate it.

www.t6forum.com

 

[T6 Syd]

Nice!

A much less aesthetically pleasing option is Bak-Rak. Rack only with tumble mount and a waterproof roof bag, or a large plastic box that Bak-Rak or other outlets sell. Roof bags not great for security but no less so than when mounted on the roof! Gives the option of converting to carry bikes if wanted. Watch out for permitted tow bar weight, the Bak-Rak G4 can likely take more than allowed by the tow bar/ vehicle, 120kg but don't forget to add the weight of the rack/box bags weigh less . Don't have photos, sorry, but check the website.

Thule and others also do basic racks, including tilting ones, to fit your own box/bag to.

Depending on the type of box the 'separates' systems may approach the cost of the Towbox. Not sure whether Towbox has the option of removing the box for versatility.

 

[EcosseExile]

Towbox.

Very expensive, but useful for us.

Drops down, but as we have barn doors I have no idea if the tailgate will open.

If you were closer I would offer to try it on your towball, in fact if you are ever passing Manchester then feel free to drop in and try it on.

View attachment 178780

Edit: just seen it looks lopsided on that pic! But it was definitely straight

That's awesome. Thanks for the kind offer. That's exactly the type of thing I'm after. Don't mind spending the money, if it's good quality.

 

[joe_j_barnes]

I bought Thule bike rack to house the Thule bag been superb tilts to allow my tailgate to open

We’re family if four so bought Thule bags to fit inside so we all have own with limited space this thing makes such a difference and the bags help our organisation

 

[T6 Syd]

@joe_j_barnes Off topic and sorry to butt in on the original thread, but as per the photo above does the pop top cope with the roof box on when open, can you leave anything in it or do you have to remove everything when you want the pop top open?

 

[joe_j_barnes]

I normally load and remove box before lifting can cope when empty but don’t really bother.

 

[Shaun Witts]

Nice!

A much less aesthetically pleasing option is Bak-Rak. Rack only with tumble mount and a waterproof roof bag, or a large plastic box that Bak-Rak or other outlets sell. Roof bags not great for security but no less so than when mounted on the roof! Gives the option of converting to carry bikes if wanted. Watch out for permitted tow bar weight, the Bak-Rak G4 can likely take more than allowed by the tow bar/ vehicle, 120kg but don't forget to add the weight of the rack/box bags weigh less . Don't have photos, sorry, but check the website.

Thule and others also do basic racks, including tilting ones, to fit your own box/bag to.

Depending on the type of box the 'separates' systems may approach the cost of the Towbox. Not sure whether Towbox has the option of removing the box for versatility.

I have had a Bak-Rak before (though not on the van) and can confirm it does a good job. I was very pleased with it and used it for both bike carriage and camping stuff so it is quite versatile. I actually sold it to someone to use on their RV.

 

[Chris Sherwood]

I have just come across this solution, it may be useful for someone here...

The carrier is only 1780mm long and 350mm wide due to its compact design with folded light carrier. Thus, access to the rear and loading of the vehicle is possible without acrobatic interludes.
When the carrier plate is pulled out, the support foot automatically moves down and absorbs the forces that are generated on the pull-out side. The advantage of this device is that the vehicle remains stable and does not tilt.

Video of it in use at the bottom of their page - Heckträgersystem

 

[CAB]

I have just come across this solution, it may be useful for someone here...

The carrier is only 1780mm long and 350mm wide due to its compact design with folded light carrier. Thus, access to the rear and loading of the vehicle is possible without acrobatic interludes.
When the carrier plate is pulled out, the support foot automatically moves down and absorbs the forces that are generated on the pull-out side. The advantage of this device is that the vehicle remains stable and does not tilt.

Video of it in use at the bottom of their page - Heckträgersystem


View attachment 180248

I don't know if that is hideous, or genius, or both!!

 

[Green Giant]

Thule do one called easybase, you can put a box or bag on, they come up on auction sites now and then

 

[Gstar]

Hi all,

Im looking for some help with this, after reading almost all the available threads on additional storage Im still in deliberation!

Im looking for a solution to mounting a storage platform to my towbar without spending £1000! I know the Thule Velo XT bike rack and box is a perfect end product but its very expensive and after having a new 6.1 fully converted, Im skint!

I've looked at the Thule easy storage platform but I understand you cant open a rear tailgate, although I have read that some mods such as cuttting down the rear support mounts can help? I want to be able to carry bike every now and again but essentially its storage for awning, chairs, wetsuits etc..

There is the Cryuz Apex system which is a storage rack that tilts, I've read several posts that suggest you can open the rear tailgate with these but also several that say you cant!

I plan to use a cargo bag from amazon or similar and would like to be able to open the rear of the van if possible so I dont have to remove every time, Im thinking days at the beach when I may have the rack in place with kit in and dont want to unload to get to the rear of the van etc, the Cruz system tilts, but not sure if its far enough?

The Buzz Pro looks good as a rack and I think the without the rear bar in place it might work, but has no future capability as a bike rack etc.

If any knows of a solution which doesnt include spending £1k upwards then Id love to hear about it.

Thx in advance

 

[MyOtherCarIsA]

Probably not quite what you're after, but might give you an ideas...

I have a Thule 9503 towbar mounted bike rack. I took the bike holders off it (just a few bolts) and knocked up a frame with some steel box, that I then slotted three Strata 150L storage boxes into. The tilt function still works, so the boot can be opened.

I suppose it's a bit Heath Robinson, but it cost me less than a hundred quid in total (granted, I already had the bike rack, but you can pick one up for £100 on eBay - they're a lot more common than the storage racks)

 

[Gstar]

I think

Probably not quite what you're after, but might give you an ideas...

I have a Thule 9503 towbar mounted bike rack. I took the bike holders off it (just a few bolts) and knocked up a frame with some steel box, that I then slotted three Strata 150L storage boxes into. The tilt function still works, so the boot can be opened.

I suppose it's a bit Heath Robinson, but it cost me less than a hundred quid in total (granted, I already had the bike rack, but you can pick one up for £100 on eBay - they're a lot more common than the storage racks)

I think this might be the route I have to go down as there isnt a product on the market that ticks all the boxes I need! I did like the look of the Cruz Apex platform as this is a flat platform and tilts, I just cant get a conclusive answer on whether it works! This would be easy to attach a seperate box / bespoke solution to. I might just hav eto buy one and send it back if it doest work!

 

[Savannr]

I bought Thule bike rack to house the Thule bag been superb tilts to allow my tailgate to open

We’re family if four so bought Thule bags to fit inside so we all have own with limited space this thing makes such a difference and the bags help our organisation

View attachment 178979

Just wondering, is this the thule XT2 or XT3 bike rack? And I assume due to weight restrictions you can't use the cargo box and carry bikes on the rack above at the same time? Sorry for the questions! Just bought our van and weighing up different options

 

[JonriceT6]

Towbox.

Very expensive, but useful for us.

Drops down, but as we have barn doors I have no idea if the tailgate will open.

If you were closer I would offer to try it on your towball, in fact if you are ever passing Manchester then feel free to drop in and try it on.

View attachment 178780

Edit: just seen it looks lopsided on that pic! But it was definitely straight

Hi mate. Does your barn doors open ok with this box on?

 

[MCt6]

Take a look at: BackBox - mft transport systems | mit freude transportieren

 

[CAB]

Hi mate. Does your barn doors open ok with this box on?

No.

Enough to reach in and get stuff, and I can fit the water carrier through, but can't use as an exit.

Can open them by maybe 30 degrees?

 

[JonriceT6]

No.

Enough to reach in and get stuff, and I can fit the water carrier through, but can't use as an exit.

Can open them by maybe 30 degrees?

Not the answer I was looking for haha