Extra trunk?

[Benur]

Hi all, while waiting for my first test and official prices in both Spain and France I have one question that Google could not answer...

I've seen several configurations to carry stuff "in" the 7, such as the funny:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/Sciroccolog...

but I want to know if there is the possibility of adding easyly a rack on the rear or similar, such as:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3437908786_8c2...

I've seen Morgans with it, but not on a 7 (which by the way the only not so pretty thing it has is "the butt" IMHO).

As the nearest mountain roads are about two hours ride from where I live, the idea would be to be able to safely carry some luggage in order to be able to stay overnight somewhere with my speed limiter (aka girlfriend) :-)

Thanks

PS: Not something so radical as this: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/carrying-b...

[pipnjones]

There are at least four good options here.
1) Companies like Soft Bits for Sevens make extra bags that sit above the boot space.
2) I have a luggage rack that hooks on to the spare tyre and the spare tyre bracket (as shown in your photo). It can be bought from Caterham.
3) if you have no spare tyre, there are cases that can be hooked on to the back of the car, but I don't know where they can be bought.
4) change to a lower maintenance girlfriend. We just spent a weekend in Holland and our boot area was only half full. If you need another case for a weekend, you are doing it wrong.

[Benur]

Hahahaha, thanks for your answer. Well, OK, my favorite option would be 3, as I think that:

1) IMHO the extra boot bag is expensive and not adding too much space (and then, where do you put the rolled roof?)
2) no, no extra tyre in my mind
3) has anybody an idea of where to find this? As you have guessed my English is not very good and I don't know what words to use to Google it
4) can you believe it is me the one carrying a lot of stuff everywhere? My girl has a 10 in all the possible fields :-) By the way, she is as excited with the potential acquisition as I am, let's see if she enjoys the test ride

Any idea of where to find cases, racks or any way to attach something at the rear?

[pipnjones]

I remembered where I had seen it. It was in a magazine. Other PH'ers may have more information, more suppliers, etc. I am new to the scene.

There was an article in a German Caterham magazine called Tiefflieger for Caterham owners. The case is a simple case from a Company called Zarges, who are famous for making packing cases. The brackets for mounting it on the car are custom made. You can order a complete system, box and brackets, from Ralf Angetter at automobil-manufaktur.com and it costs 285 Euros.

But wait for a few more replies. People with more experience may give you better solutions.

[juditas]

[Benur]

Hahahahahaha

[Benur]

Thanks a lot pipnjones!

[Benur]

Best would be something like this but without spare tyre:

http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_prod...

[MBBlat]

Benur said:

1) IMHO the extra boot bag is expensive and not adding too much space (and then, where do you put the rolled roof?)

The SBFS boot bag is surprisingly voluminous, and the full of half hood will sit nicely on top even when full.

[mickrick]

You may need to carry the spare in Spain by law.
That used to be the case anyway. The windscreen is also a legal requirement, although I've seen quite a few Buggies on the road without screens lately. So that may have been dropped, or a case of the Spanish brown envelope dropped on the right desk !

Still waiting for service from the Barca dealer ? No surprises there then.
If you talk to him again, you can tell him from me where to stick one of his bunches of flowers.
He could have sold me two cars, and my Mate at least one by now.

[Aeroscreens]

Another vote for the SBFS boot bag. I reckon it adds another 5" inches depth to the overall boot area. We usually go away for a 2 week tour around Europe and have enough spare space to bring back a dozen or so bottles of wine. You need to utilise space in the engine bay for Jack and spares and there's plenty of room behind the seats (we're both just 5'8"). Mind you we're aeroscreened so no need for a hood bag, although in the past we have fitted this in front of the roll bar.

[Farlig]

Aeroscreens said:

... We usually go away for a 2 week tour around Europe.... Mind you we're aeroscreened...

What do you do if you're caught in horrendous rain for a few days or have you just been lucky?

[Aeroscreens]

Farlig said:

What do you do if you're caught in horrendous rain for a few days or have you just been lucky?

Well after nearly 10 years and some 28,000 miles on the Continent I'd like to say that we've been lucky, but alas we've had some pretty good soakings. Sometimes if not too heavy it's better to keep going as it's really only head and shoulders that get wet and you'll get just as wet if not more once you get out of the car to put waterproofs on.

However, if it is bad then a one-piece motorcyle oversuit, leather flying helmet, flying goggles and buff will keep you dry.

When we did the Beaujolais Run in November 2009 we had just left the ferry and were heading south on the autoroute when we were hit by a cloudburst, although togged up (see below) we had no side doors on or waterproofs and so got a little 'damp'. But on these occassions we just have a good and get on with it. It would be fair to say, bearing in mind we're both the wrong side of 50, I have a more than understanding Mrs

[alaskossie]

Benur,

When I finished building my Caterham S3 in Colorado USA in August 2010, I drove it 6100 miles to my home in Alaska, via California, and then north up the Alaska Highway. I designed and built a luggage rack out of 5/8-inch aluminium tubing, and mounted the basic rack frame between the body and the spare tire. The rack was pop-riveted and welded. The basic frame is of two vertical rectangular-section aluminium tubes, and a large hole drilled at the bottom is supported on the spare tire mount tubes (the tire mount is cut off, and then reinstalled after the luggage rack frame is in place).

I have one central rack behind the tire, and a "side rack" on either side of the tire, covering the entire width of the rear panel (but not obscuring the stop and turn lights on the rear wings). The center rack is removable if the spare tire is needed for a tire change. Both side racks are removable (if not needed), and I can just run with the center rack.

I strapped three nylon alpine-type ski-boot bags (covered with a waterproof nylon drawstring bag) on the three racks. The right-hand bag must be removed when re-fueling, a slight disadvantage. I also used a SoftBits E-bag on top of my rear boot cover. My basic objective was to have a lot of luggage space, but not have my rearward vision blocked. I found that I had more than enough luggage space for an extended trip, including camping gear.

I hope the photos give an adequate explanation.

[alaskossie]

It looks like only one of my photos uploaded. I'll see if i can get the others on-line.

[alaskossie]

Here's the third (and last!) photo.

[Benur]

Wow! Thanks all for your answers.

In Spain (not sure about France) you can change the spare wheel for a "repair kit", which would be quite cheaper.

But, now I do not really know if it is really worth considering the spare wheel, as you can easily fit the rack, it can work as an extra "bumper" and you can fit inside the tools bag. Do you notice the weight difference? It is quite back on the car (center of gravity). Any problems expected with the extra exhaust silencer you need in Europe at the rear of the car?

Aeroscreens, are those Halcyon Mark 49 Goggles? I really like them. Where did you get the "flying helmets"? Approx price?

alaskossie, I think in continental Europe (normally) you cannot make any modifications to the car that are not "homologados". I am thinking in the "bike racks" for example, they have to be "legal".

By the way, beautiful cars!!!

[Aeroscreens]

Benur,

They are actually Halcyon Mark 9 googles and the 'Gladiator' flying helmets were purchased from Holden here

[Grebby]

One of the best solutions that I have seen was basically a bolt on frame that then allowed 2 motorbike panniers to be clipped on and off. These sat where the spare wheel would have been side by side.

I thought I had a photo somewhere but I can't find it.

I think I saw it at WightBlat 2008 and it was yellow, beyond that I haven't a clue. Maybe the owner is on here??

It just seemed like a nice solution as you could pack the panniers then attach to car and go and the reverse. I think that they were lockable and could be locked to the frame as well so you could leave them safely.

We just have a Soft-Bits E bag and an SV but have managed 2 weeks camping and touring the UK in it.

Cheers

Grebby

[Aeroscreens]

Been there, done that but decided against too much extra weight further back, albeit with just a single pannier. The way it worked was that the pannier rack was bolted to the standard Caterham rack.

We came to the conclusion that also you just don't need to take that much stuff with you, so now just use the SBFS re-bag.