Camping gear and roof down?
Discussion
Time to take my Chim camping...
I was hoping for the best method of stowing the roof with stuff in the boot.
I can see the best way is to put the roof in first, butt it up to the back and then put the gear in, but I won't be able to put the roof on quick if it rains (it would be some comedy clip of me by the side of the road with pots and pans and a girlfriend shouting at me).
Has anyone got any tips?
Thanks,
Rich
I was hoping for the best method of stowing the roof with stuff in the boot.
I can see the best way is to put the roof in first, butt it up to the back and then put the gear in, but I won't be able to put the roof on quick if it rains (it would be some comedy clip of me by the side of the road with pots and pans and a girlfriend shouting at me).
Has anyone got any tips?
Thanks,
Rich
richy759 said:
...
Has anyone got any tips?...
Plenty of spce for roof, airbed, tent luggage.Has anyone got any tips?...
If it starts to rain put the windows up. This is usually good down to about 40 mph. If you can stay above 60 keep the windows up as the airflow will force the rain over/round you/passenger.
Its good to see the reaction of the people you drive past on the motorway at a lepton or so when they realise you have the top off and windows down. The good thing is that you don't get wet !
Thankg guys, very useful stuff.
My gf is only 5 foot so I reckon she will fit snugly on the back shelf!
So with the roof down when its raining its a bit that like film "Speed" but not quiet as dramatic, "If they go below 40 they'll get wet!"
I am going to take the spare out, I have a couple of cans of tyre weld. I'll have a few practice runs of fitting everything in.
Putting the roof on top of everything sounds like a good option, wasn't sure there would be enough room.
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
My gf is only 5 foot so I reckon she will fit snugly on the back shelf!
So with the roof down when its raining its a bit that like film "Speed" but not quiet as dramatic, "If they go below 40 they'll get wet!"
I am going to take the spare out, I have a couple of cans of tyre weld. I'll have a few practice runs of fitting everything in.
Putting the roof on top of everything sounds like a good option, wasn't sure there would be enough room.
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
I wouldn't put anything lightweight on the parcel shelf with the roof down. I seem to recall I kept the tent there and a few other heavier objects on the way to Le Mans a few years ago. I had to pack tightly as I did another 2000 or so miles south into France/Andorra so we needed to take a weeks worth plus all our camping gear.
On the ferry from Pompey>Le Havre we arrived to find it pissing down France side, so when we headed down to the car deck we had to unpack the entire contents of the boot to get to the roof. With the entire weeks clothes/shoes and camping kit around our feet the deck that we were on started to tip downwards and the infamous TVR handbrake was up to its usual high standards and the car started rolling towards the caravan directly in front, leaving my passenger and I grabbing hold of the back of the boot trying to stop the
ing thing, much to the amusement of the entire deck of non-TVR drivers. Thanks go out to the Tuscan owner who jumped to our help.
On the ferry from Pompey>Le Havre we arrived to find it pissing down France side, so when we headed down to the car deck we had to unpack the entire contents of the boot to get to the roof. With the entire weeks clothes/shoes and camping kit around our feet the deck that we were on started to tip downwards and the infamous TVR handbrake was up to its usual high standards and the car started rolling towards the caravan directly in front, leaving my passenger and I grabbing hold of the back of the boot trying to stop the
ing thing, much to the amusement of the entire deck of non-TVR drivers. Thanks go out to the Tuscan owner who jumped to our help.I'm doing the same tomorrow but with a Griff instead! Not sure about your boot but I find there's a gap at the bottom of the boot between the roof panel and the petrol tank that can be used because of the angle the roof sits at. I'll stick the parasol and perhaps one or two airbeds (rolled not folded) in there, the sleeping bags fit in the sides of the boot up in the wings fine, then its 2 tables, folding chairs, tent, picnic set, cooker, pans, brew kit, bbq, luggage, coats etc on top of the roof panel. I've never tried it all before but am hoping its all going to fit! Managed to get most of it in before without the tent and chairs when we went to a friends with loads of room to spare so I'm hopeful it'll all fit.
As for the rain problem... just what everyone else said. You feel a prat when you have to stop at junctions though with everyone around shaking their heads at you and the GF saying "I told you to leave the roof on because you knew it would rain"... or words to that effect. Severity depends on volume of rain falling I find!
We're going away with friends who have a VX220! I'll be interested to see how luxurious their camping experience will be, I imagine there'll be a lot more than just the GF in the passenger seat!
As for the rain problem... just what everyone else said. You feel a prat when you have to stop at junctions though with everyone around shaking their heads at you and the GF saying "I told you to leave the roof on because you knew it would rain"... or words to that effect. Severity depends on volume of rain falling I find!
We're going away with friends who have a VX220! I'll be interested to see how luxurious their camping experience will be, I imagine there'll be a lot more than just the GF in the passenger seat!
richy759 said:
My gf is only 5 foot so I reckon she will fit snugly on the back shelf!
....
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
....
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
Shnozz said:
I wouldn't put anything lightweight on the parcel shelf with the roof down.
So how heavy is your GF? 
Griffit said:
We're going away with friends who have a VX220! I'll be interested to see how luxurious their camping experience will be, I imagine there'll be a lot more than just the GF in the passenger seat!
The VX is luxury compared to the original Elise. So long as you dont want chairs, tables, gas stoves etc you can do a weekend of it no problem. You just have to pack carefully and use vacuum bags so your clothes look like they boil in the bag. I've done Le Mans in mine and went in an Exige last year and its not a problem. Having said that, I don't take the missus to le mans and she seems to need 3 outfits for every one of mine..peebee said:
richy759 said:
My gf is only 5 foot so I reckon she will fit snugly on the back shelf!
....
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
....
Has anyone had anything fly out from the back shelf before at hight speed(when you have the roof down)?
Rich
Shnozz said:
I wouldn't put anything lightweight on the parcel shelf with the roof down.
So how heavy is your GF? The Elise is all about power to weight. I haven't got the bhp to carry any more than a lightweight 
Griffit said:
As for the rain problem... just what everyone else said. You feel a prat when you have to stop at junctions though with everyone around shaking their heads at you and the GF saying "I told you to leave the roof on because you knew it would rain"... or words to that effect. Severity depends on volume of rain falling I find!
Two golf umbrellas come in handy for slightly longer stops 
Obviously borrowed from a Chimp owner
Well, i'm back from my first camping trip in my Chim to Wales which, apart from the weather went well.
I managed to get all my stuff in with some room to spare. This meant the roof could go on top of the stuff in the boot, which turned out handy because it rained on the way there.
I got a fair 22 mpg from my 500 which although mostly motorway did include sitting in traffic before Cardiff and Swansea for about an hour.
Of course it rained all day sunday so I tip-toed home and was glad my chim kept me dry (I wasn't sure how water tight it would be in heavy rain).
I have to say I'm really impressed with the car, it was really comfy (very cosy with the roof on in the rain) and a dream to drive. I was a bit worried about the reputation of the 500 in the wet, but it felt brilliant, I think as long as you aren't silly it's totally driveable.
I look forward to more long trips, where next....
Rich
I managed to get all my stuff in with some room to spare. This meant the roof could go on top of the stuff in the boot, which turned out handy because it rained on the way there.
I got a fair 22 mpg from my 500 which although mostly motorway did include sitting in traffic before Cardiff and Swansea for about an hour.
Of course it rained all day sunday so I tip-toed home and was glad my chim kept me dry (I wasn't sure how water tight it would be in heavy rain).
I have to say I'm really impressed with the car, it was really comfy (very cosy with the roof on in the rain) and a dream to drive. I was a bit worried about the reputation of the 500 in the wet, but it felt brilliant, I think as long as you aren't silly it's totally driveable.
I look forward to more long trips, where next....
Rich
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