Vacation bound...need more space!

What are my options for carrying more stuff to the beach next month?

I have a doublecab with a car seat on one side of the back seat. I have a tonneau cover but there is not enough room under it. If I don't use the tonneau, I have plenty of room but it's all exposed to the elements.

Roof rack?
Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier?
Cargo bag on roof?
???

Wish there was a rack I could put OVER my tonneau to haul beach chairs and other things?

Any ideas?

 

what about one of those hitch baskets, u always see coolers/beach chairs in them...

 

Yeah...Hitch basket is probably the best best. Get a travel bag or even put stuff in a garbage bag to protect it.

Roof rack would work...but hurts mpg and for stuff like beach chairs I'm sure it'd be a pain in the ass to tie them up there.

I tried to think of a way to mount a rack over the tonneau...but it would involve cutting into the cover any way I could think of it.

 

I'm leaning toward the hitch carrier but I'm not sure of the weight limit of our hitches.

They are rated for 500# but I don't think our hitches are rated that high.


I don't think our roofs are rated for much weight either. If I put on the roof rail system, I could use a cargo bag with suitcases in it or something. But this is more expensive and holds less wt. than the hitch carrier.
But I like the look of the roof racks on red trucks!

 

There is probably info somewhere in the owners manual about the roof. I know my mom's CR-V could only take about 70 lbs.

If you have the tow package then your hitch has to be able to take about 650 lbs (approx tongue weight). Without the tow package...Not sure.

 

How about a little utility trailer? 4' X 6' is probably same price as the hitch stuff carrier. Build a bunch of plywood lockable compartments on it, coat with truck box liner to keep out the water and spray to colour match your truck. Next time you're off camping, everything is already in it ready to go.

 

rangerpeterson has a bad ass set up. he put a yakima rack over his tonneau cover and put only of those load warrior racks on top. Its so sick. I wish i had pictures of it. but its definately the best looking set up.

 

Factory roof rack with with Yakima bars attached and an 18cf Skybox....The Yakima bars aren't required for the box because it's designed for factory roof racks.Not a set-up I would run very often because we usually vacation in our van.I also love the looks of the LoadWarriors up there.

 

u could always get a cap, some of the ones ive seen on here dont look bad at all

 

I would go with the hitch hauler. I'm in the same situation with a car seat on one side and not enough room for camping gear. I use a hitch hauler when i go camping and i usaully put around 300lbs on it alone. I have the tow package but most any 2" reciver is rated for at least 300lbs.

 

why dont you just get a cap to replace your tonneau?

 

check out the bestop. they are prety sweet\
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...a=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

 

Go with the hitch haul, it works great and can easily be taken off when not needed, I just took a trip in my 4-runner with it completely loaded a luggage carrier on top and a hitch haul, it was much easier looking for items @ a stop w/o climbing up top to look in carrier.

 

I considered it but, at that price, it wouldn't be capable of long distance travel (10+ hour drive). Plus we usually drive 80+mph and the trailer is not safe at those speeds.

I would love to see pictures of that set up. I hate the wasted space above the tonneau.

Great setup. I do like the look of that Loadwarrier. Can you fit a lot in it? It seems like an awkward size. We used to use a hard plastic clam on my long family vacations and we always had trouble packing it tight (lots of wasted space).

Too expensive and I wouldn't use it that much. I too have seen great caps but storing it when not using it would suck. And I wouldn't want it on there all the time because I haul my dirt bike a lot.

Many are rated for 500#. The one I am looking at is rated for 600# and looks very strong:

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-CC2~59502.htm

 

gotcha...i would recommend the hitch hauler thing then. last summer when i still had my 4runner i had one to haul a pressure washer, gas can and hoses on one everyday for work and it had no problem handling that weight.

 

Concur with Vecc- I want photos of this in action if at all possible!!