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Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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  #1  
Old 17 Mar 2014
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@ RussG...

On your G that you used, what trailer towbar/ball did you use?

As in, did you convert the sankey to a 50mm ball, or fit a NATO hitch to the G?

If you fitted a hitch to the G, can you explain how you did it? (I've just bought a 460 SWB, which has a 50mm ball, but i'd like to fit either a dixon bate adjustable or a nato hitch), and would need to make up the mounting plate with the 4 holes in.

cheers

Jamie
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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Why dont you have your stuff inside the Nissan and have a roof tent for sleep like a maggiolina?



I think is better this way..!

And you can have a solar panel on the roof tent for extra energy!
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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hmmmmm, this is strange as the roofrails can only carry 100kg according to Nissan...

And we're two, so way over the 100kg that's one of the reasons we couldn't have a rooftent.
Is it your car? Just to know if you went sleeping with two in it or not... as I really don't want to damage the rails of the roof!

We do also have a normal tent with us, but we'll go with the roofbox (thule motion 900) for all the stuff and then carry the extra tent if need to be and sleep most of the time in the car.
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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Its not always about down

In my past experience, limited as it might be, I have found I do more damage by having a heavy load on the roof trying to bounce up. In the past I have ripped the rails off due to this. I have never done damage to the rails from loading them well beyond 100kg.

Riq
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diesel jim View Post
@ RussG...

On your G that you used, what trailer towbar/ball did you use?

As in, did you convert the sankey to a 50mm ball, or fit a NATO hitch to the G?

If you fitted a hitch to the G, can you explain how you did it? (I've just bought a 460 SWB, which has a 50mm ball, but i'd like to fit either a dixon bate adjustable or a nato hitch), and would need to make up the mounting plate with the 4 holes in.

cheers

Jamie
Hi Jamie,

It was a NATO hitch. I basically cut the swan neck off a standard G Wagen hitch and welded a a plate on with 4 holes to take the NATO hitch. I added a triangulation piece in to reinforce it.

As you would expect there was some serious stress on this, the trailer was airborne for a good part of the time

I sold it a few years back, wish I hadn't tbh

Russ
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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Towing a trailer is OK on surfaced roads, within reason , towing on slippery surfaces eg mud tracks or snow can be lethal . On soft surfaces they are a real drag (eg anchor) . They also tend to be high maintenance on rough (eh corrugated) dirt roads.

The roof tent eg magiolina , is the most logical solution to your situation .
Keeps the heavy items down low , and also more secure , less chance of having bedding stolen , from roof , rather than the contents of a roof box storage. You are also more likely to end up with a roomy comfortable bed, which is a big consideration on extended travel . JMHO&E
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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Here in OZ they do floor mounted slide out draws ... put a flat surface on top for your bed and you have good low load carrying in the slide out draws and your bed all done.

Roof rack mounting limits .. the manufactures state those for traveling down the 4WD road .. the stresses are much less when your stooped and sleeping. So the roof top tent idea does actually work.
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Old 18 Mar 2014
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Funnily enough I am thinking of going the other way. keep all the gear in the vehicle and tow a trailer tent. that way I will be towing a very lightly loaded trailer.

Actually a small trailer that can extend front,back and up when stopped, so not in way of rear view mirror when driving.

Try to use same wheels as you vehicle so in an emergency the spare will fit anything.
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