Motorhome back box.

welshcake
welshcake Forum Participant Posts: 22
edited January 2018 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Evening all,

Thinking of getting a Fiamma back box for our motorhome. They seem a bit on the pricey side so thought I would ask you good folks if they are worthwhile.I would like to be very nosey and ask you what you keep in yours?

 

Thanks in advance,,..Pat

Comments

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #2

    Hi Pat, i had one that came with my first Bolero....one of the downsides of the van (and others of a similar design, end kitchen) is poor external storage and often poor external access to it...

    the previous owner (who used it for longish trips) recognised this and got the Fiamma box which fitted onto a fiamma bike rack.

    we needed the rack, but not the box, so i sold it straight away (along with the safari room and other 'stuff') on ebay....

    remember, you will need somewhere for it to be fitted to, and loading it with heavy stuff will add considerable weight to your rear axle...im guessing you dont have bikes or a decent storage 'locker/garage'?

    what van do you have?....keep the heavy stuff inside the van and the lighter stuff in the back box....

  • welshcake
    welshcake Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited February 2018 #3

    We've a Swift Gazelle with a redundant bike rack

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #4

    These, along with the alternative top boxes were once popular items but you see them less these days. Maybe today the improved use and design of onboard storage has helped. In older vans we often had to create storage space opportunists. In one van the removal of interior panels and cupboard drawers revealed quite large 'hidden' voids which could then be utilised to good advantage. Also, I'm a bit concerned about adding the extra weight of that overhanging rear box, they themselves are not particularly light. I've only just managed to assume that travel light philosophy too and that extra room may just tempt those less used and really unnecessary items back onbaord. Oh well, each to their own of course.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #5

    notwithstanding any axle weight issues, cant the box sit on the bike rack.

    if both fiammas, they would be designed to fit together...

  • welshcake
    welshcake Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited February 2018 #6

    Yes that was the plan to attach it to the bike rack .. the question I was asking was are they worth buying .. they are expensive but are they worth while.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #7

    We have one. Fiamma box, quite a large one, that bolts easily onto Fiamma bike rack. They are expensive, but, why buy a new one? We got ours off Ebay, lovely and clean, all bolts etc... included, and lovely couple we bought it off insisted helping us to fit it! We travelled 350 miles to fetch it, but turned it into a superb long weekend. Lots of folks sell them on if they change vans etc. Usual second hand rules apply, get lots of photos, get the measurements, ask via email if any damage or bits missing.

    We have found it very useful for Winter touring, store waffle boards, wellies, dog towels, couple of lightweight chairs, sometimes a small folding table, sometimes sack of dog food, etc... depends on what we are doing, what extras we think we might need. They have internal straps to stop items moving around on the move. We fitted a little battery light into ours, for those dark evenings. Saves a lot of rummaging in the dark! Just need to be aware of weight of course. Has made life in our little MH a lot easier in Winter. Not really added to parking issues either, as we just find somewhere for it to hang over usually. Adds about half a metre on.

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