Trunk too small-need ideas
 

Any ideas. I am mad at myself. I leased a car from Renault. I thought I was getting the same car as I previously leased, only to discover that the model has changed and this one has a trunk that holds three suitcases and we are four people.(We've already tried adjusting the size and shapes of our suitcases). I called Renault about getting a roof rack. They told me that the place in Munich where we pick up the car has a listing of Renault garages where we could purchase one. I called the pick up and they were not able to help. They might be able to call garages when I arrive (since the people at the garages only speak German and I don't). Renault said they could call Paris Renault for me, but that since it is a weekend and a holiday in Paris Monday, that they can't get anyone until Tues which is the day we leave. Any ideas-I know this is my fault for not looking at the paperwork until this week-but graduations, kids soccer practice, games, work etc. made me space it out.

Maybe you could each take just three-quarters as much stuff?

Hi gb,
Its unlikely that you will be able to reduce by a 1/3...lol especially if you have any ladies travelling ! in fact you are more likely to increase by 1/3.
I would suggest you upgrade to a larger car.
Failing that; one case will have to go in the back with the 2 passengers. Ouch !
Have fun

Muck

Mucky, they would need to reduce by 1/4, not 1/3.

A large canvas, water-resistant (interior) duffel can provide a makeshift roof rack, in a pinch.If you want additional weather protection for peace of mind, take one or plastic mattress bags (like from U-Haul) to enclose your suitcase(s) before you out in the duffel.

Secure it with a cargo net and strapping that passes through the window openings.

Best wishes,

Rex

Please...a polite suggestion...Containers/luggage take space. re'do luggage..if necessary use soft walled bags. I see Eastern Europe visitors doing same. Segregate luggage items with "zip-lock bags". At one time my wife would simply travel with a large paper sack! No wait at baggage claim..maximum efficiency...

Also, I switched to a large backpack and a carry on back pack, leaving me the problem of carrying two backpacks in between locations. (most problematic is taking the train in Cinque Terre to lodging in Vernazza. My husband is trying to do the same. If we have to switch to the girls to backpacks, this necessitates buying two good backpacks of adequate size, and listening to the complaining that teenage girls will do in carrying backpacks(trying to avoid if possible).(I know-suck it up :-) Another possibility is that I found a Walmart not far from the car pickup outside of Munich. But, I don't know if the car has a rain gutter to hook anything on. Thanks for your ideas.

Hi

Many modern cars don't have rain gutters and roof racks are increasingly make specific.

I'd be a bit nervous about following Rex's advice unless it's a very short distance to your hotel. The force on roof luggage at highway speeds is considerable.

So you just have to take less, or get a bigger car ?

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi, gb. The whole luggage issue of late has me thinking - if you are planning to stay at one hotel maybe you can mail a box of clothes? Then mail the laundry home. Or carry only soft, unstructured fabric bags, empty it all out, lay it on the back seat and sit on it? Stuff one against the back window? You're going to look like you're in one of those vacation movies! Good luck.

If each person carried just one soft-sided medium-sized duffle bag, wouldn't they all fit? Better than suitcases because you can "squoosh" them in.

If you plan to stop anywhere along the route, I don't think a luggage rack, bags tied to the roof, or left in the backseat are a very good idea, security wise.

gb,

I would go to any large DIY on the outskirts of Munich (OBI is the largest chain) and purchase a roof rack. They will carry roof racks for most car makes and models and will be a lot cheaper than purchasing from a Renault garage. I would advise buying an enclosed storage box which can be locked rather than a simple rack - aside from the security aspect, just think of what would happen otherwise in a rainstorm ;-)

Hope this helps,
Andre

I know the teenage girls might grouse at first about the backpacks, but if you tell them about how they'll want to practice for when they're out backpacking on their own when they're older.....Besides, it will force them to pack light (not a bad thing, since it also means that they'll pack faster every time you move.)

I take it, that it is too late too change the model? Which Renault is it?
Is it the megane? Another website for renault leasing www.ideamerge.com has the models and says the megane can handle 2 large (28" X 8) and 2 medium defined as 27" X 8, and it appears to be the redesigned megane. (renault USA does say 3) That is in the hidden area.
Just a thought that it may work unless your luggage is wider.It does say that the trunk is 11.64 cubic feet.

Any one is entitled to the right to be nervous, I guess, but I have done just what I described - - though there was already some kind of "rack" (a single pair of bars with one cross tie bar, if I recall correctly) on the vehicle (and it was a minivan, though I don't think that is relevant from an aerodynamic standpoint).

Caused no problems driving, which - - knowing me - - included at least some 150-160 kph autobahn distances.

And for what it's worth, recently I have been doing a certain amount of (short distance) hauling on top of my ordinary sedan - - a pair of 12 foot ladders for example (with a sheet of thick carpet padding underneath them) - - in preparation for our getting our house ready to sell (moving from Ohio to Indiana in the next month).

That involved some freeway driving too.

These are really helpful ideas that I appreciate. Andre do you know any locations of OBI? The car pick up is in Garching.My husband asked if you know the approximate price?
Yes, it is too late to get a larger model. The only choice regarding that idea is to cancel the lease car and lose the $200 deposit, and rent a different car for about $300 more for the month.
The two girls have a 26 x 14 X 8 and a 23 x14 x 8. The one daughter is hard to convince because she LOVES her convertible suitcase-backpack on wheels she got at Xmas; the other daughter has a recent soccer injury so the the wheeled luggage is better for her. Yes, it is a Megane. That would be nice if it there was room for four. My husband found a backpack that he has put his clothing in and a second backpack for the plane. I put my second small backpack which is needed for hiking into a duffle so I have one large backpack and one duffle. (We also need to bring winter clothes for the Alps time, but then we can mail those home. No, we will be in four different locations so the mailing to ourselves isn't much different than carrying them. But, I might actually consider emptied the back pack if necessary because we do have all the clothes in plastic bags that have been squeezed as flat as possible.We aren't carrying anything of value that would interest would be thieves, other than cameras and the girl's portable CD player (which for some reason they can not live without). Anyway, those items would be on our person, rather than left in the car. You know that saying where you pack everything, then get rid of half. We've done that! Maybe we didn't need everything after all.

Andre, I found a website for OBI and there's one east of Dachau near where we pick up the car. We might check it out. Thanks.

Hey Anonymous !
I thought that was pretty good going considering I was half way through the 2nd bottle of wine.
Of course your right but 1/3 would be better don't you think?
Muck

gb,

All things considered, you would clearly be best off upgrading your car, if that's at all possible at this point - thought you couldn't do it at short notice with leased cars. You definitely need a Laguna, probably a wagon.

A roof rack system with storage box will probably cost you in excess of EUR 300 and assembly is required - so going to a Renault garage is probably your best bet.

Andre

The picture on ideamerge was certainly encouraging. Thanks for all your ideas. We leave on Tues., so I'll try to post and let you know if everything fits. Thanks.

We have a simular problem to yours. We have 5 traveling in a car with a small trunk. I just went to Kohls and found two soft duffels with wheels. They were on sale for $27. Being soft they should hopefully squeeze in better. I would give the girls a bigger bag and have them share and you and your husband take smaller bags(or vice versa). I find that we always take more than we need...and you can often have the clothing washed at the hotel or if you have to buy something there. Go through all the clothes again and take out what you absolutely don't need. Certain guide books, such as Rick Steves have guides for packing that might help. Where are you going by the way. We are also flying into Munich.

26 x 14 x 8 is pretty big -- make sure that you check with your airline about per-piece weight limits.

Here's a different idea: you say you'll have to shell out an additional $500 to rent a bigger car just for a bit more luggage space. How about offering the girls part of that money for taking substantially fewer clothes & shoes, and then they can spend it in Europe?

IMHO they cannot possibly wear all the things they could cram into a 26 inch suitcase. jenviolin's idea is terrific - bribe them to cut back to reasonable 19 or 21 inch bags and your problem is bascically solved.

OR - you could do it the other way -- Charge them for the excess $ you are having to spend for all that stuff everyone is taking.

Thanks, I think we got the clothes down a bit. But the problem also lies in having to take winter clothes for the Alps, and to take sheets and towels for the gite rental in France. We dumped the towels and will buy them there, but are still trying to work in the sheets. We can stuff them under the car seats when we arrive. I warned the oldest one with the largest suitcase that she will have to sit with the suitcase in the car and not complain if it is too big for the trunk. It sounds bigger than it looks. Its only a little bigger than a carry on on wheels. Part of its bulk is not in luggage space, but in that it is a convertible suitcase/backpack on wheels so it has back pack straps tucked in it as well. We have use Rick Steve's list to pare us down.
cparis-We arrive in Munich Weds morning leaving from Denver on Tues. Then, we go to Innsbruck for 5 days, Cinque Terre for 3, maybe 4, then, a gite in Dordogne for a week, followed by a home exchange in Belgium, and last, but not least 4 days in paris. How about you?

http://www.a1-autoracks.com/deckmaxi.html

gb, the above site has something called a trunk rack, but I'm afraid you may actually have to drill into the car to mount it, and I'm not sure that's allowed with leased cars (?)

Are sheets not supplied at the Gite?
Every Gite I have stayed at has provided linen as an option.
Ask them to supply it for you.
My wife always takes old underwear and throws it away as it is used. You may think its not much space saved but for 4 people its a lot !
Muck

That sounds like a great trip. We are going around Austria and S. Germany ie. salzburg, Hallstadt, Vienna, Innsbruck Garmisch... How did you arrange for the house swap...I always thought of doing that. Have a great trip.

Are you going soon too? We signed up with one of the home exchange companies. Originally, we couldn't find a home exchange at the time we wanted. (We needed June and most Europeans take their vacation in July and August). So what we have is a modified home exchange. We are only staying a few days in their home while they are there, and they are staying a few days while when they are in the US. Then, the remaining time, they have a full home exchange with other family. The family seems fairly nice over the Internet, and we share the same occupation. So, I think there will be no problem. And we probably will have made some friends with a future home exchanger. But, then our free Hilton points got us quite a few free nights (9) so it will work out. Maybe next time, I can be smarter about vacationing later in the summer.

cparis
Thanks for the Kohl's suggestion. I went over and they didn't have any rolling duffles that had a 21 inch frame. But, they did have an expandable luggage backpack with wheels in the suitcase part, rather than hanging at the end like my current bag. So, for 50 some dollars I got that. So, we tried our various pieces in the trunk of our old Corolla, and think we might just make it. At worse, the smaller of the backpacks can probably fit inside the car without too much discomfort for the 3 days where we drive up to 10 hours. Hopefully, we won't need the roof rack. And the home exchange people are coming to the US the week after we leave and offered to carry an excess bag if needed. (I wonder if they would take that antique armoire I'm looking for. ;-) just kidding.