Well, just got back from my first camping trip with the Element. First off, compared to our last trip, which was done in my wife's Accord, this was way better. The Element has so much versitility -- we used the roof rack as a tie-down point for the tarp; we had a dry seat on the tailgate; we stored the firewood on the perfect, sweep-clean floor....

Here are some pictures:
http://www.parentetx.com/images/P3220025.JPG
http://www.parentetx.com/images/P3220028.JPG

I did do one really stupid thing though....

As we were driving home, we went through a drive-thru to get some food.... and I wacked off one of the bikes going through the drive-thru awning. So, my first dent is out of the way (it's pretty small), but I bent the rim on my bike, and the structure of the bike rack itself has been compromised -- probably still usable, but I need to figure out some fixes (I had to tie down the bike to the bike rack for the rest of the trip home with some rope....)

Wacken my bike off the roof is my fear with the roof rack. My memory is not great. I figure that if I but the bikes up top I will put a really big sign on the dash

bikes on top

The Account Executive on my sales team has a Land Rover. He has to inch down the ramp at the parking lot at work because his Rover fits within a 1/4 inch. He knows if he ever leaves the sunroof up, it's gone.

Nice pix. Sorry to hear about the bike.

Iskie

How about taking the rear seats out, put in the 2 bikes and tie it down...

Then the passengers can have lots of exercise :wink:

OR

While you are on the highway cut the ropes to the bike and open up the tailgate and the passengers can have 1 minute of danger trying to get around the huge semi's KIND OF LIKE THE MILITARY AIRPLANES THEY HAVE THAT LET CARGO FALL OUT THE BACK lol :lol: :wink: :roll: :D :o

OH YEAH

sorry to hear about the damage to the bikes HOPE MY IDEAS COULD HELP YOU GET OVER IT