Paul Leinichen
Active Member
I spent quite a while wondering whether to buy one of these Mantec load lugga rear shelfs:
http://www.flatdoguk.com/discovery-2-load-lugger~916
It's not the cheapest accessory (£150 including VAT & postage) but as we've usually got the dog in the boot and we've got a 7 seater (so no storage bins) I was finding that I couldn't put the usual array of "stuff" in the car as there was nowhere to put it. So I finally gave in and forked out the hard-earned beer tokens!
Gotta say, on arrival it seemed to have been sent in the biggest cardboard box they could find in the factory. But on opening it I found this was because they had taken the time to really well package the shelf so it arrived in perfect condition.
On fitting the brackets, then attaching the shelf, I found several things a) this is one of the nicest finished products I've bought in a long time, it really is well made and finished perfectly; b) the engineering is extremely precise, this meant that everything bolted together EXACTLY as it should, then tightened up to make a perfect and rattle-free fit; c) what a bloody marvellous design!! Still retains the boot space (even leaves enough to still use the boot seats - though an adult would have to duck down a little), sits at a nice height that doesn't obscure view through the centre mirror, and provided a really useful storage area that easily holds 3 to 4 average holdalls and, being a mesh design (like the dog guards) you can strap more stuff to it with bungee cords if you wish.
Finally, it says on the website (and in most of the listings) that it's only compatible with the original LR dog guard (or presumably the BritPart clone), however we use the following easy-fit alternative bought via eBay and this sits perfectly well in front of the Mantec shelf - so it's also perfectly compatible:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rove...293620?hash=item3d2b9693f4:g:-LYAAOSw44BYLwqs
Basically, if anyone else is having the same thoughts ("I really want one but how can I get away with it at that price without the other half blowing a gasket?") then, although I can't give you the excuses to justify the price, I can strongly recommend the accessory as it's brilliant.
Next I've got to try and a) find the cash and b) find a way to convince the other half to let me go shopping for a roof rack on the Safety Devices website!?!? Then maybe some heavy duty bumpers to replace the "now slightly cracked and scuffed" boring original plastic ones...
http://www.flatdoguk.com/discovery-2-load-lugger~916
It's not the cheapest accessory (£150 including VAT & postage) but as we've usually got the dog in the boot and we've got a 7 seater (so no storage bins) I was finding that I couldn't put the usual array of "stuff" in the car as there was nowhere to put it. So I finally gave in and forked out the hard-earned beer tokens!
Gotta say, on arrival it seemed to have been sent in the biggest cardboard box they could find in the factory. But on opening it I found this was because they had taken the time to really well package the shelf so it arrived in perfect condition.
On fitting the brackets, then attaching the shelf, I found several things a) this is one of the nicest finished products I've bought in a long time, it really is well made and finished perfectly; b) the engineering is extremely precise, this meant that everything bolted together EXACTLY as it should, then tightened up to make a perfect and rattle-free fit; c) what a bloody marvellous design!! Still retains the boot space (even leaves enough to still use the boot seats - though an adult would have to duck down a little), sits at a nice height that doesn't obscure view through the centre mirror, and provided a really useful storage area that easily holds 3 to 4 average holdalls and, being a mesh design (like the dog guards) you can strap more stuff to it with bungee cords if you wish.
Finally, it says on the website (and in most of the listings) that it's only compatible with the original LR dog guard (or presumably the BritPart clone), however we use the following easy-fit alternative bought via eBay and this sits perfectly well in front of the Mantec shelf - so it's also perfectly compatible:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rove...293620?hash=item3d2b9693f4:g:-LYAAOSw44BYLwqs
Basically, if anyone else is having the same thoughts ("I really want one but how can I get away with it at that price without the other half blowing a gasket?") then, although I can't give you the excuses to justify the price, I can strongly recommend the accessory as it's brilliant.
Next I've got to try and a) find the cash and b) find a way to convince the other half to let me go shopping for a roof rack on the Safety Devices website!?!? Then maybe some heavy duty bumpers to replace the "now slightly cracked and scuffed" boring original plastic ones...
