T6 external side mounted storage – anyone have one?

Blanco · Jan 12, 2026

In the seemingly never-ending pursuit of squeezing more in I began trying to find if anywhere supplies side-mounted storage attached for example to the left-side awning rail.

Seems a sensible proposition – fix a lidded “pannier” on the outside over the rear side window that you can’t see out of anyway and use it for carting portaloo chemicals and the such-like which don’t necessarily need keeping dry and otherwise take up useful space inside. Also, convenient for our furry friends’ poo-bag(s) until coming across a bin ..

Thought I'd likley find one on a German website, but nope, and the only example I’ve been able to find is a “side gear carrier” for a Land Rover Defender - about the right size and shape, not so deep that it obscures visability, but mounted off roof rails and fixed top and bottom so not suitable for the California, and I imagine dificult to adapt securely.

Does anyone know of a company making/selling something along these lines designed for our vans?

A bit like this ...

wildslammer22 · Jan 12, 2026

Blanco said:
In the seemingly never-ending pursuit of squeezing more in I began trying to find if anywhere supplies side-mounted storage attached for example to the left-side awning rail.

Seems a sensible proposition – fix a lidded “pannier” on the outside over the rear side window that you can’t see out of anyway and use it for carting portaloo chemicals and the such-like which don’t necessarily need keeping dry and otherwise take up useful space inside. Also, convenient for our furry friends’ poo-bag(s) until coming across a bin ..

Thought I'd likley find one on a German website, but nope, and the only example I’ve been able to find is a “side gear carrier” for a Land Rover Defender - about the right size and shape, not so deep that it obscures visability, but mounted off roof rails and fixed top and bottom so not suitable for the California, and I imagine dificult to adapt securely.

Does anyone know of a company making/selling something along these lines designed for our vans?

A bit like this ...

View attachment 143282

I have 2 of these Molle panels, you need the rails to mount them which slide into the awning rail and use strong magnets on the bottom. It will easily hold 10kg securely and I’ve driven off road no problem. I have attached waterproof Peli type boxes - the type used for electronic/camera equipment to the panels - which are available in multiple sizes. With the correct fixings you can probably attach a box directly to the rails without the Molle panel but you would lose a little utility.

Multifunktionales Befestigungsboard für Airlineschienen Inkl. VA Schrauben – Grünthal Mobilcamping

www.gruenthal-mobilcamping.de

RedWhiteMonkey · Jan 12, 2026

I have a board that attachs onto the rail and is secured at the bottom with four very strong magnets. It holds a water cannister and ramps when we are going on trip that requires them. It wouldn't be difficult to secure lockable box to it but for safety I was very careful to ensure that nothing sticks out past the width of the wing mirror.

Blanco · Jan 12, 2026

Thank you to both for your helpful suggestions. Much appreciated!

How I love this club – the first time I’ve asked a proper question and within a few hours get more informed advice than AI could dream of.

At around 17cm the land-rover box is probably narrow enough not to extend beyond the wing-mirror, but I’m mindful it may become too wide if fixed on a rail and then a plate running straight between the awning rail and lower body panel. I’ll take a close look at what Gruenthal have.

I’m going to wait before doing anything concrete though as I want to know what the import tax on a Window Bag winging its way from Germany is. Oh for the days when we didn’t have to think about these things.

RedWhiteMonkey · Jan 13, 2026

Mine is from a German company called www.adventure-van.de . I'm in Germany so obviously no issues with delivery, I'd imagine you can find similar in the UK.

Do you already have the Defender box? If not, I suspect they are expensive, it might make more sense to look at Pelicase type boxes. You would need to figure out a safe way of attaching it but I think there are adaptors available that fit and the actual boards tend to allow the use of airline rail fixtures and fittings.

umphrey1012 · Jan 13, 2026

I was just thinking about something like this the other day! I am pretty sure I already know the answer here, but just in case anyone knows better, I am assume these solutions would not work on a T7 (or basically on the side with a sliding door)? Seems like they are pretty flush to the side and the door would not be able to open.

RedWhiteMonkey · Jan 13, 2026

umphrey1012 said:
I was just thinking about something like this the other day! I am pretty sure I already know the answer here, but just in case anyone knows better, I am assume these solutions would not work on a T7 (or basically on the side with a sliding door)? Seems like they are pretty flush to the side and the door would not be able to open.

You're correct, wouldn't work on any side with a sliding door.

wildslammer22 · Jan 13, 2026

RedWhiteMonkey said:
Mine is from a German company called www.adventure-van.de . I'm in Germany so obviously no issues with delivery, I'd imagine you can find similar in the UK.

Do you already have the Defender box? If not, I suspect they are expensive, it might make more sense to look at Pelicase type boxes. You would need to figure out a safe way of attaching it but I think there are adaptors available that fit and the actual boards tend to allow the use of airline rail fixtures and fittings.

That’s exactly what I’ve done using the molle panel. It can probably be done directly to the rails using airline track fixings that are freely available on Amazon.

wildslammer22 · Jan 13, 2026

Blanco said:
Thank you to both for your helpful suggestions. Much appreciated!

How I love this club – the first time I’ve asked a proper question and within a few hours get more informed advice than AI could dream of.

At around 17cm the land-rover box is probably narrow enough not to extend beyond the wing-mirror, but I’m mindful it may become too wide if fixed on a rail and then a plate running straight between the awning rail and lower body panel. I’ll take a close look at what Gruenthal have.

I’m going to wait before doing anything concrete though as I want to know what the import tax on a Window Bag winging its way from Germany is. Oh for the days when we didn’t have to think about these things.

Gruenthal are actually quite good now, they take off the VAT at checkout (20%) for UK buyers so you don’t get stung twice on that. Also import duties only apply over €150 so in some cases it is more economical to make multiple orders and pay extra shipping rather than one order that takes you over the €150 and subsequent import duties.

RedWhiteMonkey · Jan 13, 2026

Yes, the board I have is attached to two bars that attach to the rail and bodywork (a bit of protective film is a good idea under the magnets). It looks like this and has airline fixings laser cut into it.

Blanco · Jan 13, 2026

RedWhiteMonkey said:
Mine is from a German company called www.adventure-van.de . I'm in Germany so obviously no issues with delivery, I'd imagine you can find similar in the UK.

Do you already have the Defender box? If not, I suspect they are expensive, it might make more sense to look at Pelicase type boxes. You would need to figure out a safe way of attaching it but I think there are adaptors available that fit and the actual boards tend to allow the use of airline rail fixtures and fittings.

Buying the box is pending the decision about how to proceed .. make the rails myself or buy from DE .. So far I've looked at rails and fixings from Gruenthal and VanStudio. Both types appear superb and are certain to be stronger laterally than rails made with 43 x 9.5 extruded aluminuim captive track meant for trailer decks, which if making myself I'd probably end up using. I tend towards those from Vanstudio as to my mind these look somewhat neater and very similar to those in the photo posted by RedWhiteMonkey.

Sound advice from Wildslammer22 about placing multiple orders .. definitely advantageous to pay duty/VAT on a smaller excess over multiple orders than a much bigger excess on one order.

Unfortunately now I'm in the midst of scope-creep ... buy one pair of rails or two and also a water/fuel carrier as well ... kill both birds with one stone and justify going with a scalable solution. No worries about loading up the left side of the van too much .. Mrs B's toiletry bag in the window bag on the right side should even things out (haha).

Right now and as I'm not especially confident about bending 3.5mm thick aluminium extrusion with sufficient accuracy to lie flat against both the awning rail and bodywork under the window, the most likely scenario is aircraft rails from Vanstudio providing I can also get the fixings, and the box I'll get from Ebay - about £200 with 10% off if I order before 19th Jan. Okay, it'll be an aftermarket one, but unless I put in a bag of cement its unlikely to have to hold much more than 10kg and they're supposedly rated at 17. I'll get a sheet of 3mm aluminium, fix it to the rails with the rail fixings and then bolt the box on the sheet. And if there's anything left in the piggy bank I can add a matching second pair of rails and water/fuel carrier later ... shortly before Mrs B thinks she's touring southern Norway and finds herself passing the Arctic circle on way to the Nordkapp. Well, perhaps, but would be nice to get there one last time.

Hopefully, when all is said and done I'll end up with something that I'm happy to have on the side of the van. Unlike the first idea .. which I honestly daren't share out of embarrassment - Heath Robinson would have been so proud

Thank you everyone for all the advice!

I'll post an update when there is one.

petercampervan · Jan 19, 2026

Have you thought about aerodynamics and fuel consumption in the pursuit of more storage space?
What do you think about luggage carriers at the towhook, which are rotable so the rear can be opened?
More aerodynamic and more space available.
And that works at the bicycle rack as well.

Best regards

Tall Andrew · Jan 19, 2026

Interesting read like you I am always trying to get more storage I went with the roof rack option also thought it was a bit more secure as you need a step to get up there. Am interested in adding some side storage to continue the end of world swomper theme.

Blanco · Jan 19, 2026

We have a tow bar bracket, although not used, and I did consider rear-mounted storage. It might in the end prove more fuel efficient, but too much weight off the back I decided was perhaps less desirable. Likely the first thing I’d do anyway is forget it was there and reverse straight into something, with my luck probably something exotic.

A trunk on the back makes total sense I guess when you’ve got kids and go off for weeks, but ours went their different ways years ago and the two of us I’d like to think can get by in most places buying what we need along the way. Gawd, if Mrs B got the idea she could take enough to fill a case that big I’d need a bull-bar on the front packed with lead.

Although I do agree having a trunk is justified going somewhere way off the beaten track, where there's less to reverse into

For the moment I’ll stick with Plan A, providing Parcel Farce discover how to use a Sat Nav and eventually deliver the parts from Germany.

As they say, there's no such thing as a bad idea and it takes a lot of ideas to make a good one.

Blanco · 2026-02-08T19:57:52+0000

Thank you everyone for your advice, and at last there is something to show for it.

After a week for Parcel Force to finally run out of excuses and eventually deliver the parts from Gruenthal and another couple of days piecing it all together, the side-carrier storage box for a Land-Rover is on the Cali. Turned out more of a faff than expected, not unsurprisingly because Land Rover didn't design it fit anything than a Land-Rover, and it’s supposed to be hung on the right side, not the left. I suspect the carrier probably will look better on the right side of a T7 or T6 Transporter, but hopefully on the T6 Cali it doesn't look too contrived barring aesthetics of the top-line and awning rail slanting in opposite directions and should do the job of, well, carting stuff; not heaps although in a small bus every extra space helps.

Chose airline rails from Gruenthal because the easiest way of attaching the carrier was with rivet nuts in the centre of the rails, spaced to align with the reinforced fixing holes in the carrier and screwed together with flat-head M6 bolts. All other airline rails I came across either included rivet nuts that weren't spaced as I wanted or necessitated using airline rail fixings for molle plates with threaded bolts which would have meant the head and nut poking into the inside … not so good if you might want to carry anything holding liquids.

If there's interest, I can do a post with how I went about making it fit to protrude no more than 17cm from the window glass and the offsets for the rivet nuts so the carrier in my opinion at least doesn't look completely wrong on the van given the absence of any parallel/level body lines.