Roof Bag - Anyone elsed or bought one??
Discussion
I'm planning a family trip down to Cornwall from Essex. We'll be taking the Pug 4007 and using all 7 seats so boot space will be limited. I'll be able to get some luggage behind the rear seats but to buy the extra bit of space I was considering one of these roof bags the likes of Thule have on offer. They are considerable cheaper than a roof box, plus I don't really have room to store a roof box at home.
People thoughts or experiences would help
People thoughts or experiences would help
I would imagine they would flap about and be quite noisy. No actual experience of them but we do have a Thule roof box for long haul camping trips and it does affect the MPG and create some turbulence. I wouldn't have thought a bag would be terribly secure either if someone was to try to open it with a knife? A proper box will put up more of a fight.
If you're local to Maidstone and have your own bars I'd be happy to lend you mine
It is a bit huge but it's all there and the locks work properly unlike a lot of the ones you see going second hand.
If you're local to Maidstone and have your own bars I'd be happy to lend you mine
It is a bit huge but it's all there and the locks work properly unlike a lot of the ones you see going second hand. I borrowed one to take to the Alps. It did the job, and stayed put at motorway speeds. I did spend a few hours wondering how secure it was, and kept checking whenever we pulled over, but it never moved.
The only niggle I had was on the way home, and some over-enthusiastic tightening of the strap broke one of the plastic clips... It was several years old and well used so it could just have been an age related thing, but I would prefer metal clips as this is the weakest part of the design IMO.
The only niggle I had was on the way home, and some over-enthusiastic tightening of the strap broke one of the plastic clips... It was several years old and well used so it could just have been an age related thing, but I would prefer metal clips as this is the weakest part of the design IMO.
Edited by jep on Monday 23 June 14:55
I had one of these http://www.handiworld.com/handi-holdall-2.html
Used with a couple of the inner bags and packed such that it largely maintained its natural shape it was fine. I cut a piece of hardboard to the shape of the base and placed it over the bars/base it came with as it sagged a little. Over a 6 hundred mile trip it was fine - reasonably quiet, pretty waterproof - a tiny bit of water got in but as I had packed everything in bags there was no problem. I have since replaced it with a solid Thule roof box. For occasional use it was great - folded nice and small and didn't have to leave it on the roof for the duration of the holiday! (Still haven't found a proper home for its replacement - it sits on the floor in the garage getting in the way!)
On the last use I only put the pushchair in it - the rain was torrential and where it was no longer in its true shape water got in, I think, under the flap and through the zip - the board I had put in meant the pushchair was largely dry though and it dried out quickly enough.
Used with a couple of the inner bags and packed such that it largely maintained its natural shape it was fine. I cut a piece of hardboard to the shape of the base and placed it over the bars/base it came with as it sagged a little. Over a 6 hundred mile trip it was fine - reasonably quiet, pretty waterproof - a tiny bit of water got in but as I had packed everything in bags there was no problem. I have since replaced it with a solid Thule roof box. For occasional use it was great - folded nice and small and didn't have to leave it on the roof for the duration of the holiday! (Still haven't found a proper home for its replacement - it sits on the floor in the garage getting in the way!)
On the last use I only put the pushchair in it - the rain was torrential and where it was no longer in its true shape water got in, I think, under the flap and through the zip - the board I had put in meant the pushchair was largely dry though and it dried out quickly enough.
They're brilliant. I have the one from Green Valley. No noise, no flapping. Bolts on to the roof bars from the inside. Fully taped seams and made from really thick fabric. Would recommend it, cheaper than the Thule one. And you can store it in a cupboard or the loft, unlike a roof box.
http://www.greenvalley.co.uk/roof-boxes/158002-she...
http://www.greenvalley.co.uk/roof-boxes/158002-she...
I bought the ranger 90 last week. Advantage to me was being able to store it so much more easily - even when arriving at the destination.
Haven't used it yet, going away in July so I can it's waterproof level probably.
I looked at the sizes, I think they do one made for skis. It was 30cm tall, but much longer, you'd probably fit two on a car as they are narrower also.
Haven't used it yet, going away in July so I can it's waterproof level probably.
I looked at the sizes, I think they do one made for skis. It was 30cm tall, but much longer, you'd probably fit two on a car as they are narrower also.
Another +1 for the Thule Ranger 90. We've used one since Christmas in the torrential rain, sleet and snow, and it has been perfectly waterproof.
The thing to remember is to pack with all the soft items, and also (to be sure) put them in bin liners, so if it has been raining and you open the top, the water doesn't drip onto the contents.
When full, there really isn't any noticeable increased noise, and when you get to your destination, it's simple to remove, fold up and store.
We paid £190 last year, now £144 at Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000MR9I90
Highly recommended product.
The thing to remember is to pack with all the soft items, and also (to be sure) put them in bin liners, so if it has been raining and you open the top, the water doesn't drip onto the contents.
When full, there really isn't any noticeable increased noise, and when you get to your destination, it's simple to remove, fold up and store.
We paid £190 last year, now £144 at Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000MR9I90
Highly recommended product.
Edited by lexham on Friday 18th July 09:33
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