Roof Boxes.....what to look for?

[tenohfive]

I ended up getting a Hapro Traxxer 6.6. Easy to load, and they don't set an upper limit on speed (advising you to drive to the conditions) - which I did with a box and car full of camping gear. Absolutely no issues whilst going at a decent clip.

Storage: I'm thinking to buy a cheap metal bar (whatever looks like it'd to the job) in B&Q or Wickes, fix it to an external wall around the side of the house and then hang the roof box (or roof box and bars) from it. Chuck a tarp over the top and leave until next needed. Any issues with this or has anyone come up with a more elegant solution for roof box storage when not in use?

[Bonefish Blues]

Two bars attached to the underside of your garage ceiling, perhaps? There are also proprietory hoist systems, too.

[PurpleTurtle]

I've got one of these kind of things from Halfords.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WoWtE6b1OA

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/bike-r...

Works really well, we've got an 'up and over' door with timber joists, the box goes up there and just tucks in so that it doesn't interfere with door opening/closing, resulting in roof box storage at zero cost of garage floor/wallspace. I store a few bulky lightweight items in the roofbox whilst it's up there too. One man operation too - just lower the straps, drop the box in at waist height then raise it up 6-8 inches at a time each side until up against the ceiling.

[oblio]

LeadFarmer said:

Now that looks like a proper set up...

Love the fact that the car is almost as big as the caravan too

[acd80]

I've got this combined with Thule wingbars. It opens on both sides which is handy for access - no idea how people can cope with one that only opens on one side.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

It will comfortably cope sitting at 110mph on the Autobahn on the way to Italy. We've done the trip 3 times in 3 years with no issues.

[LeadFarmer]

As a cheaper alternative to the Thule foot packs and bars, I've just fitted this cheap set of bars with foot clamps to the wifes VW Tiguan. For £40 they are an absolute bargain and fitted perfectly to the Tiguan roof rails and allowed us to fit our Thule Atlantis roof box for our recent holiday. Drove from Yorkshire to the New Forest and back without any problems, other than a little bit of wind noise.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IRAC0JE/ref...

[phil y]

I used a set of those universal bars, before getting a set of Whispbars. They were good for the price, but I found the noise levels too high. The height difference between them is significant, as you can see:

[Craikeybaby]

Bumping this as I am on the lookout for a roof box to go on holiday in September. Ideally I would like to buy used on eBay/Gumtree etc, but not really sure what to look for.

I know that I need a narrow one, as it will be to go alongside a bike. I already have Thule aero bars on the car. Does this mean Thule boxes will fit best using the track system? Or are there other brands worth looking at?

[Bonefish Blues]

Speak to the roofbox.co.uk guys linked above - their press is universally positive.

[Craikeybaby]

They are great, but I’m hoping to get a used one, as it will be a one off.

[Bonefish Blues]

Smallish roofbag that will fit between your roofbars then.

[chasingracecars]

If your bars have a channel in the middle you will need suitable T track fittings the longer the better and you can get these from roofbox.co.uk

When you buy you box ask the seller if they used the t track or the U bolts. T track fittings as easy as drilling a new hole in base of box for alignment with bars. Gaffa tape the inside to cover the old ones.