Thule or Kamei roofbox?

[JackReacher]

Currently have a thule dynamic box which is very aerodynamic but not particularly tall so limits how practical it is.

Looking at either a Thule motion 3 or Kamei Fosco, which are both slightly taller and also both seem to boast aerodynamics, or at least as aerodynamic as a box on the roof can be.

I want something as aerodynamic as possible ideally, as it will go on our EV occasionally. I have BMW and also thule bars that it will need to work with.

The Kamei seems marginally cheaper like for like, any experience of these?

[MDMA .]

Have the older Thule Motion Sport. Still in winter mode below.

[Composite Guru]

I have a Hapro Traxer Roof box and it’s good quality and pretty aerodynamic too.
Just adding an another manufacturer into the mix.

[legless]

I went through this a couple of years ago - wanted a good quality roof box that was also high capacity and aerodynamic.

Went for an Atera Casar XL in the end after speaking to the guys at roofbox.co.uk.

Very solid box, and managed a trip from Warwickshire to Berwick upon Tweed last summer in my Enyaq without a recharge, so it didn't hurt the range too much.

The bottom of the box is moulded so that it sits below the roof bars, which meant it didn't lose much in height.

[edc]

I have a Thule Pacifica 200 which is very much like the Motion. Opens both sides. Has a recess to go around the bars. I use the twist grip lockers which make it really easy. Like you was looking for best value and volume but wanted the internal height. Sits on Cruz aero bars.

[Deefor62]

Have a look at Inno roof boxes. I’ve had a W840 for a few years and find it excellent. Can get a reasonable amount of stuff in it, there’s very little wind noise, and looks quite aero.

[braddo]

I think the biggest factor will be getting a long thin box rather than a full width one, so that it has less frontal area.

I would be surprised if there is any meaningful difference in aero efficiency for similar shape boxes from the 3 brands mentioned (i have a hapro traxer from roofbox.co.uk).

[Baldchap]

Done UK to Spain with a Thule aerodynamic one (no idea of model) several times.

The issue is even a decent one recommends something like maximum 80mph, which makes a big difference on a 2500km journey.

So the correct roof box is a bigger car.

[BikeSausage]

Yes, bigger car is definitely better if possible. But where long items need to be carried that are incompatible with the interior (eg skis) then it has to be a box.

A slightly more aero box might make a slight difference but once you have any sort of coffin on the roof, your aero is compromised. The thinner ones look better, I’ll admit, but you might as well maximise the volume once you’ve decided on any sort of box.

I’ve just returned from 5 weeks and 3,000 miles in the mountains in the V90 CC diesel with a Thule Motion 3 XL 500l box on the roof. Average mpg was an indicated 40.7 vs approx 45mpg without the box. A 10% hit seems reasonable to me.

They do a low version of the same box with 400l volume. A consideration for me is height. Overall, my car + Box comes in at 1.97m, so just fits the “t” lanes on the autoroute.

[vikingaero]

I've been a Thule roofbox owner for decades, until my sister destroyed two of them.

I bought a Kamei Fosco 510 and it really is mahoosive. It has a slightly higher freeboard (if that is the term!) than the Thule, so as a short powerfully built company director, I use it in conjunction with a folding plastic step that I bought from TKMaxx. I have on occasion bunked up Vikingette2 and got her to sit in the roofbox whilst loading it.

The 510 takes up the whole inner width of the roofbar on our Passat B8 and it is long, but just about allows the tailgate to open fully. Pros: Better quality and design, lip around the roofbox lid is longer and keeps water out (a few drops rather than a cupful on the Thules), better lock, more straps and the brilliant built in clamps that spread with a lever.

Cons: The height of the 510 on top of the roofbars and car takes it to 1cm over 2m. Many ferries state 2.1m, but a lot of car parks are 2m max.

[bunchofkeys]

Bit of a thread revival.

I’ve got a BMW 225XE (MY2018) with a 75 kg roof limit and roof rails already fitted and I need a roof box for family trips (two kids + a buggy) because the boot’s too small.
Thule looks great, with many recommended reviews, but wants £700+ for box and fittings.
As i will only be using this 2–3 times a year, so I don’t want to splurge, but I also don’t want something flimsy that’ll fling my stuff off the M3.

Any solid, budget-friendly recommendations?
Thanks

[edc]

Have a look at roofbox.co.uk. The Thule Pacifica I got was a discontinued model. It works fine. It's now about to be used on a Mini Countryman and fills up most of the width of the bars unlike the Grand Picasso it has been used on. There are also loads of roofboxes sold second hand.

[v8notbrave]

Got an old Thule off eBay for £60 ish few years back perfect for once a year, it looks tired but it's a roof box and they're so well made

Budget £100 for roof bars & feet, for the rare use I didn't bother with locks or aero bars

[sjg]

bunchofkeys said:

Bit of a thread revival.

I ve got a BMW 225XE (MY2018) with a 75 kg roof limit and roof rails already fitted and I need a roof box for family trips (two kids + a buggy) because the boot s too small.
Thule looks great, with many recommended reviews, but wants £700+ for box and fittings.
As i will only be using this 2 3 times a year, so I don t want to splurge, but I also don t want something flimsy that ll fling my stuff off the M3.

Any solid, budget-friendly recommendations?
Thanks

The Halfords / Exodus ones are past generation Thule. Instructions are the same with branding removed, and the phone number for support/spares is the Thule UK number. Have had a 470l one for 5 years or so, lives out in the garden with some camping stuff inside much of the year, still cleans up great.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

Another option if you have a towbar is a Buzrack luggage rack. I already had the plastic boxes from my Defender so it was an inexpensive way of adding aerodynamic storage.

Its done European trips and some light off-roading without issue.

Edited by RustyNissanPrairie on Saturday 11th July 13:57

[Matt_T]

I just bought a Kamei Husky 300. A big advantage of these (they are narrow) is that it fits through my loft hatch for storage.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/roof-boxes/roof-boxes-lo...

Edited by Matt_T on Saturday 11th July 12:19

[E-bmw]

bunchofkeys said:

I ve got a BMW 225XE (MY2018) with a 75 kg roof limit

Well said sir, you are the first person I have ever read that knows his roof limit, most people will just go for the biggest & cram it with way too much stuff without realising there is a limit to what the car can carry.

When I used to use one for camping I just weighed what I needed to and could fit within this limit & went for the smallest size that would carry it with a little margin of error, figuring that whatever size I went for I couldn't get more in & size = inefficiency wrt fuel consumption.