Can anyone help me please regarding a roof rack that would fit onto most models and makes of car? Is it possible to get one? The problem I have is I drive company cars, One day I have a nice big 407 estate or something cool and spacious for my camping gear and the next day something small and cramped and not so spacious. I don't have the option of a trailer as none of the cars have tow bars fitted. Is there any other options?
You could get a pair of bars and different feet for the different cars. Not ideal, I know. It used to be that roof racks clamped onto the rain channel so were interchangeable, but I can't think of a single car with a rain channel these days.
There is an inflatable roof rack which would be universal, but I am a bit sceptical about that.
I think Merry Terrier has one of those roof bag thingies that you just strap to the roof of the car and doesn't need bars. Personally I wouldn't want one as I imagine it's quite easy to scratch the roof - BUT presumably this is less of an issue for you?!
I can't remember what they are called, I'll have a google...
They are sold from online American stores and roofbag.com say they have sold them to people in Britain, though I guess C&E would take their cut. I don't know why they have such a choice of these in America and we have so little (and the Thule ones seem to need bars or even bars and a basket, which seems to make them pretty pointless).
If you want to look them up further, bear two things in mind: Americans call them roof pouches more than roof bags, and what we call roof rails (the things that are on all cars, running from front to back) they seem to call roof bars or even a roof rack. Check that you and they are talking the same language before you buy!
Tesco had some roofbags in a couple of weeks ago. Cost about £30 .. not sure if you need roof bars though. Maybe they would go with the inflatable bars. I wouldn't recommend putting anything heavy in them either.
------------- Christine
2014
April -
BunRoy Fort William 3 sleeps
April / May
Invercaimbe Arisaig 4 sleeps
Bleatarn Brampton tbc July
I use my cycle rack for carrying my tent when I go away ( lets face it tents are not getting smaller ) and I carry my chairs on there - as long as it does not exceed its 75kg wieght limit and it frees up the car a bit - then it folds up and in the boot until I am ready to go home - only cost me £30 too
Louise x
------------- Degsy Rowlands is my love, my life and a lunatic!!!!!!!! Louise x