Hi am looking at buying a roof box to save taking the trailer. I want a large one (family of 7) to fit a seat alhambra. I have looked at the link from ukcampsite to the roofbox co, and they say 2 smaller would be better than 1, surely this can't be right as you wouldn't be able to get a large suitcase in, or do you just shove clothes in? Also any advice on which make/quality to look at would be appreciated, thank you,
Kathryn
------------- Visit Llandrindod Wells! Great scenery, walks, cycling, red kites. Ideal for exploring Mid Wales.
If this helps ours is an Autoplas, approx 52ins long and 46 wide and quite deep its quite a large roof box, takes 80kg.
My Bro gave it to us and it is just what we needed.
We had loads of practise runs first to see how to pack it the best way, but it takes our tent unrolled and laying flat, carpet, and a couple of flat foldaway things like the cooker stand, roll up stuff like our table and loads of bottles of wine packed around the edges, triple wrapped up of course. and anything else we can wedge in.
You have to weigh up the allowance you car can take etc!
just remember your roof will have a weight limit which can be around 70kg so this will restrict what you can carry up there.don't forget you have to deduct the weight of the roof box from what ever your cars limit is.
as to one or two boxes the problem with the big wide ones is getting the stuff in and out so if you do get one make sure it can be opened from both sides.
As a company hiring out the range of Thule roof boxes we get asked a lot whether you can fit suitcases into a roof box. What we always say is that roof boxes lend themselves much better to soft bags such as holdalls rather than traditional suitcases. This is because modern roof boxes are very much more aerodynamic than of old and so taper towards the front rather than being a big rectangle in shape. Using holdalls means you can fully utilise the volume of the roof box, infact the best bags to use are the ones that you can attach a vacuum cleaner to and suck out all the air. Remember though that you need the use of a vacuum at the other end of your journey!
we also use the autoplas 415 litre box. we havent had any problems with it and can fit lots of our equipment up there. including chairs, sleepng bags, kitchen unit, tables and windbreaks. which gives us much more room in the car.
we got ours from here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROOF-BOX-AUTOPLAS-415-LITRE-LOCKABLE-ALL-BLACK-NEW-/200585318162?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eb3d10f12
Wow £77 isn't bad. I have spoken to a hire company and I can hire a 470L mont blanc for £65, or they'll sell me a 540 for £189 plus £40 for the bars, just got to find out if a montblanc is a good make
------------- Visit Llandrindod Wells! Great scenery, walks, cycling, red kites. Ideal for exploring Mid Wales.
hi we to are looking into getting a roof box for the first time, this thread is helpfull, if you have any further info please post. We are roofbox virgins, dont have a clue.
Hi Arlene - I had no idea either and i was recommended (via this forum) to look at the Roof Box Company (via link from the Shop section - you then get a discount) and that was so helpful. You just type in your car make and model and it comes up with the various options of roof bars. Then you choose which box dependent on price and requirements. I found them really helpful.
We got our roof bars off of ebay OH only wanted genuine volvo ones and our cross bars from there as well, lockable ones.
When our car is parked outside the house the height of the kerb gives us enough height to pack our box, at the other end we just stand on the sills. I apparently have long arms very monkeylike which help, and no their not quite down to my knees yet lol!
We do not have a garage or private drive so a roof box was our only option, we just take the whole thing off attached to the cross bars and store it in the garden, amazingly it doesn't leak!
We have the handi rack (inflatable roof bars) and handi holdall ( a soft roofbox) more than impressed with them! Bit awkward to fit first time but once you have the hang of it they are great!!
Great think about it is they pack away really small! Take up about the same space as a sleeping bag once put in their storage bags!
I've got the Handi stuff too - so useful, fits in loads, long zip so access both sides, I'm an average height female and can fit and pack it myself, no problems. Then you just keep it in the boot till you need it again!
hi all,i have an exodus 580 litre black gloss from halfords.not cheap but does the job.i had two large suitcases and a smaller one at the front in mine.mind you its about 6 feet long so wouldnt suit a small car.i had it on my galaxy.