Think about “shape” in addition to the price and attributes
The decision of the best roof box will be heavily influenced by the basic shape of box best suits your requirements. This means that the primary consideration is “What is the width of the box?” followed by “What length of box?”
It’s often quite simple to determine the kind of box to opt for. 1. If you want to place other items on the roof as well as the box, whether now or later, choose an option that allows space for roof bars. That’s obvious. Small or medium-width boxes be ideal for those who need the freedom to transport bikes, windsurfers or kayaks. Rule 2: If you need to carry large objects over 2 metres, you’ll need an extra long box, no matter the width. Also , it’s obvious!
Even when you don’t have a lot of long things to carry It’s likely that the long-width box is for you best if it’s used by a family of four or five people. Long full-width and long medium-width boxes are by far and away our most well-loved ‘family flexible boxes. There’ll usually be space on the roof bars for at minimum one bike carrier particularly if you’re using T-track aluminum aerobars (which allow the full width of bars for load carrying) If you pick the type of roof bars that extend beyond the roof bar’s “feet’.
“Long boxes” will most likely be bigger than your car’s roof and will stick out over the windscreen But “So What?” – you won’t notice the box while in your car.
There’s no such thing as an exclusive box for a particular car, but it’s sensible to be in a position to open your tailgate fully, making sure that any tailgate spoiler doesn’t touch the rear of the box. Hence, there are boxes that aren’t suitable for particular cars. Sometimes, the position of the roof bars on your car’s roof will require some boxes to be positioned in an unsatisfactory way; we’ll inform you of these undesirable combinations when we’re able to provide the information.
Price is important but bear in your mind that a roof box can be expected to last through many family holidays and weekends away; it should offer many years of reliable and solid service. We don’t sell any of the cheapest boxes due to the fact that there are genuine doubts about their safety and construction quality.
Different shapes to suit different needs More details
Here are some additional “Rules of thumb” that apply when boxes are fitted to 120cm or 118cm aluminium T slot roof bars: There’s enough space in a medium-length box to fit 2 bike carriers, and space on a long full-width box for 1 bike carrier. Mid-length medium-width boxes are usually sufficient for a family of 4people, leaving enough room for up to 2 bicycle carriers. Be aware that 3 bikes may normally be placed on the rear of the vehicle and 4 bikes onto a tow bar.
Narrow roof boxes (up to 60cm wide)
People usually need to choose small boxes to create space for the tops of normal width vehicle to accommodate a kayak or for three or more bicycle carriers.
Medium-width roof boxes (up up to 75 centimeters wide)
These boxes are considerably easier than full-width boxes for one decently sturdy person to lift and move around safely, not only due to the fact that they’re usually lighter, but also due to the fact that you can get hold of the boxes on both sides. Based on the type of roof bars you are using, you must be able to put at least one bike on the roof, often two bikes.
They are among our most sought-after family boxes, because of the flexibility they offer.
There’s a filter on the mid-width car roof box lists to exclude mid-length and long boxes.
Full-width roof boxes (up up to 95cm in width)
Wide roof boxes put limits in the amount of other things you can carry onto the roof. There is usually roof bar space for one bike carrier, contingent on the width of your roof bars as well as whether you’re using aluminium T-track bars.
There’s a filter in the full-width category only for short boxes and for long boxes.
Long full-width containers are extremely bulky and difficult for one person to move on their own and can be substantially more difficult to store.
The majority of our new customers have not used a roof box previously, which is why roofs are definitely something that people begin to think about when they begin to think about buying one. We really want you to purchase a good box on the first try However, if you don’t you can say “No worries”, you can exchange it.
Boxes for roofs are our specialist field and we’ve established by experience which models will keep up with the pace for many seasons, but which often don’t, regardless of the manufacturer’s guarantees. We’re also confident in our recommendations, comments and rating stars. If you purchase from us (and we hope that you do!) you might be purchasing an item from a roof-box manufacturer you haven’t heard of before No worries!
Volume versus capacity. It’s not always what they appear
Don’t be too critical of manufacturers’ estimates of capacities (litres). A few extra centimetres of height can make an enormous difference to the actual capacity of a roof box but it’s likely to have no effect on the actual utility of the box especially if the box lid is a striking design. However, the smaller the box , the less winds resistance. You can put an additional layer of bags at the base of the box, and add layers of flatter objects and coats on top of them; every box can be large enough to accommodate two soft bags. Therefore, “Length and width are the most significant indicators of effectiveness”.
Unless otherwise stated The boxes we sell will accommodate several sets of golf clubs or a good-sized tent and sleeping bags etc. A lot of customers want to know if their child’s buggy will fit in the roof of the box. The answer is that “It depends” the dimensions of the wheels is the usual problem. Don’t forget that it’s likely to be a lot easier to place the buggy at the back of the vehicle and utilize the roof box for other things. Hard suitcases, especially large ones, are not usually suitable for use with roof boxes; soft bags are always more appropriate.
Box features you won’t observe, but the most important onesinclude:
Boxes appear on the surface of it , very basic products comprised of two plastic pieces connected with hinges locks and struts. Many manufacturers source these components from these same European suppliers.
Safety
The boxes we offer have been subjected to thorough crash-testing, meeting ISO standards. If you’re considering other brands, which includes supermarket brands, ask the safety questions!
If you’re planning on carrying skis, look out for boxes with a “safety nose” which is an additional energy-absorbing border that’s intended to prevent skis from bursting through the box’s front in a high energy collision.
Security
We’ve seen boxes where both hinges in the front and the rear are too far from the sides of the box. The plastic is too thin, and it’s easy enough to open either side and inspect the inside – some are so fragile that you’re able to put your arm inside and take things out. You can be sure that our boxes come with properly designed locking systems.
Materials
The thickness and the grade of plastic makes a significant difference in the overall box’s quality. Boxes have to endure huge pressures at speed and smaller plastic boxes like those that have a seem like eggs are more likely to rattle when used for a long time, because the rivets can compress the plastic’s thickness and cause it to move. This isn’t the case with larger or heavier plastic boxes.
Except where stated, all boxes we sell are manufactured out of different ABS plastic that is UV-protected, and they’re completely recyclable.
Waterproofing
The waterproofing process is typically based on what the mold is made of, the length of the overlap between the base and lid and the method of covering the roof bar and fixing slots or holes into the base.
Box features are those that are most noticeable:
Locking systems
Central locking is a smart idea, but it often makes roof boxes harder to shut!
This is because the majority of central locking devices require a centrally located key that is turned at the same time, both the front and the rear of the box need to be closed properly. This seems simple enough but will become a three hands operation (two people!) When there’s bulky equipment inside the box, securing the lid in place even soft coats might cause this issue – or when the base is wobbling due to its weakness or the box has been placed incorrectly, with too much weight at the front or the back.
KAMEI’s central locking mechanism is different; you unlock the box by turning the quarter-turn of a key however, you don’t need to touch the key when locking it. Simply push the box closed until there is a sound that signifies that the three locking points are been engaged. At that point, keys can be removed. The Husky and Delphin range features push button locks at each end, which allows the user to lock one end and then the other.
The Atera Casar, INNO boxes and Thule Motion XTs come with the pull-close to lock system.
Gas struts or spring struts
Calix and KAMEI make use of hydraulic struts that keep the lid in place, the technology that holds up your vehicle’s tailgate which makes for a smooth opening and closing system. Some boxes employ spring-assisted struts. This is not a big deal in either of the cases.
Bar to box fitting systems
Our experience has been that every box is the same speed and simple to fit to roof bars regardless of whether or they are equipped with quick fit systems. Marketing professionals make a huge claim about their fast fitting system however in reality, some of these are bulky and take up too much space inside the box. The smaller the profile of the fittings are, the better.
It’s definitely not easy to attach U bolts to full-width single-side opening boxes. You’ll need to extend a considerable distance to attach the hinge side fittings – but it’s not an issue with any of the boxes we offer. They KAMEI Husky and Delphin boxes feature grippers which hold their U bolts until the butterfly nuts are connected to ensure that the U bolts will not fall over the car’s roof. They are also equipped with T-track adapters for aluminum bars.
Hapro and Thule employ rubber-covered claw grippers that fit over all the bars we stock, and tightened by turning a couple of turns of a twister wheel. the top of them have an automatic torque mechanism that stops over-tightening and ensures that the tension on the bars is in the right place. The disadvantage of gripper systems is that they should not be used on the surface of the feet of the roof bar. each Hapro and Thule sell T-track adapters an accessory, which gives full flexibility regarding where the roof box should be set on the bars. This is vital if carrying bikes on the roof.
KAMEI’s Fosco and Oyster boxes feature their ultra-low profile ClickFix system that is by some way the fastest fitting system available designed for use with T-track aluminum bars only.
It’s important to note that many individuals leave their boxes permanently fixated to the roof bars, then storing the two together, perhaps employing a roof box hoist to pull the whole lot into the garage roof space, so fitting time is not a factor. Consider asking yourself the question “If I bring my box on vacation three times a year, and the slow but often lower profile U bolt fittings require an additional 2 minutes to fit each time, does this really make much difference?”
Better quality boxes have adjustable fitting systems which will accommodate unique roof bar centers This eliminates the trouble of drilling additional holes.
Double side openings
The dual side-opening feature, the capacity to open a box from the left side or from the right side, is helpful for full-width boxes especially in tall vehicles. However, it is less beneficial for smaller boxes due to the ease of access , these boxes should be placed situated on one side of the car or the other, and cannot then be opened from the opposite side. Place a box in middle of the car might seem more tidy, but unless you’re using a large box, you’ll be forced to stretch to balance it on the sill of your door and at the risk of straining your back.
Rear-opening boxes permit access from all three corners of the boxes simultaneously depending on the height and width of the car.
Styling and streamlining
The best boxes will be silent in use. Boxes placed too close to the roof are likely to generate a whistling noise at higher speeds, so it is recommended that the roof bars are lifted minimum 10cm off the roof of your car.
The parts of roof bars that are not covered by a roof box are likely to generate the most noise. However, if you’re buying a top quality box it is sensible to invest into the latest low-drag and low-noise technology. Choose Atera aero-profile bars or CRUZ Airo bars, Thule WingBars or Yakima Whispbars.
You’ll require roof bars
Roof boxes are typically attached to a set roof bars, which is a set of steel or aluminium bars that cross the car from one end to the other. Vehicles fitted with longitudinal roof rails are still required to have a set of roof bars running from rails to.
Aside from other than the KAMEI Fosco and Oyster boxes, which only fit into T-track slots, any type of roof box can be fitted to any brand of roof bars, regardless of whether these roof bars are made from us or through an auto dealer.
Of course we would like to offer you the entire box and rooftop bars however there is more to it beyond this. The issue is that dealer-supplied bars are stylish and stylish, but they’re not practical being too weirdly designed to fit anything other than the roof box. For instance, you might not locate bike carriers that can be fitted to them.
It’s also worth noting that some dealer-supplied ‘Original Equipment bars are actually own-badged Atera also known as Thule bars.
If you love the look of roof bars that have closed ends, in the sense that there are no end of the bar sticking of the mountings (we refer to them as “through bars”) then you have to look to see the availability of CRUZ Airo Fuse, Thule WingBar Edge or Yakima flush bars that are available for your vehicle.
Flush bars are always shorter than through bars and will make it difficult to transport bikes on the roof, as well as a roof box.
Bars of aluminium or steel
Aluminium bars are not just more attractive than steel bars, but nowadays most of them are low noise / low drag. You aren’t going to hear those Middle C background hum, often loud and disruptive, which is common with steel bars that have square edges.
Aluminum bars can also be used to lift more weight onto the roof, thanks to “T-track” slots that run throughout the length of the bars. They are specifically designed to hold adapters.
Aside from the noise, the likely problem for steel bar is the bar for fixing to your vehicle is likely to be placed in the wrong spot for your roof box and bike carrier fixings (U bolts, also known as claw grippers) that are wrapped between the bars. This is why you will generally carry a larger load on T-track aluminium bars than you can carry on steel bars.
If you’re already using aluminium bars, or you decide to purchase the bars from us Be certain to purchase the appropriate roofing box adapters for T-track! These are included as an option in some roof boxes however they are an essential accessory for all.
Many top manufacturers of roof bars have now followed Yakima’s lead and produce low noise roof bars. Alongside Yakima Whispbar you should look out on Thule WingBars, Atera aero-profile bars and Atera aero-profile bars. Atera is among the German car rack systems as well as the less expensive but nonetheless excellent CRUZ bars manufactured in Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions (not answered elsewhere)
Customers tend to be asking the same questions, especially if they’ve never before had a roofbox before. Here are some frequently asked questionsand their solutions:
Do I need any other items besides bar for the roof and a roof box?
No. An assortment of box-to- standard bar fittings is provided with every roof box we sell, along with the straps used to keep luggage in place. If a box is locked, it isn’t possible to remove it from the bars as the fittings that secure it to the roof bars are tightened up inside the box. Once the fittings are tightened, the box is locked.
Which side has Left hand opening, and which side is Right hand opening?
Left hand opening boxes are accessible on the passenger side of a normal UK right hand drive vehicle nearside. Right hand opening refers to ‘driver’s side’ or ‘offside’.
I have a fully-length box that seems to hang over the bars quite a distance. Are you sure?
Yes. The boxes are built in such a way that around one third is hung over the rear bar, one third rests on roof bars, and one third extends over the front bar.
Accessories for the roof box
We offer a variety of roof box accessories, including specially designed rooftop box bags internal lamps, storage devices, and cover covers that protect.
