Roof Box Or Not Roof Box

[Ondaroadagain]

Toying with the Idea of a Roofbox.

 

Only a 240 litre one, so not too large.

 

Its too have less weight over the rear wheels and to spread the load over the cars axles.

 

What would you put in it, bearing in mind that we dont want to take the awning.

 

Thanks

Tim

[Lefthand Down]

My Lafuma Chairs

[Ondaroadagain]

My Lafuma Chairs

They re not very heavy tho?

[wilkhaven]

I use a roof box and put as much of the heavy stuff in it as I can - usually the awning or Jormax fencing, but if not taking that then all the food (cans, bottles, etc and then anything else that will fit to fill it up - clothes, shoes etc. I just feel that the weight is better there than in the caravan, every little helps as they say!

[Ondaroadagain]

Thanks Wilkhaven

 

What size is your box ( perhaps I should re phrase that)

[klyne]

We found a roofbox very useful whilst we were doing our long caravan trips around Europe, I used to call it the 'Loft' !!! We used it for a whole range of things like the ground sheet, sat dis and tripod, washing line, water and waste hose.

 

David

[outnumbered]

i have one of these.

Exodus 360L Roof Box Gloss Black/

in there i put the wind breaks, pegs for the awning, awning poles. electric hook up and a few light things. sat stand

mike

[Guest]

I have a Thule Atlantis roof box which i use to carry larger items such as Lafuma chairs, fold up tables etc. Frees up space in the back of my car.

[Ondaroadagain]

yeah ok Chaps youve convinced me!!

 

is 240 litres enought would you say?

[wilkhaven]

Not sure what size my 'box' is - have had it for many years, it's the longer version but only half the with of the car roof so more than long enough for the awning poles or fencing but still enough room for the two Thule bike carriers as they go up top too.

 

My advice would be to get the biggest box you can afford/fit/feel comfortable with having on the roof! Watch the access though - I have a 4x4 so need to use the caravan step to get proper access to the far side (and I'm not exactly small at 6'5"...!).

[syandi]

Please be aware that there is a weight limit which applies to your roof rails/rack so watch what you put in the box. Mine is allowed up to 65 Kgs which is soon eaten up.

[Zephyr]

Roof boxes are best for soft squishy stuff, in my opinion. The bags of clothes, the sleeping bags, the coats, the missus. ..

[Gone]

I have the thin version, approx half the roof width so i can also fit bike racks up there, but more importantly is it fits through the loft hatch for storage when not in use. They are plastic and degrade fast in sunlight, and as i have no spare space in the garage, loft is a great place to put it!

[The Waltons]

yeah ok Chaps youve convinced me!!

 

is 240 litres enought would you say?

Check out what the max roof weight load is for your car. You will have to deduct the weight of the box and roof bars from that figure to give you a maximum weight you can put in the box. Hope that makes sense.

Also same as the OP. when we put our roof box on Thule atlantis 200 I have to use a set of caravan steps to pack it as we have a 4x4. I have also had 2 bikes on the roof rails as well and still managed to keep under our max weight.

[Bugleboy]

I've got the Thule Atlantis which houses the awning, the annexe, Cadac, rucksacks, boots & waterproofs.

[Marks]

I would be placing all the light bulky stuff in a roof box, and the heavy stuff in the car, most cars have a max 100 kg limit on the roof, but why would you want all that weight so high up.

 

As an additional question, would the right roof box act like a spoiler for the caravan.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Marks

[gump]

we put clothing in holdals in roof box as the bags can be stored flat afteer un like cases.

[The Waltons]

I would be placing all the light bulky stuff in a roof box, and the heavy stuff in the car, most cars have a max 100 kg limit on the roof, but why would you want all that weight so high up.

 

As an additional question, would the right roof box act like a spoiler for the caravan.

Not sure about the spoiler bit, but I have wondered this question myself especially as we have a 4x4 that is rather high and when we had the roof box on it did look more aero dynamic. Were off to France soon without the roof box, so it will be interesting to see what our fuel figures are ?

[Lefthand Down]

 

As an additional question, would the right roof box act like a spoiler for the caravan.

 

It is said they help when towing but that is a whole different topic. It has been discussed.

[Guest]

You do have to consider where you might store it when its not on your car. Also consider if you might want to access it from both sides of your car.

 

Heres my 440 litre Thule Atlantis 200, it opens from either side, and can simply clamp onto the roof bars by just turning a dial. I could have gone larger but I thought the size was about right for my vehicle. ..

 

 

The Atlantis has now been superceded by the Motion model, but they are essentially the same and available in silver or black.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Guest

[blindsider]

it opens from either side, and can simply clamp onto the roof bars by just turning a dial.

 

 

 

 

 

We have found both of these features invaluable since getting our Thule 480. My basis was get as big as will fit/you can afford. You don't have to fill it but it gives so much more flexibility. As per most others, we use it for awning, but not poles - they are too heavy to lift up, table/chairs etc. Also, don't forget kitchen steps make it easier to access.

[Guest]

 

Also, don't forget kitchen steps make it easier to access.

How do you get your kitchen steps into your roof box? Do you carry another set of steps?

[Steamdrivenandy]

Watch out for your overall weight limits as well as the roof limit.

 

I don't know the full details of your car/van combo (year etc) Onda, but according to Autotrader a 9-3 Biopower from 2008 has GVW of 1960kg and a MKW of 1425kg giving a payload of 535kg.

 

Driver and passenger take up 150kg of that (optimistically) and fuel another 50kg (when full). Add in noseweight from the van (say 70kg) and the weight of the towbar assembly (circa 25kg) and your available car payload for what's in the boot, on the rear seat and on the roof becomes 240kg. Our dog and associated bits, plus awning, Aquaroll and Wastemaster add up to about 80kg. Bits and pieces and a 5% safety margin brings our total payload to around 450kg. That's inside your 535kg limit, but a couple of 50kg kids on the back seat would bring the car perilously close to or even over its weight limit.

[blindsider]

How do you get your kitchen steps into your roof box? Do you carry another set of steps?

 

Sorry, but I didn't say that the steps were carried in the roof box (read it again), but not a bad idea? Maybe I can get the boss on my shoulders to give us the extra height to reach it.

[Ondaroadagain]

Watch out for your overall weight limits as well as the roof limit.

 

I don't know the full details of your car/van combo (year etc) Onda, but according to Autotrader a 9-3 Biopower from 2008 has GVW of 1960kg and a MKW of 1425kg giving a payload of 535kg.

 

Driver and passenger take up 150kg of that (optimistically) and fuel another 50kg (when full). Add in noseweight from the van (say 70kg) and the weight of the towbar assembly (circa 25kg) and your available car payload for what's in the boot, on the rear seat and on the roof becomes 240kg. Our dog and associated bits, plus awning, Aquaroll and Wastemaster add up to about 80kg. Bits and pieces and a 5% safety margin brings our total payload to around 450kg. That's inside your 535kg limit, but a couple of 50kg kids on the back seat would bring the car perilously close to or even over its weight limit.

Great answer!!