Roof boxes

[dozydave1963]

Anybody have any experience of roof boxes? I know they have an effect on fuel economy, but has anyone used or uses them? Are they secure, which are the best, any opinions please.

[NiedrigerIQ]

No experience with a roof box, however, we got a roof tent on top of our car, weight around 60 kg.....so for taking it on and off we use this...:

https://www.geiger.de/box-lift/index.php?lang=EN

....fuelwise, its a big block on our roof, so more wind resistance than a slimlined roofbox, 0.7 litres more per 100 km....

I'm probably off topic so please ignore....

[jayjay]

I thought about putting a roof box on my car. Of course then I would need to take a set of steps with me to access the contents. As I'm planning a pop top roof installation, it's probably not a good idea - although raising the roof and opening the box would inevitably give immediate access to whatever I stored inside!

As I can't reach the roof of my van to clean it without climbing a stepladder, I doubt I would be able to load/unload a roof box. Just something you might need to consider.

[dozydave1963]

Thanks for the comments. I will be using it for car camping, with a Toyota Corolla, so access won't be an issue. I am mainly concerned with security as it will be easy to reach. Are they really robust or am I asking for trouble? Have any members of this forum any experience of them, short or long term? 😊🚙

[jayjay]

Can't really comment on security as I've never used a roof box, but another thing I thought of was the weight you put inside.. that needs keeping an eye on because of loaded weight maximum figures.

I guess a heavy padlock would be a good idea!

[karenw]

This is something I will be looking into when eventually out of lockdown and able to travel again. My concern isn't so much security but being able to fit beneath some specific height barriers.

[NiedrigerIQ]

For ease of access we got one of these...

https://youtu.be/CX5BjgzISqs

but I'm off topic again....

I think in a roof box are normally lightweight not too valuable items...so I would not be worried........

I would also trust these...:

https://youtu.be/xOzWREcvMcA

...anyway, I am mostly travelling in almost civilised countries, so we are not permanently surrounded by robbers and thieves...... ......;-)