Plenty of space with a simple purchase for your car
Roof boxes are great if you need to carry more stuff than you can fit in the trunk of your car. Even if you have a huge minivan, there’s always that one item that needs to be left behind because the car is simply too full! If you have serious space issues when it comes to packing everything for a long move or a stay away from home, a rooftop box could be the perfect solution. But first things first.
Table of Contents
What is a roof box and why is it useful?
A roof box is a large box that is securely attached to the roof of your car. Roof boxes are designed to provide extra storage space for bulky things like sleeping bags, suitcases, sports bags, camping or outdoor gear, or even sports equipment
The great thing about having a roof box is that you’ll be able to create extra space in your car for a more comfortable ride, or just take even more stuff with you! One of our favorite benefits of the roof box is the ability to store important things you’ll need quick access to that wouldn’t be possible in the trunk.
Also, overstuffed cars can pose a safety hazard. Storing your luggage in a roof box will prevent the driver’s view from suddenly being obstructed by a moving object, and you’ll be perfectly able to see through your rearview mirror.
How do you mount roof boxes to cars?
Unfortunately, you can’t just buy a roof box and mount it on the roof of your car. The starting point for any roof box purchase is a roof rack system, so if you already have a roof rack, great news! If you don’t have a roof rack system, you can always purchase it separately or along with your car box.
If you have your car roof racks installed and ready to go, you’ll need to check the mounting system your roof box uses and see if it’s compatible with your roof rack system. The three most common roof box mounting systems are:
U-bolts
Taking about 10 minutes to mount, this solution uses U-shaped bolts that fit over the crossbars of the roof bars, with screw caps inside the roof box that hold them in place. U-shaped roof boxes fit all types of roof bars, however if you choose Thule roof bars, you’ll need to purchase a T-track adapter to make sure it fits these roof bars.
Power Click Mounting
The fastest system to mount in about five minutes, a pre-installed “claw” grabs the roof rack bars.
What’s the best roof box?
Getting the best car roof box depends on personal preference. Considering the following factors will help you choose the best roof box for your needs.
Capacity
If you are a loner who likes to get lost in the countryside, a small roof box with a smaller capacity might do the job for you. If you’re taking the whole family away for 2 weeks, choose the largest size you can find! As mentioned, if you just need a little extra space and feel like taking a bike or two away, consider a half-sized roof box so you can mount a rooftop bike rack on the other side.
Building Materials
As strange as it may seem, what the roof box is made of will affect its performance. Cheaper roof boxes made of thinner plastic may vibrate in the wind, creating additional noise, or they may not last as long as sturdier roof boxes made of harder plastic. In a nutshell, the more you pay, the more durable are the materials.
Type of siding
As mentioned earlier, roof boxes use a variety of fittings, so it’s worth checking first that they’re compatible with your roof rack system, and second, that they’ll make your life easier.
Type of opening
How you open your roof box is important, especially if you want easy access to items that might be obstructed by other luggage. Keep this in mind when choosing.
