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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I’ve got a roof box off free cycle. Husband has gone mad!

284 replies

VWCJW · 09/06/2022 22:02

Every holiday, my husband prides himself on taking hardly anything to a self catering holiday, and gets really stressed by me and my daughter taking a normal amount of clothes. He moans that it all won’t fit in the car and our kids sit with loads of stuff by their feet and piled up between them. This year, we have a long journey through France and our kids are getting taller so I got a roof box and my husband has got really upset and stressed about it. He says he doesn’t want to drill holes in his car and it means we will just take more stuff we don’t need. He was literally shaking about it. I’ve told him we will get rid but I don’t really want to. We have a massive box of footballs in the garage and I am sure they could be stored in the roof box so it won’t take up more room but he just says he hopes we will have less footballs in the future. He’s clearly not thinking properly as our son is really sporty and will probably end up with rugby and basketballs too, once at secondary school. Am I right to think that a roof box is a good thing? I see loads of cars with them. Or is he right and they are just an excuse to take a load of extra crap you don’t need?

OP posts:
Rolypolyup · 09/06/2022 22:04

Why do you need to drill holes? Are you able to purchase roof box bars for your car?

YouHaveNoAuthorityHereJackie · 09/06/2022 22:05

Is it one that’s compatible with your car? I don’t think roof bars mean drilling holes in your car do they? I don’t think I’d want one taking up room in the garage just to store balls in though

TokyoSushi · 09/06/2022 22:05

What an odd reaction! Roof boxes are really helpful! You don't drill holes in the car!

brookstar · 09/06/2022 22:05

That is a very odd reaction to a roof box! And why would he need to drill holes in the roof of the car?

We have a roof box and it's a life saver when we go away... especially for storing beach stuff as it means it doesn't need to go in the car so you don't get sand everywhere.

Unless you have a huge car/van I'd say it's pretty essential if you do a lot of driving holidays.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 09/06/2022 22:05

Do you really have to drill holes in the car? If not, maybe use it for France and pass it on if you don’t want it anymore.

TokyoTen · 09/06/2022 22:05

He seems bonkers! We loved ours and it was v useful for camping holidays.

MistyGreenAndBlue · 09/06/2022 22:06

He sounds ridiculous. Why should it matter how much luggage you take if you've made room for it?

LittleAvocet · 09/06/2022 22:06

You don't need to drill holes they can go on roof bars. Does he usually find change really stressful? It sounds like an over the top reaction. Can you tell him it's this or a bigger car?

toomuchlaundry · 09/06/2022 22:06

Why do you have loads of footballs in the garage?

iklboo · 09/06/2022 22:06

Drill holes in the car? What is he on?!

namechange30455 · 09/06/2022 22:07

Are you expecting him to fit it and he's panicking cos he doesn't know how, so having a huge strop about the whole idea?

That's the sort of thing my ex would have done...

Beamish22 · 09/06/2022 22:07

I've never had a roof rack that involved drilling holes in the car! You'll need a roof rack to put the box on - unless that came with it - and it will be clamped firmly in place. First of all have a Google and check that. If it doesn't involve damaging the car you need to sit him down and ask him exactly when it was decided that he would be in charge of everyone else's luggage. He needs to get a grip.

jalopy · 09/06/2022 22:08

We used to hide Christmas presents in ours.

ShaunaTheSheep · 09/06/2022 22:10

I agree with your DH. Travel light.
There's five of us and we've always fitted our stuff for SC trips in the boot under the load cover.

You'll burn more fuel, the car won't handle as well as it should, and anyway it's difficult to get stuff in and out.

smileandsing · 09/06/2022 22:12

If you had to drill holes in the car to fit one, no one would have a roof box!

Perhaps tell him to drive his tiny bag of clothes to France alone and book flights for you and the kids instead!

LubaLuca · 09/06/2022 22:13

Assuming these boxes are universal he's not going to need to drill holes in the car. You get those rack/rail things that I assume are also universal. Perhaps if you sorted that part out he'd have less to worry about.

I don't understand why you're trying to sell it to him as a big box for balls though, with imaginary rugby and basketballs! You've got a roof box, it will be useful for you, that's all there is to it.

VainAbigail · 09/06/2022 22:13

You put a roof box on roof bars which attach to your roof, but not by drilling the roof! Bars have brackets that attach to your car in a certain place! You need to check this all out before DIYing your motor!

Beamish22 · 09/06/2022 22:14

ShaunaTheSheep · 09/06/2022 22:10

I agree with your DH. Travel light.
There's five of us and we've always fitted our stuff for SC trips in the boot under the load cover.

You'll burn more fuel, the car won't handle as well as it should, and anyway it's difficult to get stuff in and out.

A load of family luggage will not affect the handling of the car. If it does there is something wrong with your car. And how can you decide that Op's car has plenty of space for luggage when you don't know what car they have?

Hugasauras · 09/06/2022 22:15

Literally shaking over a free roof box? Confused

springseternalpassion · 09/06/2022 22:17

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springseternalpassion · 09/06/2022 22:17

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WulyJmpr · 09/06/2022 22:18

Put your foot down on this, OP. A roof box makes going on holiday a million times easier. There's no need to drill holes in your car believe it or not.

Also it's not safe or comfortable for your kids to have assorted stuff packed round them in the car especially on a long journey.

Topseyt123 · 09/06/2022 22:18

You don't drill holes in the car to fit the roof box! He's talking through his arse.

You purchase the correct roof rack and bars for your car. Then it clips on easily.

He sounds like a twat. Is he always so controlling? I'd be tempted to tell him to bugger off.

ShaunaTheSheep · 09/06/2022 22:18

Aerodynamics, weight, balance, Beamish22.

And in the OP they say they haven't needed one before.

TolkiensFallow · 09/06/2022 22:18

This is such a male response. I bought one plus roofbars for my car and my husband slated it. For no valid reason.

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