Come talk to me about roof boxes...

[YellowDinosaur]

So we have just bought a new car with a smaller boot which was already full to bursting when we went camping. We used to have a vauxhall zafira which I loved but it was falling apart and we couldn't afford another large car..

So we are getting a 580l roof box. But I have no idea if there is anything different between the different brands out there. Are the Thule ones really worth the extra money or will we be fine with a halfords one?

Ideally we'd spend as little as possible but would rather buy an expensive one now than a cheap onewe replace in a couple of years because it is shit.

Cheers for your advice!

We have a Halfords one - it's absolutely fine. Just never let go of the lid of a roofbox when it's windy.... and always have two people to fit it on the roof....

the voice of experience!

Thanks kbear that's helpful.

Dh is also asking if it matters whether it is left or right opening since he has found one that lets you choose.

We've had our Halfords one for years now. Still going strong.

We had a cheap halfords one which got ruined in a crash so upgraded to a more expensive one.

The more expensive one is much easier to use, particularly opening and fitting it.

Left or right handed - well it depends. Do you have a driveway? If so then loading isn't an issue at home. Id go for drivers side opening though because that's how I naturally park if I can, so if you had to park on a street and unload, it's doable.

We put our roof box on the passenger side of the car so ours opens that way. Ours is a Halfords box too and is still going strong after about 10 years.

We have a Thule and it opens at either side. Have had it for 3/4 years now with no problems. Very happy with it.

That's all helpful thanks!

One more question - does it really matter to be able to open both sides? Because for when we'd use it (camping mainly our going to my parents possibly) i'm not sure it would make any difference

I don't think it matters about opening both sides.

It does matter if a gust of wind takes it and it hits the car/an innocent bystander though, and the hinges snap off (this happened to our friends at the start of their weekend away - the atmosphere was decidedly cool between them when they arrived at the site two hours after we did!!).

No I think one sided opening is fine

We have a big fat Thule, and it opens both sides.

IMHO this is absolutely necessary if you are going camping as the only adult and are a bit of a shortarse (as I am). Even with my trusty folding step stool to add 9 inches to my height/reach I am unable to get at stuff which has rolled into the crevasses at the far edge of the roofbox from the opposite side (if that makes sense). Being able to go round the other side and hoick it out without swearing/sweating/disappearing half into the box makes a world of difference.

Also handy when packing, you can squeeze more in if you can go at it from both sides! :)

Bigger the better!

Our mahoosive Halfords one has been all over Europe and it's fine - squashed bugs from all over the place on the front - but fine

Speaking as a fellow shortarse I second everything lovecat says about the open both sides thing. I've got packing it off to a fine art now and to get the maximum capacity you need to pack from both sides.

Hmm that makes sense about being able to get at it from both sides.... I ask a mere 5 ft nothing although dh makes up for it at 6 ft 4....

Don't go on holiday to France and leave your roofbox keys in your husband's jeans pocket in the dirty laundry pile.

He had to wrench it open with his bare hands to get at our stuff, then we spent a happy few hours at a French Halfords equivalent buying another one.

We have an Exodus one from halfords and it's great - opens one side.

We've recently been where youre're at now and was recommended the roofbox company: www.roofbox.co.uk. The Kamei boxes come out rated consistently higher than Thule and other brands in indepndent tests and are often much cheaper because they are not as well known. They also supply boxes for car manufacturers - for instance the Kamei make the box that Mercedes Benz supply for £££s but the same box with Kamei on it was considerably cheaper. Same with bars, we went for Atera bars rather than Thule bars again because they supply to te car manufacturers and were cheaper and in my view much better quality. You can also get more in the Kamei boxes than other brands generally as they have more useable space. There is a chart on the roofbox website that shows how much of the stated capacity for each of the roofbox manufacturers is actual usable space.

The roofbox company do packages which can work out much more cost effective than buying separately and were really helpful in terms of advising me on which was the best option for the car we have. They also have a bargain bin for returned, bew new boxes which they discount.I think side opening boxes are a lot more accessible than rear opening boxes which is why te rear open boxes are cheaper. Also measure the length of your car roof and make sure that you're happy with the size of the box on top of the car as a really big box could swamp your car.

I have to say we inhereted a box from Halfords from my dad and it was very cheaply made and it was difficult to close (think it was an Exodus) and I personally didn't like it, hence the research and buying of another more suitable box for us. Good luck

Thanks renlo. Interestingly dh was looking last night and came up with that company and the kamei boxes so that's good to hear. Interesting about atera bars too. Will look into it a bit more...

We pack one of those fold flat steps in the car somewhere so we can access the box without hanging off the roof rails, it's good for doubling up as something to sit on too.