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Bludall
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 8557
Location: East Midlands
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: Roof box |
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I want to buy a car roof box tomorrow from Halfords as they have a sale on at the moment. I know nothing about roof boxes, having never seen one in operation. Are some better than others, use wise, security wise? I have an Astra hatchback, so I'm not looking for a monster box, just one to put our camping gear in. I've looked at the full width ones, around the 350l size.
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 7773
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: |
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As you will have already seen probably, there are side or rear opening ones - I reckon side is easier for loading.
Need to look at how it seals up - travelling at 60-70 MPH in the driving rain (this is for a british summer holiday, I guess :D ) the tiniest gap int the seal between base and lid will let water in.
and then there is the ease of locking - some can be real pigs, others are just semi-pigs. Get the guy from halfords to show you and get him to demo on a rack that is above shoulder height - as you will not be able to put weight on it that easily when it is stuck onthe roofrack.
Thule are the #1 make by far, so use that as the benchmark and see how the halfords ones compare (they sell thule as well) and if they come close enough and have a decent saving, prob ok.
Security wise, they cannot be removed from roofrack or car without either geting access inside or taking the whole roofrack away, so as secuiry as the lock fitted to them. I would not keep anything of real value in them.
If you are a bit paranoid of them opening up travelling along (I was at first), then you could use a couple of straps to make sure - Halfords sell them for about £5 a pair and they come in VERY handy for all sorts of things anyway 
this is a very good site with lots of boxes and goodprices - could use this to beat halfords down if need be - http://www.roofbox.co.uk/
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peter c
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 326
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:21 am Post subject: |
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My brother had a Thule (sold as a Ford accessory) on his Galaxy a few years ago, it was very good and did not leak. I think you have to have the corresponding roof rack though.
Peter C
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 7773
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:23 am Post subject: |
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It may depend on the model of Thule?
The Thule roofbox I have has a series of holes in the base and you use the appropriate pairs to match your roof rack bar position (and you use little stickers to cover up the holes you are not using 
I first used this on a Honda HR-V which had no flexibility in the position of the cross-bars and it was fine - had a very large latitude for fixing
eBay is a good source for getting roofboxes cheaper then shops as many people buy them, use them once or twice and then decide to get rid.
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Hitch
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 2429
Location: Somerset
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Dont forget to take it off when your not using it 
Cut down on noise and fuel
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EJJ150847
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Jan 2008
Posts: 1379
Location: Fareham, Hampshire
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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Louise, Put Hubby and kids in another car, all luggage in yours and peace will reign,
your music, no back seat drivers, go as fast as you like
Where's the problem ? all in the other car!
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Bludall
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 8557
Location: East Midlands
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Well to update the roof box saga.
I phoned up Halfords to check stock availability. Decided upon a sale reduced £160 box (Was nearly £300), 470 litre capacity, silver colour, that had superior build quality a 60kg load and would fit all the bulky camping stuff in. My oh put the Astra roof bars on, we pulled up outside the shop.
My oh took one look at the displayed box and measured it against the car roof. It was too long because some Vauxhall muppet had planted the bl**dy aerial in too far and it would have fouled the box and have been bent too much.  We ended up with the cheaper, full width 350 litre option in dark grey £111 in the sale (was over £200 before). It's the only time that I would have gladly spent more!! I have to admit that it does seem fairly sturdy, looks about the right size and we can get the bulky stuff that we need in it. Now we just have to get over the fear that we'll lose it off the roof, get it broken into or lose the key!!
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 7773
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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issue with the ariel is common - had that on my HR-V and just had to position the box with the ariel bent over.
I saw a german registered SEAT today with a large Roof Box and they had stuck some foam on the underneath at the end, so when the rear hatch was opened, it would act as a pad to stop the glass banging onto the roofbox, which was a neat idea I thought
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If you have a son, DO NOT name him after a verb ....
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