Roof box help pls

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sat 24 Oct 2020 15:43
Roof box help pls - JIM1234

As part of a master’s in engineering, I am looking into the possible redesign of roof boxes. It would be a real help if you could answer any of these questions for me.

1) Why did you buy a roof-box in the first place?

2) What qualities were important for you in selecting that roof-box?

3) What items did/do you store in the roof-box when in use?

4) How often did/do you use the roof-box?

5) Where did/do you store the roof-box when not in use?

6) Do you interact with the Roof-box (have a use for it) when it is not on the roof of your car?

7) Do you find putting the roof box on the car can be a hassle?

Thanks very much for your help

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 15:47
Roof box help pls - Brit_in_Germany

As part of a master’s in engineering, I am looking into the possible redesign of roof boxes. It would be a real help if you could answer any of these questions for me.

1) Why did you buy a roof-box in the first place?

To put things in it when using the car.

2) What qualities were important for you in selecting that roof-box?

Honesty and fidelity.

3) What items did/do you store in the roof-box when in use?

Malt whisky.

4) How often did/do you use the roof-box?

Once a year.

5) Where did/do you store the roof-box when not in use?

On the car.

6) Do you interact with the Roof-box (have a use for it) when it is not on the roof of your car?

I try and talk to it daily.

7) Do you find putting the roof box on the car can be a hassle?

Yes

Thanks very much for your help

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 18:56
Roof box help pls - dan86

As part of a master’s in engineering, I am looking into the possible redesign of roof boxes. It would be a real help if you could answer any of these questions for me.

1) Why did you buy a roof-box in the first place?
Needed more space for holiday stuff
2) What qualities were important for you in selecting that roof-box?
Size
3) What items did/do you store in the roof-box when in use?
Luggage
4) How often did/do you use the roof-box?
Once or twice a year
5) Where did/do you store the roof-box when not in use?
In the garden
6) Do you interact with the Roof-box (have a use for it) when it is not on the roof of your car?
No its an inanimate object hard to interact with
7) Do you find putting the roof box on the car can be a hassle?
Yes as its awkward to maneuver as its bigger than me
Thanks very much for your help

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 19:18
Roof box help pls - _

As part of a master’s in engineering, I am looking into the possible redesign of roof boxes. It would be a real help if you could answer any of these questions for me.

1) Why did you buy a roof-box in the first place?

To put the mother in law in

2) What qualities were important for you in selecting that roof-box?

Integrity, soundproof

3) What items did/do you store in the roof-box when in use?

as above

4) How often did/do you use the roof-box?

when needed

5) Where did/do you store the roof-box when not in use?

used it for mother in law to sleep in at home, she snores

6) Do you interact with the Roof-box (have a use for it) when it is not on the roof of your car?

We don't speak the same language, it's from china.

7) Do you find putting the roof box on the car can be a hassle?

Very simple, I pay my Mercedes dealer £200 an hour to fix it, PLUS VAT

Thanks very much for your help

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 19:48
Roof box help pls - brum

Here's my experience in brief

I didnt buy a roof box but hired one to put on my Alhambra the year we went seven up across Europe. It was one of the largest Tuhle ones that could be fitted to an Alhambra.

I can't justify buying because a) they are very expensive (even to hire) b) I don't need one 99% of the time and c) I can't store it anywhere, they are too big, even if they were cheap, the storage of the box when not in use is a problem

Because I hired, someone fitted/unfitted it for me, it looked like a quite a task.

Even though it was a large model, it didn't seem to have a great capacity for packed cases, the shape, curved edges, internal height and the intrusions required by the roof bars compromised its ability to pack suitcases well. If you are the kind that just stuff things loose like soft bags it might have been a bit better. Stuff also moved around en route.

Being on top of an Alhambra, we need to take a small pair of step ladders with us to access it on holiday. which we kept in the boot, negating some of the advantages.

I worried a lot about security, not trusting the flimsy looking locking arrangement, and it was a pain to unload/load every day.

I was surprised it made very little difference to the handling or stability of the car even at 90mph on the autobahn, also very quiet.

If you redesign one, it would be nice if somehow it can be disassembled to stote away in a small package. Security is important. Loading and unloading is a pain. Think about the possibility of loading from the side instead of the top, that would also give the advantage of not needing the height to open up.

Next time I won't bother. Either get or hire a larger car or use two instead.Never going to be a popular accessory IMO.

Hope this helps?

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Sat 24 Oct 2020 20:01
Roof box help pls - daveyjp

I bought a roof bag. Can be removed once at destination and stored easily. Once home it rolls up and lives in the loft.

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 11:59
Roof box help pls - kiss (keep it simple)

Probably not quite relevant to your questions but food for thought.

When I was a kid my Dad built a roof box for our camping holidays in France. The lid converted into a table. The box itself then converted into a shelving unit. It wasn't very aerodynamic and being built of plywood, rather heavy. I am sure modern materials could produce something even better but it did its job.

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 12:31
Roof box help pls - JIM1234

This is definitely relevant to my question and research. Adding functionality is a route I am considering. Great idea from your father.

Cheers

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 12:31
Roof box help pls - JIM1234

Really good insight. Thanks very much for your help

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 12:34
Roof box help pls - JIM1234

Really good insight. Thanks very much for your help

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 14:59
Roof box help pls - concrete

Really good insight. Thanks very much for your help

It looks like you could be re-inventing the wheel! The trusted Thule boxes seem to fill the requirements and are tried and tested. I would imagine to make then aerodynamic this compromises the design somewhat. No square surfaces to produce drag etc. Personally I would not use one. We managed to pack the car with enough holiday regalia without the need for one. My old Dad had his 'holiday mantra'.

"Take half the amount of luggage and twice the amount of money" Works every time.

Cheers Concrete

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Sun 25 Oct 2020 17:37
Roof box help pls - dan86

Really good insight. Thanks very much for your help

It looks like you could be re-inventing the wheel! The trusted Thule boxes seem to fill the requirements and are tried and tested. I would imagine to make then aerodynamic this compromises the design somewhat. No square surfaces to produce drag etc. Personally I would not use one. We managed to pack the car with enough holiday regalia without the need for one. My old Dad had his 'holiday mantra'.

"Take half the amount of luggage and twice the amount of money" Works every time.

Cheers Concrete

Our old Chrysler gran voyager was big enough for all five of us plus all our holiday luggage but that died an expensive death the current Nissan Qashqai is great for every day use bus not for all holiday gear so the roofbox is used it's a Kamie roof box so cheaper than a Thule but just as good. The Nissan still uses less fuel whilst traveling faster than the chrysler even fully loaded with 5 people baby's buggy holiday luggage in the roof box and food and drink in the boot.

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Mon 26 Oct 2020 11:34
Roof box help pls - Stackman II

We bought a Kamei roofbox some years ago when we were camping with teenage children and a Renault Laguna.

We used it to put camping gear in, mostly long things like wind-breaks and lighter bulky stuff like bedding.

Priorities when buying were capacity and value for money.

To aid ease of fitting once we had fitted the roof bars to the car and the roof box to the bars we subsequently removed and re-fiited the whole assembly together.

After arriving at the campsite we would always remove the roof box so we weren't driving around with it empty all week. With 2 people it was reasonably easy to remove.

Having seen burst-open roof box contents by the side of the Autoroute we have always fitted a ratchet strap after locking up.

When not in use it hangs up in the roof space of my bottom garden shed.

Since driving convertibles for the last 5 years it has been less useful !

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