General Roof Boxes

[umberto]

Thinking of buying a roof box for our fourth coming trip to the isle of white. Advise or recommendations would be nice.
I am currently thinking of buying an Autoplas 415..

Umberto

 

[Alpitlum]

Hi, we bought a 415 for our holiday to wales earlier in the year.
We mounted it on roof bars fitted to the original mount points on the roof, the box does sit forward a few inch over the top of the screen which is meant to be bad for aerodynamics but as we didn't go over 55 it didn't seem to be an issue,

The box sat over to the right of the roof bars giving me plenty of room to mount the fishing rods along side.

When mounting to the bars we drilled new holes on the front mounting point of the box to get the box as far back as possible.



You will need a small step or good agility to open / close the box as it doesn't have gas strut assistance and using after market roof bars was sat quite high.

The instructions I got with the box were pretty useless, if you get it and need any photos of mine to aid in assembly just holler..

 

[umberto]

Hi Mate, when you say it sits a bit forward what do you mean? A photo would be cool before i go and spend £100. Hope you don't mind.

Umberto

 

[Alpitlum]

If you look at the line of the windscreen and then imagine that line continuing upwards, the recomendation is that roof boxes stay behind this line as much as possible, otherwise as air leaves the top of the screen it whacks straight into the bottom of the roof box.

I will grab a photo of the box in the morning , it's not on the car it's with the allegro in the garage.. I will take a few of the inside and the way it fastens together, if you pm me your email address I will send em to you tomorrow evening.

As an edit I will put the bars and box on loosely to give you an idea of what it looks like. Not fastening em on properly but it will give you a good idea of the finished article.

 

[Alpitlum]

http://www.ultimatestyling.com/prod...utoplas-black-top-box--roof-box-lockable.html

bought ours here, £79.95 + £2.95 p&p

 

[Zundapp]

If you intend to mount the box centrally, it's a good idea to choose a box which can open from either side. Usually a wee bit dearer, but worthwhile.Whatever way you fit it, you'll need something to stand on. A small folding plastic step worked for me.

 

[Alpitlum]

Hi, regarding the photos, I went to my mothers today to do the garden as it's my day off , returned home about 4:30 and realised I hadn't done your photos so I have been back down and done them for you.
The bars weren't fastened on but were sat exactly were they would be if they were and the box is in the position I had it fitted as it gives me room on the left hand side for my fishing rods to go.

I will email them over now, should take me 10 minutes, if you want to post them on here to add to the topic then please feel free.

p.s. If they haven't arrived please let me know...

Cheers , Rob

 

[umberto]

Hi, regarding the photos, I went to my mothers today to do the garden as it's my day off , returned home about 4:30 and realised I hadn't done your photos so I have been back down and done them for you.
The bars weren't fastened on but were sat exactly were they would be if they were and the box is in the position I had it fitted as it gives me room on the left hand side for my fishing rods to go.

I will email them over now, should take me 10 minutes, if you want to post them on here to add to the topic then please feel free.

p.s. If they haven't arrived please let me know...

Cheers , Rob

Thanks Rob for all your time and effort, much appreciated!!

 

[umberto]

If you intend to mount the box centrally, it's a good idea to choose a box which can open from either side. Usually a wee bit dearer, but worthwhile.Whatever way you fit it, you'll need something to stand on. A small folding plastic step worked for me.

Good advice as i'm only 5ft 7!!