Bike Carriers (Roof-mounted) & Roof Boxes?

Benbecul97

I want to be able to carry 2 maybe 3 bikes and a roof box on 120cm roof bars.

I already have a Thule FreeRide 530 roof-mounted bike carrier and am looking at getting another 1 maybe 2 of either this one or its replacement the Thule FreeRide 532. Or maybe another type would be more suitable?

My question is which roof box would be the most suitable/best/yet not costing a fortune, and narrow enough yet with a decent capacity to also allow space for the 2 maybe 3 bike carriers? Maybe some of you have similiar roof-mounted configurations or seen them.

Also, to carry 2 adult bikes and a childs bike would 2 bike carriers be ok/safe/legal to carry the childs bike secured/locked between the 2 adult bikes, which would be secured to the 2 bike carriers.

Thanks.

ThisRegard

I picked up this Exodus one from Halfords last year, it's half width and uses the same clip on system that Thule use, it's really easy to put on, I stick it on myself in minutes and packs a lot more than what it would appear to be able to, it's 360l.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_709089_langId_-1_categoryId_212588

However I think you may struggle to get 3 bike racks on as well as the box. I have two Thule 591s and with both bikes on and the box I don't think you'd get another carrier.

TBH I've never had both carriers and the box on at the same time but I checked to see if I could, I would have to reverse one of the carriers. I have the Thule Aero Bar 861s which fit to my factory fitted roof rails so I don't know how wide they are. I did park beside one guy who had 3 591s on his roof, the middle one facing backwards and there wasn't much room for anything else.

cdaly_

I do two racks plus box. Racks face front and rear and the bikes tend to rub up against each other so some padding is necessary. Box is a semi-narrow (not as narrow as the ski boxes you see) and I did a mod to move the outer clamps in towards the centre a bit (just drilled holes about 10cm inboard from the originals). It's tight, no chance of a third rack. My racks are the same design as the Thule but cost about €12 from NorAuto in France...
I also carry another 3 bikes on a boot-mounted carrier so the car looks like a hedgehog...

I personally wouldn't think the child bike would fit between the 2 adult ones and would likely put extra strain on the carriers anyhow.

Lumen

cdaly_ wrote: »

I do two racks plus box. Racks face front and rear and the bikes tend to rub up against each other so some padding is necessary.

Would it not be better to mount the two bike racks outboard of the box on opposite sides of the car?

I think if I was carrying five bikes and a box I'd stick all the bikes on the roof and use a towball mounted box. Roof boxes are a PITA to pack.

ThisRegard

The problem then Lumen is that the roof boxes that can be a pita to pack become an even bigger pita because it then is further from your reach. Then if you accidentally pack something in the box that you need before you reach the end of your journey it have to take a bike off to get access to the box.

TBH I never found them too difficult to pack, I stand on the sills and get in and out of it handy enough. Although one day I did this in the rain and ended up on my arse on the ground when I slipped on the wet metal.

Benbecul97

ThisRegard wrote: »

I picked up this Exodus one from Halfords last year, it's half width and uses the same clip on system that Thule use, it's really easy to put on, I stick it on myself in minutes and packs a lot more than what it would appear to be able to, it's 360l.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_709089_langId_-1_categoryId_212588

However I think you may struggle to get 3 bike racks on as well as the box. I have two Thule 591s and with both bikes on and the box I don't think you'd get another carrier.

TBH I've never had both carriers and the box on at the same time but I checked to see if I could, I would have to reverse one of the carriers. I have the Thule Aero Bar 861s which fit to my factory fitted roof rails so I don't know how wide they are. I did park beside one guy who had 3 591s on his roof, the middle one facing backwards and there wasn't much room for anything else.

Thanks ThisRegard.

The Exodus 360lt is currently half price at €260
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_709089_langId_-1_categoryId_212588

Does this glossy material scratch easily or fade with the sunlight?

Also looking at Halfords other 360lt box
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_709091_categoryId_212588_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_Details_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PDPz1#dtab

is currently 1/3 off at €247.

Both boxes have identical measurements/capacity the only difference apart from colour is the mounting system, the Exodus has the easy snap system (quicker and I presure similiar to the Thule "Power Grip" clamp) and the Halfords has the U bolt system (slower).

I wonder would having both bike carriers on with bikes on them allow the these roof boxes to open back fully - toward the bikes?

ThisRegard

The shiny black coating seems to be pretty sturdy stuff, mine is pretty scratch free bar the end of it which is where I stand it when waiting to put it in the car. I store mine in the attic and despite what I thought would be some pretty big scratches when it's caught bolts and nuts on the attic stairs when dragging it up and down it's fine.

There's a lot to be said for the easy snap system though, no need to go looking for spanners of whatever you need to secure the u bolt method.

Good point about opening and closing with the bikes on, I think cdaly is best to answer that because as I've said I've only ever checked how the space is when all 3 are on the roof, I never thought of checking the opening of the box.

Benbecul97

Thanks again ThisRegard.

These boxes are 65cm wide and the bike racks are about 22cm wide each. 109cm in total on a 120cm bar - with the box closed.

Might be a tight squeeze to open the box fully in the remaining 10cm or so but maybe mounting one bike rack in reverse might gain a few more valuable cm!

cdaly_

Benbecul97 wrote: »

Also looking at Halfords other 360lt box
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_709091_categoryId_212588_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_Details_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PDPz1#dtab

is currently 1/3 off at €247.

I wonder would having both bike carriers on with bikes on them allow the these roof boxes to open back fully - toward the bikes?

Benbecul97 wrote: »

These boxes are 65cm wide and the bike racks are about 22cm wide each. 109cm in total on a 120cm bar - with the box closed.

Might be a tight squeeze to open the box fully in the remaining 10cm or so but maybe mounting one bike rack in reverse might gain a few more valuable cm!

My box is essentially the one linked above. It has the easy snap system which I'm not that gone on. Nothing like a nice simple U-bolt and pair of nuts for when you lose one and need a replacement. That said, it is still a U-bolt and the easy snap bit just grabs the threads of the U-bolt.

If you look closely at the Halfords pics, you'll see how the bars on the car protrude beyond the mounting points. This allows more useable width on the bars so you might manage to open the box with the bikes on. Or you might just manage two bike racks and the box without having to modify the box...

My roof bars curve down at the mount points so I have less useable width. In my case, after doing the mounting modification on the roof box, I can only open the box with the bikes off. Once the bikes are on and the box is closed it's tough luck if you need something that's in the box. You're not getting in until we reach our destination.

ThisRegard

Can you still open it if you just have the furthermost bike on ?

cdaly_

Yep, that should be no problem.

Benbecul97

Lads, I was reading some reviews regarding the easy snap system on the Exodus 360lt box and they reckoned this mechanism took up a bit of space within the box?

If is does, is it possible to remove it and get T-track aerobar adapters to attach the roof box to an aero roofrack?

Are either or both of the Exodus 360lt or Halfords 360lt made by Thule?

Thanks

cdaly_

Each mechanism (4 total) takes up the space of a quarter kilo of butter (approx).

My U-bolts are threaded so it should be possible to replace the big mechanism with a couple of plates and M8 nuts. That said, the bolts protrude a fair distance into the box so they're likely to foul and rip bags if they're bare.

ThisRegard

I was trying to picture something the size of the snap mechanism but a quarter of butter is spot on. They can get in the way if you have something big and they prevent it from lying flat but I usually pack around them, if you're just putting lots of bags and stuff in it's not an issue.

Benbecul97

Thanks Lads.
I wish Halfords would include more detailed pictures on their website that include the inside of the roof box, locking mechanisms U-bolts etc. Would answer alot of my questions!

Do ye know if either the Exodus 360lt or Halfords 360lt are made by Thule?

If they are then it may be possible to get their T-track aerobar adapters to use to attach the roof box to an aero roofrack, as opposed to using the supplied U bolts.