Roof rack/roof box

antodeco

Hi all,
I hate an Almera hatchback and need to start transporting a large object. 120cm x 120cm x 10cm. It's an awkward size. Weight is about 15kg. I can get it in the boot with two of the rear seats down but it's a pain in hole. I'm looking at transporting it on the roof, as its a lot more handier.

The problem I have is that I've neither roof bars nor a roof box. I've had a look at roof boxes, and it looks like I'd struggle to find one to fit. Length is fine, but the width not so much.

What are my options? Can I transport with the object packaged up and pht onto purchased roof bars and ratchet strap it down or what should I do?

Thanks

colm_mcm

antodeco wrote: »

Hi all,
I hate an Almera hatchback

Unless you need to carry passengers, it would probably be more of a pain to have to put it on the roof and offs tying it down etc.

An actual roof rack as opposed to rails is probably what you need.

antodeco

That's the problem. I do need to carry two passengers in the back!

What's the difference between a roof rack and roof bars?

colm_mcm

Bars go across from left to right, rack is a frame and would be easier and more secure for tying something down.



If you had brackets welded to it to fit the item snugly, it would make it much easier to load.

They were all the rage back in the day when saloons with no folding seats were the thing, but it's all roof rails nowadays.

What's the item? Is there any way to make it fold?

antodeco

Big wooden frame! Can't make it fold. I thought about cutting it and hinging it, but it would be wrecked from it!

colm_mcm

Does the frame have to be wooden?

Del2005

antodeco wrote: »

Big wooden frame! Can't make it fold. I thought about cutting it and hinging it, but it would be wrecked from it!

If it's not solid a roof rack and a few tie downs will do. If its solid you'll need to use the towing eyes to make sure it doesn't take off. If your car doesn't have curtain airbags you can loop the tie downs through the car for extra load security

antodeco

colm_mcm wrote: »

Does the frame have to be wooden?

Yes. I already have it!

Del2005 wrote: »

If it's not solid a roof rack and a few tie downs will do. If its solid you'll need to use the towing eyes to make sure it doesn't take off. If your car doesn't have curtain airbags you can loop the tie downs through the car for extra load security

I had been thinking of using straps through the back door and over. No curtain airbags! Just wrap it in bubble wrap for transport. I was having a look at the towing eyes, and one is rear right and the other is front left is it ok to have them diagonal? Also, there's a chance using the front towing eye will mean the strap goes down over the window.

Del2005

antodeco wrote: »

Yes. I already have it!



I had been thinking of using straps through the back door and over. No curtain airbags! Just wrap it in bubble wrap for transport. I was having a look at the towing eyes, and one is rear right and the other is front left is it ok to have them diagonal? Also, there's a chance using the front towing eye will mean the strap goes down over the window.

If your just going to wrap in bubble wrap you most likely won't need to go from the front, forgot it wasn't longer than the roof for the windscreen. But you'll need straps through both doors or else it'll fly off once you get up to speed.

antodeco

So you reckon bubble wrap, ratchet straps over and through the rear and front doors would be ok? Straight onto the roof, or should I get roof bars/rack? I don't really mind the roof getting abused a bit. I've had it from new and its fairly battered from being crashed into a few times! But it's never let me down, that's why is still have it!

Del2005

antodeco wrote: »

So you reckon bubble wrap, ratchet straps over and through the rear and front doors would be ok? Straight onto the roof, or should I get roof bars/rack? I don't really mind the roof getting abused a bit. I've had it from new and its fairly battered from being crashed into a few times! But it's never let me down, that's why is still have it!

Maybe wrap a blanket around it also. A roof rack will allow air underneath to create a sail affect, on the roof it shouldn't catch the wind as much. Make sure that the strap is as close to the front as possible and take it handy, check it every few km for the 1st time to make sure nothing has moved. To be really safe you could use 3 or 4 straps.

antodeco

Thanks for that. I was thinking of 3 straps, 1 very front, 1 very back and one in the middle. Then cross weave one from he front to the back, so if it does start to slip, the cross weave strap will stop it from sliding. Good thinking with the blanket. Now just to order a roll of bubble wrap!

kindalen

If you only need it for a day would it be cheap enough to rent a van or estate car?

NiallBoo

Just bite the bullet and go for roof bars.

They're always handy to have for big and awkward stuff.

Strapping stuff on directly to the car is murder on the roof and never really secure.

Ps. If you can actually find a roof box that size attaching it shouldn't bete a problem(you'll still need to get bars to attach it to), but imo it's probably not worth the hassle.
Pps. I wouldn't worry about tying down to the tow-loops for anything that small.
Ppps: a rack like pictured above? Not unless you're going into construction/arctic exploration and not on anything smaller than a van.

visual

You will get pulled for carring something like that on roof of your car.

If it fits inside the car with seats down then thats what you should do.

You other options is roof rack or get a trailer

Roof bars wouldn't be ideal for that type of load

Its not the weight but the force that will be put on it by air as you drive.

NiallBoo

visual wrote: »

Roof bars wouldn't be ideal for that type of load

Its not the weight but the force that will be put on it by air as you drive.

are you suggesting that it's too big it that the item is too fragile and could fall apart?

visual

NiallBoo wrote: »

are you suggesting that it's too big it that the item is too fragile and could fall apart?

If he drills holes in load and usef U claps he be fine but raching strapping it will be awkward

if it fits inside the car with back seats down then thats is the best option

NiallBoo

visual wrote: »

If he drills holes in load and usef U claps he be fine but raching strapping it will be awkward

if it fits inside the car with back seats down then thats is the best option

It depends a bit on how fragile the item is, but in general securing an item of that size(ie even much bigger) to roof bars isn't a problem at all.

visual

NiallBoo wrote: »

It depends a bit on how fragile the item is, but in general securing an item of that size(ie even much bigger) to roof bars isn't a problem at all.

If its and quoting OP " pain in the hole to drop back seats" then it be bigger pain in the hole correctly strapping down on roof bars.

NiallBoo

visual wrote: »

If its and quoting OP " pain in the hole to drop back seats" then it be bigger pain in the hole correctly strapping down on roof bars.

That's fair enough, I would agree that OP has misjudged the convenience of putting it on the roof and that in the back is probably handier.

I would still say though that on roof bars is the best other option ( ie. If they want to usr the back seats). I would discount direct tying as not that secure and bad fir the car and discount racks, a box or a trailer as being impractical, needlessly expensive and of little or no extra benefit.

antodeco

Hi guys, I need the use of the back seats for carrying passengers. I'll just bite the bullet and put on roof bars. Other option is to upgrade the OH's car to a jeep

Del2005

visual wrote: »

You will get pulled for carring something like that on roof of your car.

What offence is being committed?

visual

Del2005 wrote: »

What offence is being committed?

Unsecured load / unsafe load.

Carring it dirrectly on the roof leaves a lot of riggle room when fixing points are bumber tow hooks and a strap through the windows.

Not to mention a strap in feild of view of front window.