MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
In the market for roof bars and box. I have absolutely no idea about them at all, other than knowing Thule are market leaders. Not wanting to spend too much on them, just need something to carry all the kit for our twins when going on overnight stays (which we have coming up). We simply can't get the pushchair and their bags in the boot and I don't want to have loose things in the car for obvious reasons.
So - I have seen (on Ebay) a Mont Blanc kit comprising the bars and a 450l box at £230, or I could get a 320l kit for £190. I am thinking that I could only regret not getting something bigger when going on longer trips so am leaning towards the 450l.
So - are Mont Blanc any good or are there any other makes I should consider and where can I find the best deals? Also, is there anything else I should be considering when choosing a suitable set-up?
Have a look at [url= http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?type=summ&emulate=boxgen&query=Kamei ]Kamei boxes[/url] I have one & it's easily the best built roofbox I've seen
Roofbox.co.uk are great to deal with whichever make you choose
Aldi sell them, sometimes but probably only at the start of the summer.
80 quids for a more than large enough one.
Halfords are a rip off too.
Have just gone from a Halfords roof box to a Kamie Corvara. The Kamie central locking system is great and the box can open from either side. Bought from roofbox.co.uk who I can thoroughly recommend.
I have a large long one (ooh er). About three quarter the width of the car. Loads of luggage in and still room for a bike on top. Mont Blanc brand and pretty robust. It hangs on the garage wall most of the year and only comes out when needed. Our local motor factor used to hire them so I got to try quite a few before they shut down and I ended up buying. I didn't see much difference to the quality between brands, just slightly flexier top material, which was only a problem if you overstuffed the box, when the flexiness made it a pain to get the locks to line up. If you want to put bikes up there with a box, it's worth getting wider than recommended bars for your car. So long as they don't stick out beyond the overall width of the car, you might as well have the option to get another bike on.
I have a large one (oo errrr missuss) which comes in useful but spends most of the time taking up space in the garage. When its on the car its great but thats only a few weeks a year. When not in use I dont drive around with it on as its a waste of fuel.
My mate bought the Thule collapsable one and I took the p*** but it packs away and he can forget it for the 48 weeks it is not needed.
Not quite as big as mine though!
Now I on the other hand have a shorter, more girthsome one. It is more than ample for our uses. Its about 350L I think. Not as aerodynamic as these blinged up Thule & kamei jobbies, but if your sticking to the speed limit they make hardly any difference to fuel consumption. They can take loads of stuff.
Just a thought, but I've seen plenty of people stick a cheeky ad on Freecycle & get a result...
I've got a Kamei Delphin and like all the other comments about Kamei boxes they really are excellent, And you get a six year guarantee with them.
Another vote for the Roofbox Company here.
I've bought bars and a box from them and they were cheaper than Halfords despite Halfords banging on all the time about their big sale.
Also bought an Atera Strada rack from the Roofbox Coy and both times they have been super helpful.