Car roof box

[maldini3]

Hello everyone. I'm a long time lurker of this forum but this is my first time contributing!

I'm considering buying a roof box for my car and having some of the lighter items already loaded into it in the event that I need to make a hasty exit from my home..

Has anyone else here done something similar already? Or have any general tips? Is buying second hand for an item like this sensible or is it worth spending a bit more to buy brand new and know everything is fully in order?

any help much appreciated!

[ForgeCorvus]

I think that some roofboxes are difficult to fit unless they're empty (I've not used one, but my brother has a couple and I seem to remember him having problems)

RE: Preowned. Unless its damaged or missing something you shouldn't have any hassles, after all theres not a lot to them to go wrong (check the seals before use,but you should do that even with a new one).
Search Ebay, Preloved, Craig's List, Freegle, FreeCycle and (if you have one local) CheapCycle
Don't buy sight-unseen


Remember..... Frugal is a Prep

[maldini3]

I think that some roofboxes are difficult to fit unless they're empty (I've not used one, but my brother has a couple and I seem to remember him having problems)

RE: Preowned. Unless its damaged or missing something you shouldn't have any hassles, after all theres not a lot to them to go wrong (check the seals before use,but you should do that even with a new one).
Search Ebay, Preloved, Craig's List, Freegle, FreeCycle and (if you have one local) CheapCycle
Don't buy sight-unseen


Remember..... Frugal is a Prep

cool thanks for the advice. I thought that'd be the case really. I've fitted a few to one of my cars before and it's been easy enough (having roof bars already helps) but as to whether I can have anything in them prior to mounting on thr car I shall find out soon enough!

[Yorkshire Andy]

it depends on your car my dad has a estate with longitudinal roof rails a roof rack takes seconds to fit where as my supermini takes about 10 mins to fit....

then the roof box has to fit to that...


there are several soft roof box bags

but they are not cheap
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehs ... tAodWy0ARQ

but offer better storage

[grenfell]

Just a thought as I've not tried it or even have a car to fit one to .
Would it be possible to have one loaded and attached to the garage roof ready to drop , thunderbird style , onto the getaway car?

[maldini3]

Just a thought as I've not tried it or even have a car to fit one to .
Would it be possible to have one loaded and attached to the garage roof ready to drop , thunderbird style , onto the getaway car?

probably not no! haha! Nice idea though

[dangerman]

I got a free top box from my sisters car that she was scrapping. The latches don't work but the locks do. I reckon it'd be worth £20 on fleabay. I bought the cheapest bars for my car which cost £30 (they are a bit crap but they've lasted 18 months so far which is good).

My box is permanently attached. Costs my a couple of mpg. But it's well handy for bringing all five of my family AND all of my wife's shoes.

Wouldn't be without it. I can fit all of my emergency kit into it leaving the boot spare for prams and nappys and things.

[Bad Wombat]

...Search Ebay, Preloved, Craig's List, Freegle, FreeCycle and (if you have one local) CheapCycle ...

I got a large roof box for £35 via gumtree last year, so you might want to add that site to the above list. Happy browsing!

[ForgeCorvus]

...Search Ebay, Preloved, Craig's List, Freegle, FreeCycle and (if you have one local) CheapCycle ...

I got a large roof box for £35 via gumtree last year, so you might want to add that site to the above list. Happy browsing!

I knew I'd forget one

[Hoipoloi]

I'm considering buying a roof box for my car and having some of the lighter items already loaded into it in the event that I need to make a hasty exit from my home..

It would be much easier to have a trailer ready loaded if you have somewhere at home that would be secure enough. OK, you need a tow bar but depending on the type of car cost would be variable.
It takes less than a minute to attach a trailer and it would hold more/heavier stuff.