Hi,

I've decided I need to go the roof box route to give up a bit more space in the car for multiple trips abroad to England!. I have read all the existing threads and learned a lot from your experiences, can anyone comment please on the Ranger 90 in terms of noise at motorway speed, ease of use, problems if only half full, speed of fitting/removal etc

On a related topic, can anyone comment on the quietness of the Prorack Whispbar, or are they all of a muchness in use?

Thanks

Hi,

I've decided I need to go the roof box route to give up a bit more space in the car for multiple trips abroad to England!. I have read all the existing threads and learned a lot from your experiences, can anyone comment please on the Ranger 90 in terms of noise at motorway speed, ease of use, problems if only half full, speed of fitting/removal etc

On a related topic, can anyone comment on the quietness of the Prorack Whispbar, or are they all of a muchness in use?

Thanks

Hope this helps

Edited 1 August, 201114 yr by Ray_Green

Hi,

just got back from Europe myself with a Ranger 90 fitted for moving from accommodation to accommodation. Very easy to use and fit in less than 10 minutes (getting it out, lined up square and fixings fitted) but a small set of steps helps.

Regard wind noise then I didn't detect any of note with it fitted at speeds up to 85mph indicated, only when I removed it and left the Thule 769 square cross bars in place did I get a whistle at speeds over 30mph. Although this whistle was noticeable it did not cause us to decide to remove the bars; ignored it and left them in place.

Not run it other than full so cannot comment on the half full question, we did however use the Thule roof box luggage set on recommendation from another forum member. Expensive but well made, have TARIS like properties and fitted into the Ranger perfectly.

Only negative we found being the standard fixings dug into and marked the plastic coating on the cross bars; seems a bit daft one Thule product that damages another it's designed to be used with. Did notice a Dutch car with a similar set up to ours and they had fitted some rubber or foam around the bars to stop this happening.

Oh seems water tight too; crossed Germany in very heavy rain on the way out, everything inside was bone dry.

Hope that helps,

TP

Regard wind noise then I didn't detect any of note with it fitted at speeds up to 85mph indicated, only when I removed it and left the Thule 769 square cross bars in place did I get a whistle at speeds over 30mph. Although this whistle was noticeable it did not cause us to decide to remove the bars; ignored it and left them in place.

TP

Used to use square section bars on a previous car, which generated noise - cured by using 28/35mm foam pipe lag slid over the bar, ie not slit to fit!

Currently in Portugal with trip mileage to here 1300 with a new Ranger 90. Reasonably quiet no problem to fit and removed -on arrival and after emptying- still attached to bars. The bars do make a little noise and the box does hit the performance. Really hard to get the 140 past 100mph with box on while it will substantially exceed that without.Fuel consumption is knocked only really when at 70mph and above.

Very satisfactory kit altogether. You do need a small step to fit or remove the box. Box and bars easily removed together by two people without a step. Loading and unloading the box can be done by standing on the front door sills/rear tyre if someone can hand bags up to you.

http://www.thulebox.hu/downloads/manual.pdf

The Thule recomanded maximum speed about 130 km/h.

Can't comment on the Thule Ranger 90 I'm afraid - I use a Kamei Corvara 390k Duolift on mine (can highly recommend it ... bit pricey but well made, easy to fit, opens both sides and unlocks/locks really easily and quiet at all the speeds I ever travel at!)

I do however have Prorack Whispbars fitted and I can highly recommend them. They make no noticeable difference to wind noise or MPG, are well made, adaptable, fit the Yeti's profiled roof rails and are quick to install/remove. They're also quite low profile so roofbox, bike carrier etc. don't stand too high off the roof. Again, they were a bit pricey but I don't regret paying a bit extra for something decent.

Hi,

I've got the Prorack set-up with a Thule Atlantis 200. No noticeable noise when both on together, an no noise from just the bars when on their own. I leave them on. Really like the low profile & mean the box sits nice and low. I'll attempt to attach a recent pic from first trip to France with the toddler.. Hope it works!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5955032191_4ffd3c0596_b_d.jpg

you have pm

Hi,

I've got the Prorack set-up with a Thule Atlantis 200. No noticeable noise when both on together, an no noise from just the bars when on their own. I leave them on. Really like the low profile & mean the box sits nice and low. I'll attempt to attach a recent pic from first trip to France with the toddler.. Hope it works!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5955032191_4ffd3c0596_b_d.jpg

I have a 380 litre Kamei Delphin fitted to Škoda cross bars. The grey of the box fits my grey Yeti perfectly I think. It is a short and wide box (to fit a big fire pit for camping) so suits the Yeti's proportions well. If I leave the bars on their own they do add to the wind noise. They do not however whistle when slightly wet in cross winds like my Thule Aero bars did on my Audi - akin to running your finger around a slightly damp wineglass. And unlike my Thule bars they came with rubber strips to fit inside the T-channel when you do not have a box/bike rack fitted or need to carry things that might damage the bars.

Just one thing I noticed when we fitted my box to FocusZtecs Yeti: he has silver rails and thus got silver bolts when he bought the Škoda roof bars. So sans bars the silver bolts look great and match the silver rails. BUT the main attachement part of the roof bars are BLACK. So when you fit the bars the the silver bolts stick through a black surround. Not the end of the world I know but a small detail to think about if you are into such things. See images of this here.

They came with rubber strips to fit inside the T-channel when you do not have a box/bike rack fitted or need to carry things that might damage the bars.

Only just bought my Yeti roofbars, and not fitted yet, but I plan (as I did with the bars on my previous cars) to cut the rubber strips into three sections. I'll create a central rubber section and put it in place, push the T-bolts into the T-channel up to the rubber, then a piece of rubber outside of the bolts to finish. I leave the central rubber permanently in place, and as long as I've taken a bit of time and centred it properly, it means whatever I put on the roof subsequently is always centred; no fiddling around each time to get things straight. Also means no water, dirt, flies etc get into the T-channel. The wind noise saved is insignificant compared to the wind noise made by the bikes/roofbox, but it all looks a bit neater I think.

Only just bought my Yeti roofbars, and not fitted yet, but I plan (as I did with the bars on my previous cars) to cut the rubber strips into three sections. I'll create a central rubber section and put it in place, push the T-bolts into the T-channel up to the rubber, then a piece of rubber outside of the bolts to finish. I leave the central rubber permanently in place, and as long as I've taken a bit of time and centred it properly, it means whatever I put on the roof subsequently is always centred; no fiddling around each time to get things straight. Also means no water, dirt, flies etc get into the T-channel. The wind noise saved is insignificant compared to the wind noise made by the bikes/roofbox, but it all looks a bit neater I think.

Exactly this has been on my to-do list for some time!

You have pm

Only just bought my Yeti roofbars, and not fitted yet, but I plan (as I did with the bars on my previous cars) to cut the rubber strips into three sections. I'll create a central rubber section and put it in place, push the T-bolts into the T-channel up to the rubber, then a piece of rubber outside of the bolts to finish. I leave the central rubber permanently in place, and as long as I've taken a bit of time and centred it properly, it means whatever I put on the roof subsequently is always centred; no fiddling around each time to get things straight. Also means no water, dirt, flies etc get into the T-channel. The wind noise saved is insignificant compared to the wind noise made by the bikes/roofbox, but it all looks a bit neater I think.

Just picked me up a set of 'Yeti' branded roof bars from the dealers - only problem now is a need a torq wrench to fit the bolts to 4nm - all 10 of them. As I dont own one and probably only need it for this one job do you think Halfords will fit the bolts? (or will they only fit what you buy from them?).

And can anyone confirm the existence of a Yeti Branded Roof box? - I think i've seen one but not sure where - the skoda website is next to useless for pictures of accessories etc anyone have a good alternative -best i've got so far is a Roomster brochure!

Just picked me up a set of 'Yeti' branded roof bars from the dealers - only problem now is a need a torq wrench to fit the bolts to 4nm - all 10 of them. As I dont own one and probably only need it for this one job do you think Halfords will fit the bolts? (or will they only fit what you buy from them?).

And can anyone confirm the existence of a Yeti Branded Roof box? - I think i've seen one but not sure where - the skoda website is next to useless for pictures of accessories etc anyone have a good alternative -best i've got so far is a Roomster brochure!

You will know when they are to the right torque! I just did it with the right sized tool myself. Don't ask me the bolt head type but I had one in one of my socket sets and just used the standard socket wrench to tighten them. Really no need to visit Helfrauds.

the instructions seemed quite specific about the 4nm - wouldnt want to put them in too loose or tight! It mentions they can only be attached/removed 4 times!!! but thanks anyway - car stuff i usually leave to the garage1 computers is more my bag

the instructions seemed quite specific about the 4nm - wouldnt want to put them in too loose or tight! It mentions they can only be attached/removed 4 times!!! but thanks anyway - car stuff i usually leave to the garage1 computers is more my bag

They are just covering themselves should your roofbox fly off! There will be a VERY specific torque setting for the bolts on your car's wheels too and I'm sure you've changed a wheel before and managed to tighten things correctly!

But as to Helfrauds: I'd suspect they'd only fit what they sell (to cover themselves should your roofbox fly off!)

your right of course and I'm probably overly worrying about it! and now you point out the wheel thing I understand a bit better - Last time I needed to change a wheel I HAD to get RAC out (on an older car not my Yeti) as I couldnt shift the wheel bolts full stop (yes i tried before raising the vehicle etc) - even the RAC bloke had a piece of scaffold pipe to assist!

You have pm

Currently in Portugal with trip mileage to here 1300 with a new Ranger 90. Reasonably quiet no problem to fit and removed -on arrival and after emptying- still attached to bars. The bars do make a little noise and the box does hit the performance. Really hard to get the 140 past 100mph with box on while it will substantially exceed that without.Fuel consumption is knocked only really when at 70mph and above.

Very satisfactory kit altogether. You do need a small step to fit or remove the box. Box and bars easily removed together by two people without a step. Loading and unloading the box can be done by standing on the front door sills/rear tyre if someone can hand bags up to you.