How much of a pain! Pucker Skoda ones and what a faff!

30minutes later and fitted.... Monster roof box on tomorrow for camping on the Llyn peninsular - hope the weather holds out

What went wrong?

I've got the Thule roof bars for my estate, 30 seconds each corner...

Edited 1 June, 201214 yr by silver1011

Practice.

I do mine in about 5 mins now...

I just got the Thule aero wing bars for my octy hatch. Assembly of them can be long winded as you have to make sure that the right fitting adaptor corresponds to the exact position on the car. But once assembled just a matter of placing on the car tighten the t bar Allen key and lock it up. Then just slide the bike carrier into the the t track. Prob takes me 10 mins due to it not being a estate with the roof bars as I have to open the doors to fit the feet into a hole fabricated into the car itself

Does the aerial have enough clearance from the box, out does it just squash down?

My roof box (Karrite Odyssey 470) fits on my FL estate fine and leaves a good 3-4inch gap from the OEM aerial to the back of the box.

Now it's been on and off twice the practice has brought it down to 5mins each corner!

Loaned next doors roof box - Thule 900 - it's massive (a bit too big really)

Bought a new tent the other day - well cool vango airbeam - pumps up in 5minutes

Just leave mine on all the time, can't be bothered to keep taking them off and putting back on; Prorack Whispbar, no wind noise at 70mph or even at a higher speed!

My roof box (Karrite Odyssey 470) fits on my FL estate fine and leaves a good 3-4inch gap from the OEM aerial to the back of the box.

My 'coffin' extends over the front and rear of the roof so it passes over the ariel. If I unthread the ariel a few turns from being completely off it can be repositioned at 30 degrees to the roof and retightened.

I lent it to my neighbour who also has an Octavia estate, he just took the ariel off completely and said he didn't lose any radio reception at all!

Loaned next doors roof box - Thule 900 - it's massive (a bit too big really)

Mine pictured above is a Thule Atlantis 900, it is big!!

I have the atera aero bars on my estate and initial setting up took about half hour. Now it takes 30 seconds a corner to undo then off/on and that's with 3 bike carriers attached.

I fitted a stubby aerial so I don't have to worry when the box goes on top.

_{Why put that monstrosity on the roof when you can load the boot up to the roof lining}

Because the boot is already full to the roof!

I hook up one of these on the back too!

And the problem with the trailer is the speed restriction. Yorkshire to Cornwall already takes well over 5 hours without being limited to 60ish mph.

I'll take a photo of mine when I pack it up tomorrow for the camping trip (2 adults and 2 children) boot to roof line plus large Thule roof box, it's amazing how much is needed.

So finally got a chance to prove why the roof box is required. This is my car packed up for last weeks family camping trip to Cornwall:

Haha, pity I can't find the picture of my boot and box from last year. It looked just like that Went to Bestival on the Isle of Wight, 3 adults and toddler, so full camping gear, food, fancy dress and pram.

Next time it's going to be like that will be later this year, two weeks in Scotland, though minus 1 adult.

And the problem with the trailer is the speed restriction. Yorkshire to Cornwall already takes well over 5 hours without being limited to 60ish mph.

As with the 70mph limit (without a trailer) a good chuck of us manage 80mph without concern so 70mph with the little trailer isn't much of an issue.

Its hard enough trying to maintain 70mph on most motorways these days so the extra capacity of the trailer and the space it frees up inside the car offsets the 10mph.

Yorkshire to Cornwall, 320 miles? At 80mph it's 4 hours, at 70mph its 4.5 hours. It would take me that long just to unload the boot

Just leave mine on all the time, can't be bothered to keep taking them off and putting back on; Prorack Whispbar, no wind noise at 70mph or even at a higher speed!

Was looking at ordering some of these from roofracks.co.uk. At £160 delivered they are expensive but seem like the best you can buy. Had a result as they had a set on sale for £99!.

So finally got a chance to prove why the roof box is required. This is my car packed up for last weeks family camping trip to Cornwall:

Mmmm.....yes.....I see the problem.....you've over done it on the carrots........

Yup - we've got a tent big enough to park the car in too! I actually prefer the way the car rides when full - properly magic carpet.

Edited 12 June, 201214 yr by London Les

Legal speed limit with any trailer = 60mph and no using third lane on M-way.

Maximum safe speed with massive roof-box ......?

Legal speed limit with any trailer = 60mph and no using third lane on M-way.

Maximum safe speed with massive roof-box ......?

Thule one will do 100 but didn't want to push it past that!.

Legal speed limit with any trailer = 60mph and no using third lane on M-way.

Maximum safe speed with massive roof-box ......?

With this I can do 80 without even noticing it (Apart from the fuel economy being down a few mpg)

Yup - we've got a tent big enough to park the car in too! I actually prefer the way the car rides when full - properly magic carpet.

Yep, I'm in the same boat:

Notice the trees in the background, this was Cornwall last week with winds gusting to 80mph, it was even causing damage to the caravans on the campsite.