Hello all,

Found this site invaluable whilst researching purchase of first new car.

Bought an estate which has roof rails. Looking for any pointers on roof bars and boxes.

There is such a difference in price with all.

There seems to be official bars - any advantage to them?

I bought the Skoda roof bars when I got the car (one of the first in the UK last year)as there were no alternatives from other sources listed at the time and I needed them in a hurry. They live under the boot floor, so they are always available. They fit very easily and quickly, though beware, as the roof rails are closer at the rear than the front so you need to get then set up in the right place! The downside to these bars is that they did not come with any of the slide-in 'T-bolt' fittings which I needed to be able to attach an old Halfords roof box. The box was designed for a 'u-bolt' attachment which is specifically stated to not be compatible with the bars. I ended up making some 'T-bolts' as they were ridiculously expensive to source separately, for what they are. A piece of bar sawn to size, tapped for a bolt which I loctited in and then ground down the head to fit the slot in the bar and I had a set of 'T-bolts' for the cost of half an hour of effort - maybe not everyone's preferred solution but easy to do if you have the basic equipment.

Edited 12 May, 201610 yr by Amartha

Many thanks for the reply.

Is it easier to go for Thule bars and Thule box?

I thought about the official bars as presumably they fit/look better.

Ive got the OEM Skoda bars. My best guess is that they are Thule bars of origin.

Thanks.

Any recommendations for a suitable box? Don't want it to look too big but need extra storage.

Should I be looking at 'small' boxes for car this size?

From experience, I would suggest that you buy the box based on:

• Can you physically reach in to load/unload it (and secure the internal load hold-down straps etc (if fitted))? You need to be able to reach the far side of the box!
• What you want to carry - light and bulky or small and heavy - bearing in mind the weight limitation on the rails and the effects on handling/fuel consumption
• Small items in a big box are likely to be a pain to restrain
• Where are you going to store the box when not in use?
• Can you manage to fix the box to the roof... Fitting a big box can be a 2 man operation as they are difficult to hold and manoeuvre without risking damage to the car and scenery!
• How secure is it - does it meet your needs for the load being carried?

Most manufacturers just rebrand the Thule products and charge more for them. With boxes you get what you pay for and have to weigh the price up against how often you expect to use it. Worth taking a look here http://www.roofbox.co.uk/

By the way I went for a 250 ltr one. Hang it against the garage wall when not in use (flat base to the wall).

Regards Bob

Edited 13 May, 201610 yr by BikerBob

I've got my Exodus 470L box advertised in the sale section, it has the easy fix system (made by Thule) only 10months old in mint condition.

Roof bars for raised rails are a Special Buy in Lidl this week.

Do I need to be looking at a certain weight for the Fabia estate? The boxes all seem to have maximum weight limits. I am going to buy the official bars I think.

Looking at the Kamei Husky L box.

Just ordered the Skoda bars. I thought they were square steel. On the phone I was told they are aerodynamic aluminium...

How does this affect fittings required for a roof box?

Had finally settled on ordering this:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/hapro_traxer_4_6_roof_box_anthracite_black_no_28885/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B%7EcC4urewJ%7DA2

Looks to have some sort of clamp system.

I thougt they where square too, do anybody got some pictures of them. I am thinking of ordering the Thule wingbar Edge.

If you get aero bars like the Thule ones they are slotted to receive an internal hidden fitting (difficult to explain in a quick reply) that Thule boxes and cycle racks etc. come supplied with.

It looks like the Hapro Box linked above will not be compatible with the Thule aero system but has its own clamping fitment.

Regards Bob

As per my earlier post, the instructions with the Skoda bars specifically state not to use a 'U' clamp system.  The bars are aluminium and will potentially distort under clamping loads.  You will need the special 'T' bolts I described to mount the roof box - essentially (IIRC) an M6 threaded post set into a piece of flat bar.  You can make them yourself if you have basic workshop equipment and skills, though they may well come with the box etc as described by BikerBob.  They are expensive to buy separately though you can get them on ebay.

 

The Skoda bars are rounded on their leading and trailing edges as per the bars in the picture at http://www.roofbox.c...Rb{~cC4urewJ}A2.  They are extruded, and have multiple internal webbing to provide a channel for the 'T' bolts to slide in and provide spars to improve the bending strength of the bars.  They may well take the loads of the box fittings at http://www.roofbox.c...Rb{~cC4urewJ}A2 but they are definitely not designed for that type of fitting and I would not personally be convinced that they would take the mounting system loads without deforming.  Just my opinion - I haven't seen the box you are looking at or its fittings 'in the flesh'.  Incidentally, the box you are looking at doesn't look to be compatible with the 'T' bolt system.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by Amartha