Holiday time.Need to get following into my Octavia hatch.First holiday where not just myself and the wife!

1x driver (think I'll be comfy)

1x wife

2x babies + seats

1x Mother in law (might be tight between the two baby seats)

1x Double buggy (quite big)

1x travel pen/cot (quite big)

All adult luggage

All other baby paraphenalia

Think I'm stoofed.Will do test load this weekend but don't think so:( .

Anyone use a roof box? Are they good/big/guaranteed not to open on the motorway?

Must say,glanced at a V70 volvo estate the other day in desperation.Don't think there is anymore room in one whatsoever

we had a roof box that carried a similar load (all the baby kelter) and it was great. You didn't know it was there on the motorway and it was on the top of a Rav4 which is higher than an octavia. I think I paid about £175 from an internet company but I'm sure might be able to hire one from somewhere

I've got a roof box and have used it for camping trips with myself and my two boys.

Not sure if you will get one big enough to fit your mother-in-law in though!

There are various sizes available, but as mentioned above hiring may also be an option.

www.roofbox.co.uk is a good site if you are looking at getting one, or check out your local halfrauds.

My experience is that they work fine, and I've never had any problems with them coming open or anything. Most will have a decent locking system. You can always throw a luggage strap round it if you are nervous.

Mine doesn't seem to effect driving too much, although I guess there will be a slight reduction in fuel economy, and you feel any high winds a little bit more.

Finally, a shameless bump for some roof bars I have for sale in this thread, which I believe will fit the Octy hatch models without fixing points.

Octavia Estate

I have a roof box because the dog takes up half the boot when/if we take him with us.

Its a Halfords one and is the same length as the Octavia's roof. Watch their prices though as the grey/silver carbon effect one was cheaper than the plain black looking one! The Halfords one has straps inside to hold stuff down - you dont want it to move at all.

We looked for one to hire but found no one did it anymore because there are too many potential problems if someone fits it incorrectly.

We also looked on EBay and found people were paying about £20 less for a 3yr old model rather than getting a brand new one.

MPG on the motorway dropped by about 3MPG on a long trip.

Cornering ability may be hampered due to higher centre of gravity.

DONT OPEN THE SUNROOF! I former colleague did this on a corolla and the change in air flow ripped open the roof box.

hope you are not planning puting the mother in law into the roof box......

I forget how old your littl'uns are Loz but we invested in a stroller for our 7 and a bit month old as it takes up next to no space in the boot, compared with the buggy Can't imagine having double the amount of baby paraphenalia though!

Chris

www.roofbox.co.uk

same as where we got our from. We got a mamas & papas pushchair that collapsed into the size of a brief case which was quite good