Which Roof Box is Best?

Roof Boxes

Rooftop boxes are a large, sturdy kind of cargo box that can be attached to the top of a car roof to provide secure, weather-proof storage space whilst also freeing up passenger space within the vehicle. Perfect for camping trips, and even make moving house easier. North West Towbar Centre (NWTC) supplies a wide range of car roof boxes, Thule roof bars, roof racks, and other car accessories necessary in owning and maintaining a roof top box. If you are an avid camper, keen cyclist and even just somebody who wants to pack up the seaside essentials for a day at the beach then these are a perfect and easy solution to any storage needs! 

Which Roof Box is Best?

It is wholly objective when deciding which roof box is best, i.e. it is important to consider what unique requirements the user wants met and the car itself. Personal preference will determine this answer. The following factors can determine the best box for your necessary requirements:

Shape and Size: Roof boxes are available in a range of different shapes and sizes, all of which allow for very different items to be held within the storage space, for instance narrow boxes are designed to allow for kayak storage whereas medium width boxes cater for bike transportation. Therefore it is important to consider what size best suits the user's requirements when deciding which roof box is best. Bigger does not necessarily make for the best product, it truly depends on buying the best suited size for the user's specific needs. A good tip is to check a roof box's length and width measurements rather than the manufacturer's declared volume as this makes it much easier to imagine how it will fit on your car and how your luggage will fit within it once packed.

Material: Additionally, material matters; the type of plastic the box is made from is very important and will affect the product's performance. More inexpensive boxes, usually made from thinner plastics, can often vibrate in the wind when travelling and consequently creating extra noise. This may not be an issue for some but for others it can make a four hour motorway journey just that bit more testing. Thin plastic is known to flex when being loaded, this makes closing the box difficult. 

Type of fitting: Roofboxes are made available with a range of different fittings on different boxes so it is an important thing to take into account when looking for the best roof box. It is important to check that the roof box you purchase is, first of all, compatible with the roof rack system you have installed on your vehicle. It is also advised to look at which roof box fitting will make for easier and quicker removal and fitting. If returning back from a rainy weekend of camping easy removal of your luggage rather than standing in the rain would obviously be preferable. For a quicker removal quick release fasteners would be advisable, an example being the power click mount available on most Thule made boxes, these can be found at North West Towbar Centre for purchase. 

Type of opening: The way a roof box opens is also an important feature to consider when deciding which is best, even more so if you want easy access to some items that may be obstructed by other items in the luggage. For instance, if the box has a side-opening roof box then you will only be able to load and unload luggage from one side of the vehicle. On the other hand a dual opening or hinged box will allow for access from either side of the vehicle making it much easier to use and more accessible for the user. Furthermore, central locking may sound like a good idea initially but it can quickly become stressful if the box is full, you might struggle to engage one of the lock pins. Thule Motion XT and upwards have a unique latch system that enables you to latch each locking point individually and then lock simply without any forcing of keys.

Are Roof Boxes Universal?

Within size limits, arguably most roof top boxes will fit most cars, therefore it is relatively simple to find one to suit any user's needs and can thus be considered universal. However, it is important to consider weight restrictions of your car when purchasing a roof box so not to damage it (such details should be found in the appropriate car handbook) and the capacity of the box itself.

Roof boxes for cars must always be fitted to a set of roof bars, a set of steel or aluminium bars going across the car, from one side to the other. Without roof bars it is impossible to fit a roof box. The bars may attach to any pre-existing mounting points that are already set in the roof, to rails running across the length of the vehicle or easily clamp to the bodywork. In some cases cars have old-fashioned rain gutters which can also be used for clamping. Cars with factory-fitted longitudinal roof-rails will still require a set of roof bars which will stretch rail to rail. Excluding the KAMEI Corvara boxes (these only fit into T-track slots) any brand of roof box can be fitted to any brand of roof bar. Such products can be found for purchase at the North West Towbar Centre, simply enter an already known product code to search availability or search roof rack on site. If in or near the Stockport area you'll be able to find roof bars available under 'roof bars near me' too.

As mentioned earlier, a range of different shapes and sizes are available. This fact may put a limit upon whether the box will actually fit on the vehicle in question or hold the longest piece of luggage, i.e. if it can fit in skis, windbreaks, tent poles etc. Therefore size of vehicles and luggage can limit the boxes 'universality'. 

What's The Biggest Roof Box?

There are multiple roof box sizes available on the market in order to suit all consumer's needs and requirements. The largest type being full-width roof boxes (these are equivalent to a large estate car boot). These are perfect if in need of maximum storage solutions. However these size boxes are near impossible and very awkward to lift and fix to a car alone. These roof boxes take up the full width of a vehicle so are therefore ideal for large loads, such as in the case of moving house, a long camping trip or just one user needing to pack a month's worth of clothes for a two day trip. In contrast a half width roof box is equivalent to a mid-size car boot and the three quarter width roof box is equivalent to a large car boot.