A roof box is a vehicle accessory that installed on the roof of nearly any vehicle using the dedicated channels built into all cars and vans, or onto the factory fitted roof rails of a vehicle.

Roof boxes attach to roof bars that are specially designed for your vehicle make/model and year of car and attach into the purpose made attachments into the top of a vehicle roof gutter or onto the rails that already exist.

Once the roof bars are installed, the Roof Box sits on top of this and securely fixes to the bars, therefore attaching it to the vehicle. The roof box comes with a key and locking mechanism to keep all of your holiday, ski, riding or canoeing valuables safe and secure when you might leave your car unattended for example to stop at a service station or to drop into a supermarket to get groceries.

Roof boxes are designed to carry a fair amount of weight and come in various sizes to carry things such as camping bbq’s, tents, suitcases, sports holdalls, camping or kayaking equipment, skis, children’s toys for holiday – they are very versatile.

Ever been excited to go on a family road trip but get stressed as the kids want to take every toy in the house and you find yourself getting stressed before you leave for your holiday by trying to cram stuff into every single hole available in the car? A good sizes quality roof box takes all of this pain away!

Create a tonne of extra space in the car to make it more relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable – and allow you take more stuff with you.

The most effective and useful way to use your roof box is to store the stuff in there that you wont need until you get to your destination or the games/toys/cricket sets/tennis rackets that are not used all day every day – that way you keep free space in the car boot to store items that you will need fast or frequent access to – like your overnight bags or luggage to take into a hotel or AirBNB.

A roof box makes your journey safer too – over filling the car will hinder and prevent a good view point for the driver and passengers and there is always the risk of an loose item moving and suddenly blocking view for the driver or worse, in an emergency breaking situation, a heavy bag flying through the car cockpit and injuring someone. By loading the overflow luggage into your roofbox, you remove all of these hazards from the car journey.

Roofboxs can get heavy when full and at speed, with wind resistance the weight of a roofbox can become incredible, for that reason it is absolutely essential that a roofbox is installed with the correct roofbars and fittings to prevent disaster on the road!

You cannot simply rent a roofbox and put it on the top of your car – you must start with the correct roofbars which fit side to side of the vehicle – one near the front and one near the rear.

Roofbars come in various types, the basic square bars, aluminium “t-track” slotted bars which hang over the eddge of the feet (and therefore giving more space on the roof for potentially another roofbox or bike carrier. The Aluminium bars tend to be aerodynamic giving better fuel economy and reduced road noise and are somtimes called WingBars or

The roofbars then attached to the feet which connect to the car – called fixings. Fixings come in 4 different types depending on the make and model of vehicle (this is why its critical we know your make and model of car when booking to ensure we have the right fixings for you!).

The fixings can cater for almost any vehicle produced and come in the forms of:

	Flush Roof Rails – these are rails that are fitted at the factory to your car and are attached to the vehicle all the way along the whole length of the roof rail. You cannot get your hand underneath of the roof rail anywhere along the roof.
	Fixpoints – these are welded in points that are made in the roof of the car whilst the car is being produced in the factory. These fix points are set in the perfect locations on the car to ensure stability and a strong fixing system – they are almost always under a flap or sliding panel on the roof gutter of the car.
	Clamp Around Fitting – These are not very often seen on never cars however they do cater for cars that have no fixing system on the roof already such as fixpoints or roof rails running front to back. These bars clamp around the car bodywork.
	Raised Roof Rail – these are car manufacturer fitted rails that run front to back of the vehicle and you are able to get your fingers / hand underneath them – they are connected to the roof of the car at both ends but nowhere else.

Finally, once the bars are selected and installed can you concentrate on fixing the box onto the bars. There are generally two methods of connecting the box to the bars, ether by a large u-bolt that wraps around the bars and through the roofbox and bolted from the inside of the box, or by utilising power mounts where each end of the bar has a “claw” type mechanism that compresses and clamps against the factory fitted roofbars.

There are many different types of vehicle roof boxes available on the market, each with their own set of features and benefits. Some of the most popular options include the Thule Motion XT and Kamaei Husky 510.

The Thule Motion XT is a great option for those looking for a large, high-quality roof box. It is made of a durable, weather-resistant material that is built to last. The Motion XT is also designed to be easy to install and use, with a variety of features that make it user-friendly. It has a great aerodynamic design that reduces wind resistance and noise, and the lid can be opened from either side, which makes it easy to access your gear.

The Kamikaze Husky roof box offers a variety of benefits for those looking to add extra storage space to their vehicle. One of the main benefits is its large capacity, which allows you to store a significant amount of gear or luggage. Additionally, the box is made of high-density polyethylene, which is a durable and weather-resistant material that can withstand harsh weather conditions. The box is also designed with an aerodynamic shape that reduces wind resistance and noise, making it more comfortable to drive with. It also features a central locking system that provides added security for your belongings. Overall, the Kamikaze Husky roof box is a great option for those looking for a durable and spacious roof box that can withstand the elements and keep your belongings safe and secure.

Ultimately, the best roof box for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Factors to consider when choosing a roof box include the size of the box, the material it is made of, and the features it offers. Additionally, it is important to consider the weight limit of the roof box, as well as the size of your vehicle and the weight of your gear.

In terms of price, there are roof boxes available at different price points. However, the more expensive roof boxes tend to be of higher quality and have more features. It’s important to note that the cheapest roof box may not be the best option for you, but you also don’t have to go for the most expensive one.

In conclusion, the Thule Motion XT and Kamei Husky are both great options for those looking for a high-quality, durable, and easy-to-use roof box. Ultimately, the best roof box for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, so it’s important to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs.

A roofbox does change the airflow over a car and as such, it will have a very small impact on your fuel economy. As the vehicle will essentially become larger, there is more wind resistance and due to this the car will have a slightly reduced amount of miles per gallon – this is known as “drag”.

As well as the additional wind resistance, the roofbox will allow you to carry more weight due to the belongings inside it.

Both of these combined will cause your engine to work a little bit harder to move the car as normal.

Does that mean your fuel consumption will go up massively? Well according to most manufacturers, fuel consumption wont dramatically increase. Yes it will go up slightly due to the additional drag and weight but not significantly enough for you to notice much difference.

When speaking to Thule who are one of the biggest and most advanced on the market, they estimate that you should see no more than 5% increase in your fuel consumption with a roofbox attached.

You will notice nearly all roofboxes are a strange shape, this is by design to help the roofbox cut through the air resistance and reduce drag – you will notice the front section is usually flatter – like a wedge shape – and this means a smoother air flow over the car.

Thule are one of the market leading Roof Box and outdoor equipment manufacturers. Swedish design and reliability is built into every product.

Thule is recognised around the world for many different vehicle accessories and top quality roof boxes, bike carriers, back boxes, canoe carriers, roof bars and many other items. Thule gives you a tonne of additional features and the products are secure by design allowing you to not worry about your valuables whilst you leave your car unattended to do a shopping trip or stopping at a service station for example. All Thule products are super quick and easy to install and remove.