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VW Golf Estate - Roof bars and top box?

quantum
quantum Posts: 59 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts
edited 26 August 2014 pm31 9:34PM in Motoring
Your recommendations please. Never had a roof box. Moving house and think I'm gonna need extra space. Then fit bikes subesquently once we've moved.

Thule seems to be the best but they are expensive.
Roofbox.co.uk seem a good website. Are Halfords any good?
Oh yes and can I then take them and put 'em on a Skoda Yeti - my next car?
Thanks
John
ps I need info quick moving on Sunday so need in a hurry!

Thanks again!

Comments

  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,822 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Do you have roof rails? If you do then ALDI and LIDL sell bars for about £25.

    If you dont have rails already fitted you need specific bars or universal bars with a footpack to match your car.
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  • It's a 2006 with raised roof rails.

    Thanks

    John
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,822 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you already have the rails running front to back then a set of bars should cost you under £30.

    I got mine for £20 from a caravan shop off ebay. That was a few years ago now though.
    I have seen them in ALDI and LIDL though. £24.99 or less.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • You need: two bars, there are two fundamentally different types, simple bars where fittings use a U shaped metal fittings that wrap round the bar, whereas the other type have a channel and you have a small square fitting that goes into the bar itself. Most roof boxes and bike fittings have adapters to work with both, but you should check.

    You then need the feet to attach to the bar, and you will need to check that the model you buy is compatible with the rails on your car. Places like RoofBox have the lookup systems to make sure you buy the right length of bar and the right fittings.

    You need to be aware of loading limits too.

    The advantage of Thule is that they are generally a reliable product, though the key system is a bit of a pain unless you get them sorted to match.

    So, check list is:

    * feet compatible with your roof rails
    * roof bars correct width (you cannot fit too wide ones, the foot fitting groove does not run all the way across on Thule)
    * decide on bar or track fittings
    * Aero bars are quieter, (remember bars aren't the big cost)
    * Thule professional bike mounts are about the easiest to work with
    * You can mix and match attachments and Thule boxes aren't necessarily best value for money.
    * Think about the size of box - a narrower box can then accomodate bikes at the same time.
    * check weight limits, car will have a max weight, bars will have a max weight, carriers will have a max weight and so you have to remember to count the weight of the carrier and the load and compare with the roof bar limits.


    Roof bars and boxes do make the car noisier and do limit the top speed and increase fuel consumption, so they are not ideal for a continental trip.

    You can get simple straps from RoofBox etc. to put the roof box on garage ceiling or the like - you need somewhere to keep the roof box.

    I took a look at Halfords stuff, they sell a range from junk to Thule.

    eBay is OK as long as you work out exactly what version of stuff you need is.

    The best thing to check compatibility is to use the roofbox site and see what comes up. I couldn't transfer anything from my 1999 Merc C class to my 2012 Merc C Class aside from the accessories.
  • bigjl
    bigjl Posts: 6,457 Forumite
    Thule are probably the best.

    The actual bars may be interchangable between different cars but you may need to buy new "feet" which is the bit that mounts to the roof rails and the bars are then mounted to that.

    Roof rails are also noisy if you get the square ones.

    And i have seen cheap ones go rusty fairly quickly on friends cars.

    I have a set of Thule Aero bars with feet for a V50 in the shed. They were on the car for 2years and look almost as new.

    You can find out the info you need using the little guide book in Halfords or by going onto the Thule website.

    If you need to know quickly then best head down there ASAP.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    I've always used Thule bars and a Thule roofbox and bike carrier. Excellent quality items but pricey and with fitting instructions that can need a bit of careful reading.
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