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Looking at options for roof storage for the Peugeot partner. It's got rails, need to get bars for it and a box/bag.
I also want the option of fitting a couple if bikes up there too, so needs to be slimline.
Couple of options.
Roof bars are about £45 for Amazon/eBay ones which seem to have a good rating.
Slim roof box from Halfords, they do a half width 360l one for £200.
Or a roof bag. Though I've not seen any that are thin, and know little about how they're constructed, fir example, if they fold up, what stops them from sagging when on the roof?
Alternatively I thought that a secured bit of marine ply and a very tied down waterproof holdall may do a similar job?
If I do that though, am I better off just getting a cargo rack for the roof? They look kinda cool too.
Tia
Do you have somewhere to store a rigid roofbox for the 300-ish days a year when you're not using it?
FWIW I've been using a Thule Ranger 90 softbox for the last 10 years or so and it's been faultless. The storage bag's getting a bit tatty to be fair but the box is perfect. It has rigid sides and struts that span between the roof bars and kind of rolls up.
Can fit it in about 3 minutes.
and a very tied down waterproof holdall may do a similar job?
Unless it's somewhat aero dynamic, I wouldn't do this.
I've had a snowboard bag on a roofrack before and it made a hell of a racket...
Facebook marketplace is awash with Roofboxes and Thule Roofbars.
I bought aero bars and feet for £50, they looked new and even came with the box.
I gave away our roofbox as we din't have need or room to store.
I have a Thule Ranger with enough roof for a bike carrier on a pair of roof bars - wouldn't be enough room to fit a second bike though.
If you want a free Halfords 360 ish roof box to keep or trial for which you'll just need to order a key and can swing by the top of the M25 I have one you can have.
I don't want it back.
We have a slim line but long roof box on our camper. Most of the year it sits on our shed pent roof with seemingly no ill effects. They are massive things to store and for that reason, the go for a song on gumtree.
I wouldn't be buying one new.
Cheers all.
I have a space for storage for a box though it'll likely live on the Peugeot micro camper thing as it'll be getting used for those just in case stopovers.
Used slim ones are quite hard to find locally it seems. Though we'll keep looking.
I'll bin the idea of a roof cage and bags then. But will still lookout for roof bags now I've seen how they fold up. 🙂
I’ve got a Thule slim roof box. I’m not sure which model, but it’s as long as the roof on my Skoda Superb, it’s mahoosive! I can get one, two at a push, bike racks on the roof bars at the same time.
I only use it for holidays where we take the entire contents of an outdoor shop with us. Wetsuits, body boards, surf board, bikes, deck chairs, beach tents, BBQ, beach trolley, etc.
Apparently it makes holidays “fun”. I’m in the camp of less is more. Again, apparently I’m wrong.
I've one of the Handibags, it folds up to a small bundle. The strength when it's assembled comes from four rods in the base.
The bag has been great, and really cheap compared to boxes.
I’m in the camp of less is more.
It turns out more is more.
It turns out more is more.
Well, yes, but more work, more carrying shite we don’t use.
Still looking on eBay and gumtree etc.
I think the staycation effect has inflated prices somewhat.
Maybe poor timing to build a microcamper. :-/
So we'll probably end up buying new. Been recommended the Thule Ocean 600 as a slimline option. Seems decent fir the price too.
Re: roof bars for roof rails. Aero Thule seem to be the default, though expensive.
Worth considering more budget friendly options?
I think 2nd hand Thule is the answer for roof bars.
We have a Kamei Delphin roof box, which seemed to be a good option for a long, narrow roofbox when I was looking a few years ago.
Had a Thule Ranger 90, was pretty good and the soft top of it and straps to cinch down made it a bit easier to load up. Sold it because I thought our car was big enough now for camping stuff - after our summer trip I'm on the lookout for another one 😄
Thule do a long thin folding one too (Ranger 500) meant for skis. But as they fold along their length, I'm not sure it's a big space saving over an equivalent thin solid box.
Re: roof bars for roof rails. Aero Thule seem to be the default, though expensive.
Worth considering more budget friendly options?
What width bars do you need? I’ve got a very inexpensive pair of Paddy Hopkirk bars and feet for roof rails. Tatty but cheap.
Width wise, around 110-120 is good.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333215102030
Is the kind of thing I was looking at, but unsure due to much cheapness...
Re:thule ranger 60. Think it may be a bit wide. Others may be a bit long too, been offered an old Thule, but it's 235 long, which overhangs the roof by a fair bit.
I think 190-200 is going to be the max length, with a width around 60.
I don't think we'll be packing the house, just bedding and clothes, and maybe our small driveway awning.
Cheers.
Just measured those bars. 111cm bar length with 107cm between the clamps. Too small I think.
Thule seems to think a Partner needs 135cm bars?
Ok thanks.
Rails measure 110 outer edge to outer edge.
Normally the bars extend just beyond the rails- Thule's site will say what length bar your car needs.