C3 Roof Bars

[potter]

Hi all,

 

I know this is a specific rather than general question, but having just had a play with the roof bars on my XTR (having found the extra long screws and upstands under the passenger seat) does anybody have experience of Roof Boxes attached to them.

 

My first impression was that they don't seem very wide spaced, is there a recommended maximum size? given that it propably looks like some type of top heavy snail with a box in place :)

having said that they appear to be very solid and up to the job.

 

Halfords are doing a 250L box for <£100, any body got any opinions on this subject area. i.e. noise, fuel consumption, handling, security, make.

 

thanks

Potter

[raveydavey]

Hi all,

 

I know this is a specific rather than general question, but having just had a play with the roof bars on my XTR (having found the extra long screws and upstands under the passenger seat) does anybody have experience of Roof Boxes attached to them.

 

My first impression was that they don't seem very wide spaced, is there a recommended maximum size? given that it propably looks like some type of top heavy snail with a box in place :P

having said that they appear to be very solid and up to the job.

 

Halfords are doing a 250L box for <£100, any body got any opinions on this subject area. i.e. noise, fuel consumption, handling, security, make.

 

thanks

Potter

 

Well I don't know about the model Halfords are selling, but I've heard a few horror stories of cheap roof boxes being poorly sealed against the elements and people arriving at journeys end to find eveything inside is soaked and there is an inch or two of water in the bottom of the box...also security may well be pretty basic, but again it depends on the actual box.

 

It will definately knock 10% or more off your fuel economy, especially if you're at motorways speeds.

If you're travelling with 4 people in the car and a full boot as well as the roof box I doubt it will make much difference to the handling under normal conditions, althought I wouldn't recommend doing any handbrake turns or trying to navigate roundabouts too quickly.

Check the manufacturers advice, as there will be a limit to the weight the bars can handle - remember that this includes the weight of the box as well as whatever you're putting in it.