Roof Boxes

gumbo · Post by **gumbo** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:42 pm

Hello All,

I know you have probably spoken about this topia a 1000 times but i was wondering about a roofbox for my freetop bongo.

Where can i get one?

Are there any drawbacks?

Any recommendations on roofbars?

It seems an ideal solution to storage problems in the bongo.

Let me know your thoughts....................

Gumbo........

Post by **Ian** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:09 pm

Quote from the members factsheet:

"One of the problems with fitting a top box is that the roof bars, once fitted, are too far apart. Therefore, to fit a top box to the bars, a bodge will have to be made. This can be done by drilling hols through the rear of the box and attaching it to the bar. Not ideal, but as long as the fixings are secure, it works fine. The Thule 700 box is ideal for this purpose."

gumbo · Post by **gumbo** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:20 pm

What bars do i use for this box?

Post by **Ian** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:40 pm

The ones available through the club shop.

Richard D · Post by **Richard D** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:22 pm

I have a bongalow with a roofbox (whacking great big one) the roof bars are a permanent fixture as they have the awning attached to them. The only drawback with a box on is the obvious one of height restrictions (cant use the drive through at mcdonalds) and as we have found out whilst on holiday (mostly cornwall) a lot of car parks are heightist and you cant get in (miserable b@s7@9ds).

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:24 pm

we've got a huge one on our freetop, have to help the motors lift the roof a bit, always make sure the box is empty of course, apart from the obvious don't go into restricted height carparks i don't think i would have tried without the roofbox on anyway

it's the perfect storage solution for us, we camp with 3 kids, 2 adults and 2 medium sized dogs and get everything in there for a week's getaway

Post by **Ian** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:56 pm

Indigo, tell us a bit more about how the box is attached to the bars. Are your bars sitting in the pre-drilled holes on the free top? How is the front of the box attached to the front bar?

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:35 pm

Ian wrote:Indigo, tell us a bit more about how the box is attached to the bars. Are your bars sitting in the pre-drilled holes on the free top? How is the front of the box attached to the front bar?

we had to re-drill the front holes, the rear ones were in the right place already. the bars are sitting in the pre-drilled holes on the free top.

Post by **Ian** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:36 pm

Thanks. Is that a Thule 700 box?

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:40 pm

Ian wrote:Thanks. Is that a Thule 700 box?

it's a Thule Vision 850, we got it just before they discontinued it, it's the only one we found that size in black!

it wasn't cheap either - £485!!

vanvliet · Post by **vanvliet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:58 pm

That is one classy roofbox looks great with your black Bongo - best I have seen

but the roofrack is ,well,grim

Post by **Ian** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:54 pm

vanvliet wrote:but the roofrack is ,well,grim

In terms of colour? Or design? Or both?

vanvliet · Post by **vanvliet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:20 pm

OK - IMO , and know that others might not give a damn - I think that it spoils the style of a cracking outfit. It looks like a ladder carrier from a commercial Ford Escort van I used to drive . Colour ? Yes, it could be improved by a black powdercoat. If it had been fabricated in round bar it would have looked a bit better. On the other hand it looks functional , making use of the Bongo roof mounting points . I am scouring scrapyards at the moment in an effort to fabricate / alter a pair of bars myself - the side rails and cross bars from an early VW Polo estate look like a possiblity - - They look a bit like this Fiamma system which itself might be a runner but for the price - - http://www.fiamma.it/prodotti/prodotti. ... 03&Fam=P02

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:01 pm

I'm still thinking on how I can make some good looking LONGITUDINAL rails for my Bongo roof on the cheap. Come on Guys & Galls - lets get some ingenuity going here. I reckon you could even use box section rails inset into hardwood blocks at each end. Silver hammerite on the box section, plenty of varnish on the hardwood blocks - ya might even get a classy look out of it. And standard roof bars and boxes etc will then fit + maybe with space behind the roof box for more stuff (but dont raise that roof with it all on!?!?!)

Who's going to beat me to it then

Bingabanga · Post by **Bingabanga** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:18 pm

I am planning to fit my own roof rails this year and I will be bolting straight into the existing 8mm sockets in the roof. Does anyone know where these go? that is where do the sockets/bolts attach to??

Roof Boxes

Roof Boxes

Roof boxes

roof boxes