For recreation with a roof rack

A few days ago, the holiday season began in Poland, and in the coming weeks our roads will be filled with drivers who go on a well-deserved vacation. Many of them often face the problem of too small trunk. Her solution may be the transportation of luggage on the roof of the car.

To relax with a roof rack People who need extra space to carry, for example, travel bags, do not need to buy a larger car. In such cases, the so-called roof racks are used, i.e. devices installed on the roof of vehicles and allowing you to load additional luggage. Having decided to buy a box, you should know that in addition to it, you will also need mounting beams. We advise what to look for when buying such a set.

The first of the basic elements needed to assemble the boxes are the crossbars. It is on them that the entire structure of the roof rack rests. When choosing a particular model, it is worth asking how often we will use the extra cargo space. If we need it only a few times a year, it is worth choosing universal beams, the prices of which start at about PLN 150. You can also buy a set dedicated to a specific car from us. Depending on the manufacturer, they can cost up to PLN 800-900 for a set of two beams. The most common are steel structures. There are also aluminum beams on the market, the prices of which are about PLN 150 higher.

Another issue is the purchase of the roof boxes themselves. Here the choice is really great. Depending on your needs, we can choose smaller devices with a capacity of around 300 liters, boxes that can hold up to 650 liters of luggage and are 225 centimeters long. Therefore, it is worth checking the dimensions of the roof of our car in advance so that the box does not protrude too much in front of the windshield and does not block free access to the trunk of the vehicle. Prices for such devices depend mainly on their size. The cheapest models cost about PLN 300, while the cost of buying the most expensive ones can exceed PLN 4.

However, buying is not the only way out. Many companies offer the option of renting roof racks. The average rental price ranges from PLN 20-50 per night. If we decide on a longer rental period, the costs decrease. Also, be aware that some box rental companies require a deposit in advance.

When deciding to assemble the boxes yourself, you need to remember a few rules. Before installation, loosen the legs of the mounting beams (it happens that their protection also needs to be opened with a key), put them in the appropriate place on the rails, and then fix them. The box must be evenly supported, sequentially by 1/3, and then by 2/3 of its length. The cross beams should be separated by a distance of about 75 centimeters. Larger units may require the assistance of a second person.

To relax with a roof rack Once everything is mounted, we can start downloading. Most passenger cars have a roof load of 50 kg and SUVs 75 kg (including the weight of the luggage compartment). We distribute the greatest weight between the bars, and lighter things in front and behind the container. In some cases, there are also places inside the boxes for straps to help secure the load.

Driving with a box also requires changing your current habits. In such cases, we should not exceed 130 km / h, and when cornering, we must take into account that the center of gravity of the car has increased significantly, which significantly affects its handling. Due to the greater weight, the braking distance may also increase.

Examples of prices for selected crossbars: