Roof Racks! That's right, you heard me!

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

Hold on to your hats folks because we're gonna talk about roof racks!

All the ladies love a sensible family car with lots of boot space, but what if that boot space just isn't enough for a rapidly expanding family's latest camping escapades? WHAT THEN?

Do you drag your bags behind the car? Strap the CHILDREN to the BONNET? TELL THE WIFE THAT CAMPING IS RUBBISH AND WE SHOULD JUST GO ON A PROPER HOLIDAY???

...

No.

...

Fuck no.

You buy a roof rack.

Or, I do.

Or, more accurately, *WE* do.

--------------------------------------------------------------

What are the pitfalls here? Is the Halfords one ok? Is there a PREMIUM roof rack brand I should be looking for? I just don't know. Help me Obi Wan Beex, you're my only hope first port of call.

GazChap · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 15:08

you don't buy a roof rack you fool you buy a camper van

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

GazChap wrote:

you don't buy a roof rack you fool you buy a camper van

Assume I've donr that and I now need a roof rack for the camper van

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 15:14

I have roof bars for both my Leon (official Seat ones!) and for MrsZs RAV4 for our Halfords(?) roof box.

Brilliant for camping trips!

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 15:16

What's your current car, DavPaz? Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

Zardoz wrote:

What's your current car, DavPaz? Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

It's a 57 plate c-max. I believe it has proper mount points

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

Go to Halfords, ask them to spec up a Thule kit, suck your teeth and say it’s expensive, then buy all the same parts from amazon.

Feedback I had when I was looking this time last year was that with all the will on the world, there’s a high probability you’ll pick the wrong shoes, or find fitting the shoes difficult and paranoid you did the wrong thing.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 15:22

Cool. Get a look on eBay for an official ford pair.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 15:39

Rent a van for the weekend

Bluecup · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 925

I've been researching this recently for carrying bikes around. Other forums all seem to recommend https://www.roofbox.co.uk/ , lots of info and car to roof bars selection tools on there.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22396

Don't forget to tell your insurer, it's a strong possibility the roof box and contents won't be covered unless you tell them.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 16:00

I just bought roof bars off eBay this very minute.

My car has to get specific ones as it is a weirdo.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 16:01

I second Thule for feet and bars. Buy a generic granny coffin for the roof though

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16640

Bluecup wrote:

I've been researching this recently for carrying bikes around. Other forums all seem to recommend https://www.roofbox.co.uk/ , lots of info and car to roof bars selection tools on there.

Another vote for this place. They have some really well engineered ones that are cheaper than Thule.

KovacsC · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 16:31

I got mine from roofbox.co.uk

Was a lot cheaper than Halfords

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 16:47

Got that and polyprop rope.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

And a tax disc!

krazywookie · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:27

ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:

Go to Halfords, ask them to spec up a Thule kit, suck your teeth and say it’s expensive, then buy all the same parts from amazon.

Feedback I had when I was looking this time last year was that with all the will on the world, there’s a high probability you’ll pick the wrong shoes, or find fitting the shoes difficult and paranoid you did the wrong thing.

I sell Thule, just fill in the form on their website and buy the part codes it gives you.
Do use Thule it's better than the other stuff.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:29

But but... my roof bars have Seat logos on them.

myp · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:31

krazywookie wrote:

ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:

Go to Halfords, ask them to spec up a Thule kit, suck your teeth and say it’s expensive, then buy all the same parts from amazon.

Feedback I had when I was looking this time last year was that with all the will on the world, there’s a high probability you’ll pick the wrong shoes, or find fitting the shoes difficult and paranoid you did the wrong thing.

I sell Thule, just fill in the form on their website and buy the part codes it gives you.
Do use Thule it's better than the other stuff.

Said like a true salesman

krazywookie · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:33

DavPaz wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

What's your current car, DavPaz? Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

It's a 57 plate c-max. I believe it has proper mount points

Huh, snap.
We just traded our little spark in for one.

Completely unrelatedly this afternoon I was knocking down a section of wall to widen the entrance to the drive way.

krazywookie · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:33

Mr Chonks wrote:

krazywookie wrote:

ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:

Go to Halfords, ask them to spec up a Thule kit, suck your teeth and say it’s expensive, then buy all the same parts from amazon.

Feedback I had when I was looking this time last year was that with all the will on the world, there’s a high probability you’ll pick the wrong shoes, or find fitting the shoes difficult and paranoid you did the wrong thing.

I sell Thule, just fill in the form on their website and buy the part codes it gives you.
Do use Thule it's better than the other stuff.

Said like a true salesman

He's not buying it from me!

myp · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 17:44

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 20:22

They do roof bars for mountain bikes?

KovacsC · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 20:53

The Thule ones fit both.

myp · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 21:13

Robert Baratheon might not survive till the end

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Zardoz wrote:

Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

How shitty are these? Coz they're all my car will take.

KovacsC · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2019 21:22

Doc. They are great. I have had them on my last 2 Golfs and had no issue.

The Thule ones feet are designed for each car and tighten really well.

The pic I posted is of those

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 0:39

DavPaz wrote:

TELL THE WIFE THAT CAMPING IS RUBBISH AND WE SHOULD JUST GO ON A PROPER HOLIDAY???

You should do this. It's the correct answer.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 6:44

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

How shitty are these? Coz they're all my car will take.

The Thule ones tighten into to place so securely I reckon the roof would come off your car before the foot would move.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 12:07

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

How shitty are these? Coz they're all my car will take.

Ones I've had damaged paint on one of our older cars, and the way they tightened on had me paranoid all the way to the lakes and back. Cheap brand though, not Thule or anything.

myp · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 13:01

I bought a bike rack once that when tightened actually put dents in the car. I wasn’t best pleased.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 14:29

Zardoz wrote:

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

How shitty are these? Coz they're all my car will take.

Ones I've had damaged paint on one of our older cars, and the way they tightened on had me paranoid all the way to the lakes and back. Cheap brand though, not Thule or anything.

You could always stick some masking tape on the contact patch

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2019 14:46

No need, I have proper ones now

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10174

By an old transit minibus and take out a row of seats. Probably cheaper if you ignore insurance, tax, fuel, maintenance and the cost of the bus.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

I've stumped up for some Summit branded bars. Made by Mountney, apparently. They're pretty cheap, but review well. Wish me luck

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Zardoz wrote:

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

Does it have proper mounting points? I don't rate the the bars that grip on where the top door seals are.

How shitty are these? Coz they're all my car will take.

Ones I've had damaged paint on one of our older cars, and the way they tightened on had me paranoid all the way to the lakes and back. Cheap brand though, not Thule or anything.

I bought Thule ones in the end. They feel like they're welded on.

Malc · **Posted:** Tue Jun 25, 2019 17:53

BikNorton wrote:

By an old transit minibus and take out a row of seats. Probably cheaper if you ignore insurance, tax, fuel, maintenance and the cost of the bus.

I might have one for sale if anyone did want one!

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

THAT'S RIGHT! We've got some closure here people!

WHO WANTS TO SEE A PICTURE OF... A CAR... WITH SOME MOTHER-FUCKING ROOF BARS ON IT?

THAT'S RIGHT! EVERYBODY!

HOLD... ON.. TO... YOUR... HATS...

Attachment:

IMG_20190627_134029.jpg

Phew. I'm spent

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2019 14:22

People scrubbing their numberplate out online has always bemused me. What do you think might happen?

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

Grim... wrote:

People scrubbing their numberplate out online has always bemused me. What do you think might happen?

You could check my MOT status, you filthy spy

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22396

I hope you budgeted for your decrease in MPG.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

Trooper wrote:

I hope you budgeted for your decrease in MPG.

Giphy "absolutely not":
https://media1.giphy.com/media/X3fZXZoHhY2vC/giphy-loop.mp4

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2019 14:59

Grim... wrote:

People scrubbing their numberplate out online has always bemused me. What do you think might happen?

They could copy your plate, put it on a similar model and do crimes. Other than that, I’m at a loss :shrug:

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2019 15:08

Grim... wrote:

People scrubbing their numberplate out online has always bemused me. What do you think might happen?

"Hello, is that the Police?... yeah I saw this dude right, he was following lots of Famous People round That London and being weird... yeah description erm... like the head bouncer from Phoenix Nights but with a funky T-shirt... he sped off in a Ford Puma <reg number!> Good luck! ...oh yeah he was armed and really mad. Bye... Bye bye"

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

I'm reminded of the time Clarkson brazenly posted his bank account number openly and claimed that people couldn't do any harm with it.

More than likely nothing can come of posting my Reg openly, but why take the risk, hmm?

GazChap · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2019 15:53

DavPaz wrote:

More than likely nothing can come of posting my Reg openly, but why take the risk, hmm?

Do you put a cover over the plates when you're not driving the car?

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38666

GazChap wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

More than likely nothing can come of posting my Reg openly, but why take the risk, hmm?

Do you put a cover over the plates when you're not driving the car?

I have a curtain

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2019 21:01

DavPaz wrote:

I'm reminded of the time Clarkson brazenly posted his bank account number openly and claimed that people couldn't do any harm with it.

I mean, no-one did.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Grim... wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

I'm reminded of the time Clarkson brazenly posted his bank account number openly and claimed that people couldn't do any harm with it.

I mean, no-one did.

Someone set up a direct debit to Greenpeace, didn't they?

Be Excellent To Each Other

Roof Racks! That's right, you heard me!
EXCITING MOTORING THREAD!!

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Roof Racks! That's right, you heard me! EXCITING MOTORING THREAD!!

Who is online

Roof Racks! That's right, you heard me!
EXCITING MOTORING THREAD!!