Hapro roof box storage

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Stu1

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#277301 6-Oct-2020 22:00

Well it’s getting closer to camping season, I am going to get a harpo roof box this year to make the trip a bit more comfortable. I am looking at the traxer 410 litre option and have prorack bars they take up to 75kg load. Can you store a dome dwights or katmandu tent in them or is the weight too much for driving safely? . I was thinking putting in chairs roll up table and sleeping bags in as the other option, but would love the boot space without a tent in it. What do people normally store in their roofbox for camping?

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#2580377 6-Oct-2020 22:24

Many people use roof boxes incorrectly. Placing all the heavy, bulky items in the roof box that they don't want in the car. They're simply not designed to carry that much weight.

You're far better off carrying that stuff in your car and placing things like clothing, shoes, towels, sleeping bags etc..... in the roof box. Of course carrying that heavy bulky stuff in your car it also needs to be securely held in place!

Scott3

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#2580401 6-Oct-2020 23:16

Rule of thumb is to put the heaviest items in the boot (as far forward as possiable)

You need to work out the weakest link in the chain.

Total weight on roof (Roof racks + roof box + cargo) should be less than the roof load rating for the car. (85kg for a current rav4 as an example).

Weight on roof racks (box + cargo) should be less than their rating (75 - 100kg common for a pair)

Weight in box should be less than it's rating (75kg).

Hypothetically lets say we have a 100kg rated bar pair mounted on a current rav4. The 85kg roof load of the car will be the critical limit. I guess the bars will be 7 kg, and the traxter 6.6. box is 18kg empty. This would mean you have 60kg of payload remaining.

Also best to avoid overloading the car as a whole.

Dwights lists the weight of its dome tents on its website. I picked a 8 person one and it was 22kg. Theoretically you could put it in the roof box but that single item uses up more than 1/3 of its weight capacity. Given dome tents are typically fairly dense it might be better to put it in the boot. Also avoids the need to lift it up.

Given limited weight capacity and large roofbox volume lighter more bulky items would be ideal:

camp chairs
sleeping bags
pillows
air pumps
Sporting equipment

jonathan18

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#2580414 7-Oct-2020 06:09

Yeah, there’s no way I’d put our tent in our roof box (also a Hapro); I put things like the kids’ small suitcases, pillows, balls, kites, light food, togs and towels etc. Multiple small/light things are easier to fit in the box due to its shape, leaving the boot to be more neatly packed around large items like the tent and chilli bin.

Stu1

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#2580452 7-Oct-2020 08:02

Senecio:

Many people use roof boxes incorrectly. Placing all the heavy, bulky items in the roof box that they don't want in the car. They're simply not designed to carry that much weight.

You're far better off carrying that stuff in your car and placing things like clothing, shoes, towels, sleeping bags etc..... in the roof box. Of course carrying that heavy bulky stuff in your car it also needs to be securely held in place!

Thank you appreciate the video

Stu1

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#2580453 7-Oct-2020 08:07

Thank you for all the answers will definitely keep the tent and the shade in the boot , the chairs are pretty light and do take a lot of room so will save some space. Just need to wait for the roof boxes to come into stock now.

Handsomedan

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#2580462 7-Oct-2020 08:29

I'm glad I came across this post...I've often wondered about all of the above as have contemplated roof boxes in the past (our tent takes up half the boot).

All really good info which is well reasoned and easy to understand.

Well done again, Geekzone!

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josephhinvest

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#2580499 7-Oct-2020 09:50

In 2016 I bought a Hapro Traxer 6.6 box in gloss black, and very nice S44 Prorack Whispbars from The Roofrack Company. Very happy with my purchase, can recommend both the product and the company. The bars stay on permanently and don't make any noticeable noise. The box itself takes about 3 minutes to put on or take off.

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Stu1

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#2580586 7-Oct-2020 11:52

josephhinvest: In 2016 I bought a Hapro Traxer 6.6 box in gloss black, and very nice S44 Prorack Whispbars from The Roofrack Company. Very happy with my purchase, can recommend both the product and the company. The bars stay on permanently and don't make any noticeable noise. The box itself takes about 3 minutes to put on or take off.

That’s exactly what I’m after have the whispar bars and looking at the 6.6 traxer but only silver in stock , never heard of them until geekzone great community

josephhinvest

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#2580747 7-Oct-2020 16:19

Stu1:
josephhinvest: In 2016 I bought a Hapro Traxer 6.6 box in gloss black, and very nice S44 Prorack Whispbars from The Roofrack Company. Very happy with my purchase, can recommend both the product and the company. The bars stay on permanently and don't make any noticeable noise. The box itself takes about 3 minutes to put on or take off.

That’s exactly what I’m after have the whispar bars and looking at the 6.6 traxer but only silver in stock , never heard of them until geekzone great community

I’ve never had a different one but this one has served us well. Got it for the Captiva, we’ve had great road trips. Three kids with plenty of room in the back (5 seats for the 3 of them) and all the clothes etc in the box. A long trip with nothing stored in the passenger cabin is a game-changer!
And it looks pretty good too, I think the gloss was perhaps $100(?) more but worth it.

Cheers,
Joseph

ashtonaut

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#2580783 7-Oct-2020 17:55

Another vote for the Hapro Traxer 6.6, we’ve had one for 4 years and it’s awesome - super easy to put on and off and opens from both sides which is great.

We fill ours with jackets, gumboots, sleeping bags and other bulky but reasonably lightweight stuff.

We had awesome service from the company that sells them, the guy was very knowledgeable.

Handsomedan

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#2581059 8-Oct-2020 09:28

Question: Are these properly watertight?

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scuwp

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#2581123 8-Oct-2020 10:53

Handsomedan:

Question: Are these properly watertight?

Another vote for Hapro - load ours with bulky but lightweight products also. Never had any concerns or found any water egress. That said we use the pin mounts so they take up less space inside and minimal protrusion through the rubber covered gaps in the bottom.

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josephhinvest

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#2581170 8-Oct-2020 11:00

Handsomedan:
Question: Are these properly watertight?

Mine has been completely watertight. The lid latches down at three points on each side. And cleverly you can’t remove the key when it’s unlocked, would be very difficult to drive off with it unsecured.

BlinkyBill

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#2581281 8-Oct-2020 12:29

josephhinvest: ... The bars stay on permanently and don't make any noticeable noise. The box itself takes about 3 minutes to put on or take off.

How much do the bare bars add to your fuel costs?

josephhinvest

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#2581502 8-Oct-2020 16:46

BlinkyBill:
josephhinvest: ... The bars stay on permanently and don't make any noticeable noise. The box itself takes about 3 minutes to put on or take off.

How much do the bare bars add to your fuel costs?

Short answer is I don’t know, I put the bars on when the car was new and haven’t taken them off. They are mostly not noticeable at all. They fit very neatly between the roof rails, not on top.These ones.

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