A roof box is an accessory that allows you to transport more personal belongings in an additional loading space. This roof box is sought after mainly by large families who travel with a lot of luggage. But of course, due to its practicality, it is used for many other reasons.
A good roof box will be very suitable for family trips, without luggage in the car body, without towing a trailer, and any other more expensive accessories to increase cargo space.
What are the best roof boxes?
See the classification of the best roof boxes with large or small capacity at the best price. You can also look at our purchase guide right after the rankings to find out the criteria you need to pay attention to.
1. Roof box Thule Motion XT Black Glossy, Size L
Motion XT size L is a high-end model with a capacity of 450 litres and is in black. It is suitable for all vehicles with a maximum beam width of 80 mm.
Models designed by the Swedish company Thule, are very high-quality products and feature a modern and sophisticated design. In addition, this model, like all others, comes with a two-year warranty. This is a roof box with external dimensions: 195 x 91 x 44 cm and can withstand a maximum load of 75 kg.
The weight of this model is 20 kg and offers Dual-Side technology, which allows opening on both sides. It also has a multi-point lock for greater security and against theft. The system does not remove the key if all points are not tightly closed for greater security. This is a reliable and robust car box made of impact-resistant scratch material.
It can also withstand ultraviolet rays and be placed on roof bars with a maximum width of 80 mm.
2. FARAD roof box MARLIN 680L black
FARAD is an Italian company that offer automotive products and accessories of the highest possible quality. The brand’s products have a TÜV durability certificate.
The model has a side left or right opening to facilitate loading.
This is a lovely shiny roof box that will easily adapt to your car without compromising its aesthetic appearance.
Characteristically, this model has a capacity of 680 litres and dimensions: 210 x 100 x 42 cm.
This roof box is made of quality materials. It is also equipped with a quick-release system to facilitate assembly and ensure stability and safety.
In terms of security, the Northline Tirol 420 has a 6-position locking system and an IHS integrated suspension system.
3. Thule Dynamic 800 Roof Box
The Thule models have an exclusive and innovative design. They offer you great comfort when travelling with your family and you need to take more luggage. This model does not offer the largest possible capacity but will win you over with its sporty shape.
Its capacity is 320 litres if you are looking for something bigger you better look at the other models of Thule.
Its patented Thule PowerClick quick-mount system provides quick, easy and very secure fastening in just a few seconds.
Another essential feature is its locking system, which provides you with optimal security. Finally, its DualSide system will allow you to load and unload luggage quickly.
It is undoubtedly one of the best in its category due to its strength, quality and design!
4. VDP roof box VDP-FL320 glossy black
This model of the VDP brand has an innovative design, thanks to the optimised, aerodynamic shape and adaptability to any vehicle. You will appreciate its double-sided opening, which makes it easier to load and unload all your belongings. In addition, its front position on the roof of the car limits the risk of contact.
This is a roof box that is equipped with a pre-installed quick fix system. In this way, you will benefit from fast and secure fastening on the crossbeams. It is also equipped with straps for the better ordering and securing luggage.
This model can withstand a maximum load of 75 kg. In addition, its opening system is very stable and reliable but does not offer double opening.
In terms of design, you will appreciate the shape and the shiny grey colour. It is made of materials resistant to moisture and the sun to travel safely without any worries. VDP-FL320 is a product with good value for money.
5. Thule 635200 Force XT M Black Aeroskin
This inexpensive box has 400 litres of storage capacity and can be installed in seconds. In case you do not use it, you will need very little storage space.
This is a roof box made of waterproof material; it effectively protects water and dirt from luggage.
Thule Force XT M is equipped with a PowerClick quick-mount system for quick and secure attachment. Comes with special luggage straps.
It would help if you also kept in mind the price of this Thule roof box. In fact, this Thule model is one of the most affordable on the market.
Why buy a roof box?
Roof boxes are an excellent ally for expanding the boot capacity of your car or van.
Thanks to the wide models, you will be able to load more and take all the luggage you or the passengers in the vehicle need. This equipment is beneficial for long vacations or if you need to transport goods.
In addition, with these roof boxes, you can have better visibility, as you will not have to load the luggage in the car’s interior. In many cases, when the car is a station wagon, things in the luggage compartment can interfere with your vision if you carry a lot of cargo. The presence of this type of roof box will allow you to free up the field of view and help you feel safer while driving.
In turn, safer driving will reduce the risk of accidents. If you load a lot of things in the car and if don’t arrange them well, it can be dangerous.
A roof box will also be ideal for cases where you need to transport very bulky items that do not fit in the boot or want to put them in the car.
They can have different sizes, large or small, with large and small capacities, so that drivers can choose from models that adapt to their needs and the characteristics of their particular car.
Guide for buying a roof box
When you buy a roof box, you will find many models available on the market. To find out which one is best for you, knowing the most important and critical features are good.
Dimensions
Exterior dimensions are important because you need to choose crossbeams whose size and shape match the size of your car. Keep in mind that a model with inadequate dimensions can be dangerous, not to mention it increases fuel consumption, as the load will significantly increase the weight of the car.
That is why it is essential to choose a roof box with dimensions that meet the size of the car and your needs. There are models with sizes from 100 cm to 250 cm, so there are suitable sizes for all types of cars.
You also need to assess your needs well. That is, choose a model based on your lifestyle and what you plan to transport. If it is bulky but short items, you can take a model with medium capacity. But if you want to transport long items such as a surfboard or ski, you will need to buy a longer model.
However, you should know that the best-selling models are the ones with the largest capacity. They have a capacity of up to 680 litres and are wider than standard. Some of the largest may only be suitable for SUVs and SUVs, but most allow the installation of standard cars.
Production materials
Another aspect to keep in mind when buying this type of car accessory, another aspect to keep in mind is the manufacture materials. Most models are made of plastic or metal materials, but there are also models of fabric.
The choice of one or another model will depend a lot on your needs and the way you use it most of the time. Models made of harder materials are more recommended if you are going to use it constantly. Those with mixed materials such as plastic and metal are especially good because they are stronger, although they may weigh a little more.
The fabric models stand out in that they are lighter and are a good option for those who need more luggage space from time to time. The good models are made of waterproof fabrics and have solid zippers for a tight closure of luggage. They have the advantage that they do not need a lot of storage space, as they are foldable but are generally less durable than models made of solid materials.
Opening and closing system
For your safety and the safety of other drivers, you must choose a model with a good opening and closing system.
Most manufacturers offer a variety of specially designed systems, and it is essential to know each one to know which one to choose. As for the opening systems, you will find two options: double-sided and single-sided. Models that offer double-sided opening are ideal because they optimise the loading and unloading process.
On the other hand, those with one-sided openings do not require much effort to open and close, as they have a mechanism that keeps them open until the load is completed. This is a handy help system for large models.
The locking system is also essential to ensure the safety of your belongings. They are usually offered with one of the following two types of lock: one with a key and the other with a combination of numbers.
One of the most popular models is those that have a central locking system. This is a system based on two locks that lock automatically at the same time. In principle, this system will not allow you to remove the key if one of the points is not closed correctly. This way, you can be sure that the load is safe and start the journey.
Mounting system
It is essential to pay attention to the mounting system of your chosen model. It is advisable to buy a roof box, which is easy and fast to fix. This will allow you to install and remove it when you need it without much effort.
In general, most need crossbeams to be installed, but some are designed to install the factory side beams of the car. Keep this in mind when searching that you check if there is a model of this type for your car model. This way, you can save on the purchase of crossbeams. In addition, some brands offer their models complete with mounting beams. Whatever the system, you don’t have to worry about installation, as it’s practically a straightforward task, like putting on a roof mount mounted bike rack.
Aerodynamic shape
Roof boxes add extra weight to the vehicle by increasing its air resistance and making driving a little more complex and dangerous in some instances. Therefore, choosing a model with a good aerodynamic shape is important to minimise its impact while driving.
If you look at the offers on the market, you will find that there are models more aerodynamic than others. For example, the longer and thinner the design, the better the air resistance will be less. The aerodynamic shape is also very useful for saving fuel, but keep in mind that depending on the model, the capacity may be smaller than other possible options.
Regardless of which model you choose, you must maintain a constant and moderate speed and not exceed the recommended 70 mph when installing a roof box. These products are not designed for very high speeds, no matter how aerodynamic they are.
Capacity
This aspect is directly related to size, and you need to pay more attention to it when making your choice. Depending on this volume, you will be able to load more or less things in the extra roof box.
Usually, in the product description, you will find the volume expressed in litres. You can find models of 300, 400 or 600 litres. The market offers a wide variety of model options, quality and prices.
To choose a model with the right volume, you need to consider what you plan to load and take into account the category, size, and brand of your car. In general, keep in mind that a model with a larger volume means that it will also be a larger size.
Where can you buy a roof box?
You can find a roof box from online stores. Today, many e-shops try to offer fast deliveries, affordable prices for every budget, as well as a wide variety of models and brands to choose from. If you do not want to shop online, you can try some of the physical stores in your city.
