A roof rack fitted to your car is a great way of transporting additional luggage. If you frequently enjoy camping trips or have a growing family, a roof rack gives you the flexibility you need to travel comfortably and safely.
If you haven't purchased a roof rack before, you might find yourself feeling a little confused about the process. We're here to guide you through it and make your purchase easier. Here's what we will discuss:
- How are you going to use your roof rack?
- Steel vs aluminium: What material should you choose?
- Can you put a roof rack on any car?
- How do you fit a roof rack?
- What can you put on a roof rack?
- How will a roof rack affect your car's performance?
- Will it mean the car won't fit in car parks?
- Top tips for installing a roof rack
How are you going to use your roof rack?
Don't rush out and buy a roof rack just yet. There are two key questions that you should ask yourself first.
- What is the primary purpose of the roof rack?
- What is your budget?
Defining your requirements sooner rather than later will help you to purchase the right product. You'll end up with a roof rack that properly meets your needs.
There are also other considerations to make. These include:
- Installing your roof rack: Are you happy for the roof rack to feature permanently on the top of your car? Or do you want the flexibility to remove it? If the roof rack is going to be a permanent feature, you might choose a roof rack that will drill into the roof, providing more security
- Cargo Type: Are you buying a roof rack to transport a particular piece of equipment such as a bike or a kayak? Or will you be carrying a variety of luggage? There's a range of accessories that will allow you to attach different types of sporting gear or cargo boxes
Steel vs aluminium: What material should you choose?
It might not sound like a major consideration but the material that a roof rack is made from can make a difference to how much cargo it can carry and your budget. Most roof racks will be made from steel or aluminium.
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| Aluminium | |
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Can you put a roof rack on any car?
If you don't have factory-installed rails or raised roof fittings already installed on your vehicle, there are still ways for you to install the roof bars you need to support a roof rack. There are different types of roof racks and fitting systems that are dependent on vehicle type.
How do you fit a roof rack?
The process of installing a roof rack will be dependent on your vehicle. The first thing you need to do is find out what roof rack currently exists on your car
. There are usually three vehicle types:
| Description | Solution | |
| Vehicles with a bare roof. | A bare roof vehicle is a car that doesn't have any pre-installed attachment points. | There are 'clip fit' racks that are designed to fit onto cars that have a bare roof. Clip fit kits consist of rubber-based pads and coated metal brackets. This clamps to the outer edge of your roof. For a full roof rack system, you'll also need to purchase roof bars. This type of solution is designed to fit various car models and manufacturers. It offers an easy to fit installation process and can be removed when needed. |
| Vehicles with fixpoints. | A vehicle that has roof rack mounting fixpoints built into the roof. These can sometimes be well hidden. | A roof rack can easily be installed through the use of base towers. These fit into the mounting points and will allow you to add roof bars to your vehicle. |
| Raised roof fitting. | A vehicle with a raised roof fitting already comes with fitted parallel bars that are suitable to support a roof rack system. | A roof rack can be easily fitted to a vehicle with raised rails through the use of base towers. You will need a base tower that fits around your existing roof bars. Be aware that the suitability of base towers will be dependent on your car model and manufacturer. |
Once you've purchased a roof rack it is possible to fit it yourself. Before you get started, make sure you have the following:
- Somebody to help you
- The instructions specific to your roof rack (make sure you read them!)
- Any tools/equipment you need close to hand
- A clean roof so that attachments fit with ease
- Lubricant to minimize scratches
Alternatively, if you don't feel confident fitting your own roof rack get a professional to do it for you.
Book your roof rack fitting now
What can you put on a roof rack?
You'll find that a majority of roof racks are extremely versatile. However, depending on the cargo that you are planning to carry, you might need additional accessories or mounts.
If you're going on holiday and have lots of luggage, you might fit a cargo box to your roof rack so that you can carry extra clothing. You may even be wondering if you can put suitcases on a roof rack. Luckily, the answer is yes, but they need to be very securely tied down and you may want to cover them in plastic in case it rains.
Perhaps you're going on a camping trip and need a practical way of transporting your tent? In that case, a roof basket could be the answer.
Maybe you have lots of outdoor hobbies? Do you need a roof rack that can carry your bike, your kayak or your snowboard? There are plenty of accessories that will transform the capabilities of your roof rack.
How should a load be carried on your roof rack?
The safest way to carry anything on a roof rack is in a purpose-built roof box. That way, you can be sure your luggage is safe, secure and dry while you are travelling. Ideally, you should pack the heaviest items in the car, make sure the weight in your roof box is equally distributed and use any straps in the roof box to secure your luggage in place.
Don't let that put you off though. There are steps you can take to significantly minimise the risk to your vehicle.
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How will a roof rack affect your car's performance?
Despite the lightweight materials that roof racks are made from, they still add a significant amount of weight to the top of your vehicle. This increases the amount of aerodynamic drag to your car meaning it will burn through more fuel. Roof racks need to be properly fitted and maintained. If they are not there is a risk that you can damage the aesthetics of your vehicle.
Does a roof rack affect your vehicle stability?
If you are carrying a heavy load on your roof rack, it can affect your vehicle stability as the neutral centre of gravity could become compromised. This may be more noticeable if you have a taller vehicle or if you brake or change speed suddenly. That is why we would always recommend packing heavier items in your car so your vehicle stability is less likely to be affected.
Will it mean the car won't fit in car parks etc?
If you are carrying additional cargo on your roof, then of course the overall height of your vehicle will be increased. So, if you have a large roof box or are carrying bikes on the roof then it is unlikely that your car will fit into a multi-story or height controlled car park. To be sure of your vehicle's new height requirements, you should always measure the total combined height of your car and anything you are carrying on the roof, like a roof box or bikes, so you know the exact height of your car and if it will fit into any height-restricted areas.
Top tips for installing a roof rack
Check your torque settings
A poorly fitted roof rack can impact your torque settings. Make sure that you know the correct torque settings based on the make and model of your vehicle.
Don't overload your roof rack
Check the weight limitations for your roof rack so that you aren't carrying cargo that is too heavy. You should refer to your owner's manual to check your car limits so you can be sure you are not overloading your roof rack and carrying things beyond your car's capacity.
Drive Slower
Roof rack accessories have differing maximum speed limits which should not be exceeded. It's important to realise aerodynamic drag increases with speed. This means that if you drive faster than you should, there is a risk that the level of force could rip the roof rack from the vehicle.
Remove your roof rack when it's not in use
While roof racks use lightweight materials, it still adds weight to your vehicle and creates drag. This has the potential to waste fuel. It's therefore sensible to remove your roof rack if it's not in use.
Read the instructions before you fit
You increase the risk of damage to your car if you fail to read the instructions. Make sure you have a good read before you start to fit your roof rack and check that you have the right tools if required.
Grease the fittings
If your roof rack is a permanent fixture, it will be exposed to the elements and corrosion can occur. To prevent this from happening, use copper grease on the attachment points.
Get help when loading
When you're loading heavy cargo, it's very easy to overestimate what you're capable of lifting. Ask for help when loading up your roof rack so that you don't drop anything that could cause damage to yourself or your vehicle.
Tie down large cargo
Items such as kayaks or canoes generate a huge amount of drag. So much so, that they are capable of ripping your roof rack clean off when travelling at high speed. In high winds, they also pose a greater amount of risk. That's why it is recommended that you tie down items like these, securely attaching it to the front and back of your car.
Buying a roof rack for your vehicle is a great investment. However, before you make your purchase it is important to carefully consider what practicalities your roof rack needs to offer. You also need to understand which type of roof rack will fit onto your vehicle.
