Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Roof boxes
Anyone out there had any experience of a roof box on a D3? I was looking at a Thule X1 which seems like a big bit of space and costs about £300. I'm taking the D3 to Ireland in August for a week and have 7 seated in the car, so I'm going to need a bit of space for the luggage. I am aware of the weight limits of both the D3 and the roof box but wondered how the handling was affected together with the fuel consumption.FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
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5th Feb 2007 7:55 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26702
I have a large Halfords box mounted in my expo roofrack. I have mounted it to one side to allow 2 cycles to be carried alongside. Looks really cool. Fuel consumption is down 2mpg with box on. Before I got the rack, I used standard roof bars. This was about 1mpg down on the no box figure.
5th Feb 2007 8:54 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
This a picture of my roofbox (sorry, it's the best I've got)
I got over 34mpg with this box on when I drove to Cornwall last year. It's a Thule, 650 litres, carbon fibre effect and looks stunning on the car. It opens both sides and has the Thule quick fixings for the LR bars. It'll probably be for sale soon, as I now have the Expo rack
I'm off to the Alps again on the 16th of Feb and will have a Thule NorthCape box (450l) mounted on Atera bars, along with 6 people in the car. I'll let you know about fuel etc. when I get back.
The Northcape is a lower profile design, but is longer and so overhangs the forward lower part of the roof more. Quite what impact this will have on aerodynamics
I'll post some pics of the box installed late next week.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
5th Feb 2007 9:07 pm
RichieP
Member Since: 19 Sep 2006
Location: Reading
Posts: 380
Stu, I may be interested in this, We'll probably need one for the summer, the kids have got used to using all three rows
Let me know if you decide to sell, I've been looking at the LR one, it seems to hug the roof better than the thule ones. What was the wind noise like? Thats part of the attraction of the LR one, as i'm sure with a bit of neoprene the tiny gap on the LR box could dissappear and hopefully reduce the wind noise.
Also Interested in pics of the box mounted on an expo rack Gareth?
ThanksRichard......
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5th Feb 2007 9:09 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Stu
Put me up for second dibs on the box mate behind Richiep. It sounds huge but doesn't look it on the D3. Ran around my D3 last night in the dark with a tape measure and thought the X1 was a biggie! Only 450ltr compared to your 650ltr, story of my life!!!FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
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5th Feb 2007 9:22 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
DiscoStu wrote:
U definately need a ladder!
5th Feb 2007 9:24 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
I have the Halfords one, the biggest they do. I went all round southern Ireland with mine and to be honest did not notice any difference in mpg.
I did not have any wind noise at all, the only gripe I have is you need a small pair of steps to reach the far side of the box.
You can get a lot of stuff in them. Make sure you have it locked because I saw one last year blow open on the M6 and stuff went all over.
I bought one of the small ratchet straps for mine and strap it from front to back just as a a safe guard and not dependent on the standard box locks.
I have the Halfords one, the biggest they do. I went all round southern Ireland with mine and to be honest did not notice any difference in mpg.
I did not have any wind noise at all, the only gripe I have is you need a small pair of steps to reach the far side of the box.
You can get a lot of stuff in them. Make sure you have it locked because I saw one last year blow open on the M6 and stuff went all over.
I bought one of the small ratchet straps for mine and strap it from front to back just as a a safe guard and not dependent on the standard box locks.
Flack
5th Feb 2007 10:37 pm
mick
Member Since: 21 Jan 2007
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 2049
I have the Kamei Topstar in silver which looks the part on my silver D3 heading for the Alps also on the 16 Feb via tunnel 5 persons on board hoping for lots of snow.
Mick
5th Feb 2007 11:07 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
RichieP wrote:
What was the wind noise like? Thats part of the attraction of the LR one, as i'm sure with a bit of neoprene the tiny gap on the LR box could dissappear and hopefully reduce the wind noise.
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5th Feb 2007 11:42 pm
blue meanie D3 Decade
Member Since: 04 Aug 2005
Location: Newbury
Posts: 6861
DiscoStu wrote:
This a picture of my roofbox (sorry, it's the best I've got)
I got over 34mpg with this box on when I drove to Cornwall last year. It's a Thule, 650 litres, carbon fibre effect and looks stunning on the car. It opens both sides and has the Thule quick fixings for the LR bars. It'll probably be for sale soon, as I now have the Expo rack
Handling - really used to feel it on my D2, but you won't know it's there on a D3!!
Stu that pic has to be a candidate for another D3 caption thread!
... "DiscoStu's punishment for singing the Disco3 anthem all the way to Cornwall was a night in the 'penthouse' " ?and theeeeennn......???
6th Feb 2007 12:00 am
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Thats right kids, two seats in the back and a bedroom on top, right who's first?FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
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