Pack the roof box correctly – go on holiday safely with children and a lot of luggage

Pack the roof box correctly – because its space is not infinite either

The roof box is an indispensable helper when transporting luggage, because the storage space in the car is often simply not enough. To create space, you have to pack the roof box properly – and make consistent use of its volume. And this is also because slipping things on the roof can have a negative effect. Because the roof box changes the center of gravity of a vehicle and thus also its driving behavior. You notice this in curves and especially when braking, when the vehicle takes longer to come to a stop. Since the car becomes higher overall due to the pits, the sensitivity to crosswinds increases. If you drive with foresight and have packed sensibly beforehand, you will reach your destination safely - no matter which of the current 60 roof boxes you have selected from market leader Kupplung.de.

Loading the box is not rocket science

When loading a roof box, the following applies: The luggage stowed there should always be as light as possible. For example, bath towels, rain gear or bicycle helmets are suitable for summer holidays – things that are bulky but weigh little. When stowing luggage in the roof box, you should proceed in the same way as when loading the trunk: The heavier items move down and into the middle of the box - ideally between the carrier elements. Lighter items are on top, towels or blankets are stuffed to the front and rear ends of the box so that they secure the rest of the goods against slipping. Lashing straps also help to fix the load. Also very important: The permitted payload specified by the manufacturer must not be exceeded. At Kupplung.de, you can find this important information – or the information on storage space – directly on the respective product page.

Pay attention to dimensions and data

With the "piggyback" roof box, the car's centre of gravity changes. Especially with vehicles such as vans or SUVs, you should remember how high the vehicle is in total. This may save trouble if the clearance height for tunnels is not sufficient. There are no speed regulations for driving with a roof box, but the manufacturers recommend a maximum speed of 130 km/h. The manufacturer also determines how much weight may be transported in a roof box, usually 50 or 75 kilograms. The driver must pay attention to the permissible roof load of his own car himself. It can be found in the vehicle's operating instructions and is often 75 or 100 kilograms, but can be significantly lower in small cars. From the roof load, you also have to subtract the weight of the box – between 15 and 30 kilograms – and the 4 to 8 kilograms that the roof rack weighs. The remaining payload is usually enough for the holiday. But if you want to be on the safe side, weigh your luggage with a bathroom scale.

You can't close the box

If everything is stowed away and the lid does not close, violence is not a solution. At most, the key breaks off. Nor should the proper locking be replaced by tension belts or cords. All locking elements must be securely engaged. If this is not possible, the box must be reloaded. Of course, the thin key can still break off, so it is advisable to take the second key with you.

By the way...

The basic prerequisite for a safe ride with a roof box is its correct installation on the car roof: In general, the box should be attached to the car roof as centrally as possible. This can be easily controlled by looking over the vehicle from behind or from the front. In addition, when installing the roof box, it is important to make sure that the tailgate of the car can be opened. Then you're ready to go: the transport box on top of the roof, a bike rack on the trailer hitch that picks up the family's bikes. Market leader Kupplung.de has a large and inexpensive selection – both of roof boxes and bike racks. A few intuitive clicks lead to the desired goal.

Photo credits

• Hapro
• Rameder