Roof racks are a quick and cost-effective way to increase your storage potential in your car. Modern roof racks can be fitted to your vehicle in just a few minutes, providing a strong and sturdy platform for transporting a variety of items including bikes, ski’s, and roof boxes – all of which have their own specialised fitting equipment to make for easy and reliable transportation. In todays blog we are going to cover the basics of choosing, fitting and using a roof rack, and some great accessories to maximise their potential.
Which Roof Rack Fits My Car?
Finding the correct roof rack for your car can sometimes be a laborious process, but it doesn’t have to be! You will find that the majority of Roof Bars are compatible with most vehicle types, it is in fact the Fitting Kit, or foot pack which dictates how the roof rack is fitted any particular vehicle. The fitting kit is quite simply an adapter to enable the roof bars to be fitted to your vehicle – and they come in all different shapes and styles.
The simplest way to check which foot pack your vehicle needs is to input your vehicle details to our Fitting Kit Checker. We specialise in Thule fitting kits because put quite plainly, they are the best in the business!
Fitting A Roof Rack
Fitting a roof rack setup to your vehicle is designed to be a user-friendly process, allowing you to have your roof bar system fitted within minutes. But it is worth noting, the first time you go to set up your roof bars you will be calibrating them to your vehicle, so naturally it may take a little longer. But after the first time fitting should be a breeze.
When you go to set up your roof rack it is going to be far easier with a second person to help you guide the roof bars across to the other side of the car. A handy little tip for those of you going solo is to place a towel or other soft cloth on the roof of your car, this provides some level of protection for the roof of your car in case the bars slip.
You will find the majority of roof bars are easier to fit with the doors of your car open to allow for easier access, so it is a good idea to do this before attempting the fitting. Most roof racks will be designed to fit in one direction only, this is most obvious with Aero Bars, so it’s a good idea to establish your lefts, rights, backs, and fronts before your roof bars are hovering precariously above that shiny paintjob.
What Roof Bar Options Are Available?
Roof bars come in three main styles, each with their own advantages, lets take a look at them:
- Square Bars – These are the most traditional of all roof bars, made of steel with a black plastic coating. Square bars, though the crudest of all options are great for anyone looking for a cheap roof bar just ‘to get the job done’. They are very strong and have a low purchase cost. Disadvantages come in the form of increased air resistance (lower fuel economy & increased wind noise), and they aren’t too pretty to look at. Most Suitable for vans and commercial vehicles.
- Aerobars – Welcome to the streamline world of the aerofoil section, these bars are sleek, strong, and aerodynamic. Constructed of high strength, lightweight aluminium Aerobars are ideal for long trips thanks to their fuel-efficient design and low noise. They are super-easy to fit to your vehicle thanks to the reduced weight, and also look great. A T-track system enables the use of the full width of the bar when mounting accessories. Disadvantages are few and far between with these bars and mainly comes in the form of an increased price tag when compared to the square bars. Most suitable for cars.
- Thule Wing Bars – With inspiration from the Wright brothers themselves, rumour has it if you drive fast enough with these bars on you will take off…though we don’t recommend you test that theory. These bars are the pinnacle of roof bar engineering, providing you with an extremely strong and lightweight roof bar option. A T-track system enables the use of the full width of the bar when mounting accessories. Thule Wing Bars are as aerodynamic as it gets, giving you maximum fuel economy and minimum noise levels. The disadvantages of these bars lay are that the fall into the more expensive end of roof bar equipment. Most suitable for cars.
Must-Have Roof Rack Accessories
With an abundance of roof rack accessories on the market, there is an accessory for almost every occasion. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular roof bar accessories:
- Bike Racks – If you’ve ever tried to take a bike in your car without a roof rack…well you probably didn’t manage it. Bikes are inherently awkward things to transport. Specialist roof rack accessories allow you to place your bike up and out of the way on your roof bars. They have a strong hold to give you peace of mind when driving, while being ultra-easy to use.
- Roof Boxes – Running low on space inside your car? Well look no further than a roof box. These are fantastic for quickly increasing the storage capacity of your vehicle. They are aerodynamic, easy to use and can be useful for all sorts of vehicle types.
- Kayak Adapters – Who doesn’t love kayaking in the summer…well anyone who can’t transport their kayak of course. But here’s your solution, a specialist kayak adapter accessory. These are easily fitted to your roof bars and provide a safe and stable platform for your kayak to be carried. They can also be fitted to allow multiple kayaks to be transported at once.
- Ski Racks – Keep your skis safely stored on your roof rack with a specialist ski adapter accessory. These are easy to use and have a very low profile which helps with aerodynamics. Simply clip your skis into your ski adapter when you’re done carving up the slopes and you’re ready to go.
