Consumption With A Roofbox On

[Taliska]

Hi all,

 

I've got a large roofbox which I was intending putting on when going on holiday to hold the tent etc. Better to put a damp tent in a roofbox than in the main car... ah, Norway was wet as I recall.

 

Any idea of how much I'll lose on the fuel consumption with it on going at a fair lick? (TDI 115)

 

Have driven several 1000 miles with it on, on my old Audi - never noticed that it was there and it never really affected speed or consumption that much.

 

Despite roofbox manufacturer's warnings of not going over 60mph with the roofbox on - it has been very heavily loaded and been well over 100mph for many hours (where legal, mostly) and never had a problem...

 

It's very difficult washing the roof of a Gal easily, so I wonder how easy it is to load / unload the roofbox. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks all,

 

Taliska

[seatkid]

No idea....but where do you put this thing when your not using it? :(

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Not used one myself, but previous postings suggest that fuel consumption will suffer marginally, perhaps 3mpg maybe more at motorway speeds. The frontal area of the Galaxy is already large, and it's not that streamlined either, so the extra frontal area of the roofbox is disproportionately small when compared to "normal" cars. The extra drag will take its toll though.

Fixing it could prove interesting: Usually a two-person job with step ladders etc for safety, unless you have access to a high-roofed garage in which case you string the roofbox up, drive in underneath it then gently lower it down on ropes.

Are you using genuine Ford bars or have you got something else (eg Thule)?

[italiastar]

Last summer I got an overall 30mpg from my TDi (note the small i as it's a Seat) coming back from Brittany at about 80 - 85 mph. The car had a roof box on and was fully loaded with air-cond going full blast. On the way there I got high 30's, but my speed never wet above 60mph as I was still running it in (Yes, I know they say it's not necessary, but I've always done it and always will - I've never had a car that uses oil between services so it must be doing some good). My guess is that it might have increased fuel consumption by 10%, but what's the alternative? A trailer is more expensive as well as increasing your crossing costs if you go abroad.

 

I store my roofbox in the garage - hang it from the roof of the garage by fixing eyebolts with rope which fixes to the bars, if you've got enough space. On holiday I take it off and store it in the garden of where we stay, although most GB's leave them on - you spot them everywhere!

 

Putting it on / taking it off the car is a bit more difficult - a two person job for us - luckily I'm 6ft and my wife 5ft 10 - if you're shorter you will have a problem. I'm not sure about using ladders - if you slip it could be expensive. I've now bought a larger roofbox which is much heavier - too heavy for my wife to manage so I'll have to be nice to my neighbour - fortunately he also has a Alhambra.

 

My personal preference is Thule roof bars - they're not the cheapest, but also not as expensive as the manufacturers ones. They are flexible - for example the bars I had on my Spacewagon were too short for the Alhambra - I just needed to replace the bars for

[NikpV]

We had a fair sized roofbox on for the holidays :angry: this year (can't remember the size exactly, orignally bought for an escort estate - full width of car + hung over the front enough to see) with thule bars, I found it easier to put on the GAL if I remember correctly I stood it on the rear end, gripped the two sides and got it balanced on my head :( and just slid it across :D. Fastening the box was the most difficult part (only one side opens) I stood on the raised footplate of the 3 way childs seat nearside second row to tighten the hand nuts inside. Loading / unloading was fun seemed a lot of climbing upn and down. They certainly are worth it esp whan taking the mother-in-law (oops sorry - babysitter) with you and the kids. Didn't notice much hit on the mpg. (compared to the escort Td on previous years which appeared to run on air we used a lot more diesel :wacko: - worth it though with a toddler and a rug - rat)

 

Nik

[NikpV]

If anyone is intersted in a cycle rack, have a look at these - how else are you going to get a bike up there? I've just bought 2 of them.

 

Are these any good DRACO has been selling these for ages (we got our RHS child seat from him last year) I keep looking with an eye to the future.

 

You must have a very heavy roof box I've just measured ours - 70 x 45 inches approx with drop nose but I can just manage to get it on by myself :(

 

 

Nik

 

Ps I'm only 5' 10''

[italiastar]

Are these any good DRACO has been selling these for ages.

 

Oops :unsure: - have I made a mistake? I first saw them before Christmas and was tempted. I therefore e-mailed someone who'd bought one and he said it was good and been recommended it by a friend. He also put me onto the supplier's website as they are actually made by a company called Atera -

 

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/aterabox.html

 

I'm expecting mine on Monday, so I'll let you know when I've had a chance to play with them.

 

My box is no bigger than yours - it's one of the large Halfords ones. It's much heavier than the previous one which was the small one, the weight not being helped by re-enforcing bars on the underside - if you can lift it on by yourself, your a better man than me :( , particularly when I'm scared of damaging my pride and joy :rolleyes: . I leave my box errantly attached to the bars (Ah! more weight!) to avoid having to clamber into it, whilst it's on the car, to tighten the bolts.

[_dg]

Its not really worth thinking about. If you need a roofbox, then you need a roofbox and any slight mpg loss does not matter.

 

The 1-3 mpg you will lose could well be less than driving with some under-inflated tyres, a couple of windows open, getting stuck in traffic, a extra person and luggage, driving on a windy day ... etc.

 

In essence there are just too many variables, and use of a roofbox for a holiday is not going to cost hardly anything in real terms. If your normal holiday is a tank full of fuel getting there, another to travel around while there, and another getting back - then it will still be the same.

 

Some small ( 2 or 3 tread) steps are useful and don't forget to take them with you! And position it as close to the edge as possible for easy access.

 

I use one that is is about 7' x 3' wide, and find this more versatile than the 'squarer' ones. No problems, noise or vibration at upto 85 mph.

 

As mentioned, you hardly notice that it is there

[NikpV]

I leave my box errantly attached to the bars (Ah! more weight!) to avoid having to clamber into it, whilst it's on the car, to tighten the bolts.

 

I usually have my bars sticking out on the nearside while I slide the box on (I too fear damaging the car and my ear drums if the wife found out) I then slide the bars across and tighten them.

 

the weight not being helped by re-enforcing bars on the underside

 

Ours has a shaped base (and drop nose) (made by FAPA I think) to stiffen it so no bars, there is definitely a technique to lifting it. :rolleyes:

 

I agree with _dg if you need it its not worth worrying about the mpg - I usually take it off when we get wherever and chain it down :unsure:

 

 

Nik

[Guest Paul Collins]

We usually fit the box to the bars on the ground, behind the car, load the box with my kites, one person either side lifting 2 bars, shuffle down the sides of the car and attach the bars.

 

Mind you, last year we needed 2 neighbours to help with the lifting :rolleyes:

 

Paul

[Taliska]

Thanks all,

 

I think getting the roof box on will be quite challenging - will use neighbour methinks, as wife used to struggle a bit when we put it on the old Audi together.

 

Got ye old Thule roofbars that have seen much service and the big Halfords roofbox of a few years ago.

 

Garage is not terribly high inside, so dangling it on would be a tad difficult - the roofbox normally sits leaning against the wall in the garage with the roofbars threaded through ready to go.

 

I must say that I normally take the bars and box off when we arrive at our destination, but I guess not with the Galaxy...

 

I guess we gould get everything for camping in the main body of the car with the back row of seats out as we only have two ankle-biters... I've noticed that when booking some ferries / catermarans they ask you for your vehicle height - with a roofbox on top of a Galaxy, it's going to be darned high, although it will be lower than a campervan!

 

Taliska

[Guest SteveKeeley]

I've got an exceptionally large roofbox which I had custom-made through my business. It's as square and and un-airodynamic as you can get! I get mid-40s mpg generally from my 115bhp tdi. With the roofbox fully loaded with clothes - they work well when treated as giant suitcases - 6 passengers, car heavily loaded, aircon on and cruising at 85mph I usually get about 35mpg driving through France on motorways. Despite all that I hear and know about what affects consumption I only really notice my consumption varying with speed. Over 80mph, it comes donw dramatically. With the same heavy loading and conditions, I get a little over 40mpg driving sedately on secondary roads in France. Mine hangs from the garage roof when not in use and its the best thing I have done with it - they are very intrusive stored almost anywhere else. You need 2 people to lift it off, walking it forwards with your hands held up holding it. It's not heavy but I suspect that two shortish women would find it dificult.

[Dally]

SteveKeeley

 

Perhaps two shortish men might find it difficult too!