FITTING A ROOF BOX OR BIKE RACK TO YOUR CAR

Permissible roof weight

Before purchasing or starting to load your roof rack, you will need to find out the permissible weight allowed for your car. The permissible roof load of a vehicle can be found in the operating manual and will confirm the maximum weight you can safely load your car up to. It's important to note that the overall weight includes the weight of the rack itself, not just the objects placed on it.
An example weight for the Volkswagen T5 is 50kg, the equivalent of two adult-sized mountain bikes or two medium-sized suitcases. This is classed as a large vehicle, so most other family cars will have a much lower overall weight.

Fitting a roof box

There are a few things to be sure of when fitting a roof rack. The Highway Code states: You must secure your load and it must not stick out dangerously, so ensure that your roof box not only fits the weight limits of the vehicle, but also the measurements. It is important that your rack does not hang over the edges of your vehicle, and that it is not too far up from the roof.

Airflow will lift the front of the rack, especially at higher speeds, so make sure to securely fix the rack to your roof to avoid any movement once your journey is underway. While this might seem obvious, it's vital to ensure a clear line of sight for the driver.

As well as the permissible roof weight, it's also worth considering the overall vehicle weight. Some useful calculations to ensure the safety of your rack are:

ROOF RACK + ADDITIONAL LOAD ON THE ROOF < PERMISSIBLE ROOF LOAD

UNLADEN VEHICLE WEIGHT + LUGGAGE + PASSENGERS < TOTAL PERMISSIBLE VEHICLE WEIGHT



Sticking to these guidelines will help you ensure your rack is safe. If loads exceed certain lengths or widths, you might have to give advance notice to the police, including details like the time, date, and route of your proposed journey, however this should only be in special circumstances.





Bike racks



For drivers looking to transport their two wheels, there are a few different types of bike racks to consider. One is a tailgate rack, which are a popular choice, but are generally not recommended by car manufacturers due to vehicles often not being designed to bear this type of weight.



Another option is a roof-fitted bike rack, which allows for a number of bikes to be fixed onto the top of a vehicle. If using one of these, make sure to follow the permissible roof weight guidelines as previously mentioned.



It's important to note the height this adds to your vehicle, as it may mean certain underpasses are not accessib...