Roof box - Off centre?

Gimpymoo · 16 Aug 2018 at 16:14

Learn something new every day, the roofbox I have does not fit "dead centre" on the roof rails.

It fits on the roof but the anchor points for the roof box are blocked off by the arms on the rails when "centre".

Is this dangerous in any way?

-westy- · 16 Aug 2018 at 16:39

Why would it be?

vanpeebles · 16 Aug 2018 at 17:03

It's going to scatter your y-fronts arl ower the motorway

Gimpymoo · 16 Aug 2018 at 17:14

vanpeebles said:
It's going to scatter your y-fronts arl ower the motorway

LOL - Nobody wants to see that

-westy- said:
Why would it be?

Never used a roofbox before so maybe just being paranoid.

Worst case scenario, uneven wear on tyres then? All tyres are new so not too fussed about that.

Bunka · 16 Aug 2018 at 17:21

Gimpymoo said:
Worst case scenario, uneven wear on tyres then? All tyres are new so not too fussed about that.

Unless you're filling your roofbox with bags of sand, I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Gimpymoo · 16 Aug 2018 at 17:22

Camping gear, all within limits of roofbox, rails and car though.

Diddums · 16 Aug 2018 at 17:24

Yes. Your car will pull to one side.

Foghorn Leghorn · 16 Aug 2018 at 21:10

vanpeebles said:
It's going to scatter your y-fronts arl ower the motorway

Best hope no one skids on them

vanpeebles · 16 Aug 2018 at 21:49

Foghorn Leghorn said:
Best hope no one skids on them

Bwahahaha

bainbridge · 16 Aug 2018 at 22:53

I've seen a number of them off centre with a bike alongside, so it might be a thing, though I've never used rails or a roofbox so it's just an observation.

Luke · 16 Aug 2018 at 23:59

I've just taken the box off from nearly 1500 miles in France and Switzerland.
I fitted my box to the offside as it makes it easier loading and unloading.
The car did not pull to any direction as a result of this even at speeds of 80+. I'll be honest, it was far more stable than I'd imagined it would have been. I really didn't notice it was there apart from a little more roll on corners.

Amp34 · 17 Aug 2018 at 01:32

bainbridge said:
I've seen a number of them off centre with a bike alongside, so it might be a thing, though I've never used rails or a roofbox so it's just an observation.

It also makes them easier to get into, especially if the vehicle is a bit taller, you don’t need to lean over to the centre of the car.

MissChief · 17 Aug 2018 at 02:35

As above, unless you're filling your roof box with 6 bags of compost you'll hardly even notice the difference. It'll be fine. Did Edinburgh to Barcelona in my old Multipla, easily a couple of feet higher than any normal car without issue. If I put the roof box in the middle I'd never have been able to reach it!

Rroff · 17 Aug 2018 at 03:12

vanpeebles said:
It's going to scatter your y-fronts arl ower the motorway

Hah - reminds me of a time as a kid - we went on holiday (from Somerset) to the Lake District - my parents arguing much of the way over whether the trailer we were towing was secured properly - got as far as Wolverhampton on the M6 when one side came undone spreading my dads pyjamas and underwear en mass into the traffic behind us - when we went that way again nearly 2 years later his y-fronts were still caught on the barrier in the central reservation (about half a mile north of where I think the Argos distribution centre used to be).

paintguy · 17 Aug 2018 at 08:26

As a regular roof box user, it'll be fine.

I do generally fit mine dead centre but that's only for aesthetics. Off to one side won't make any difference providing you're within the weight limits.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 17 Aug 2018 at 09:00

A max loaded roofbox is about the same weight as an adult passenger. Cars seem to manage to handle that discrepancy fairly well

If you going fully laden, car plus passengers, plus roof box just keep in in mind when loading the car, so dont let any fatties sit same side as the roof box, or bear in mind the roof weight and load the opposite side of the boot with the heavier stuff.

TBH cross wind affect on the roofbox if windy will be more dramatic that the literal weight load. Had a sofa on top the X1 once and TBH couldnt really even notice the weight even on corners, but then wind picked up and boy did you notice that acting like a giant sail on the roof in the crosswinds

vanpeebles · 17 Aug 2018 at 09:19

Rroff said:
Hah - reminds me of a time as a kid - we went on holiday (from Somerset) to the Lake District - my parents arguing much of the way over whether the trailer we were towing was secured properly - got as far as Wolverhampton on the M6 when one side came undone spreading my dads pyjamas and underwear en mass into the traffic behind us - when we went that way again nearly 2 years later his y-fronts were still caught on the barrier in the central reservation (about half a mile north of where I think the Argos distribution centre used to be).

Hehehe, and Gimpymoo thought I was joking! I wonder if a pair landed on someones windscreen