Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
Rear opening roof box
I currently borrow a large (580l) roof box, but because it is side opening, it is a devil to load and unload on such a tall vehicle. I have been looking for a large rear opening box so I can stand on the tailgate to access it, but it seems the rear opening ones are all tiny.
I saw some small ones at Halfords, and I thought about having two side by side, which in fact would be even more capacity than the 580l I borrow at the moment, but alas my Atera roof bars are just not quite long enough to handle both side by side, short by about 100-150mm. (boxes would still not overhang the width of the car though) I thought about investing in some longer bars, but that means spending a fortune to get new ones and the ones I have now cost enough. The only other option is to let the boxes overhang a little and move the clamps in a little inside the box, but I don't know where I stand from a safety point of view, ie would the box still be safe with the clamps moved in 100mm on one side?
Or, does anyone know of a large rear opening box? It seems to be something that all Land Rover and 4x4 owners could make use of, I've been looking since I had my D2. With the dropping tailgate and rear ladders etc it seems like a hole in the market.D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
12th Jul 2009 9:27 pm
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
Re: Rear opening roof box
redjelly5000 wrote:
I currently borrow a large (580l) roof box, but because it is side opening, it is a devil to load and unload on such a tall vehicle. I have been looking for a large rear opening box so I can stand on the tailgate to access it, but it seems the rear opening ones are all tiny.
HOW long are you arms that you can reach the front of a 580L Roof box whilst stood on the tailgate I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
12th Jul 2009 9:39 pm
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
Thanks for that... The idea being that it is short and wide, rather than the longer and thinner side opening ones..... The other thing with those types on a tall vehicle, is that you want to put it biased to one side so you can reach it, which looks like you are a dumb ass and can't fit your roof box centrally! If you do fit it centrally, how long do your arms need to be then????
Having two side by side uses the whole width of the car, yet not too much length so you can still reach. They are something like 320l each, so overall, more load space.
I could fit the two, but would have to drill new holes and move the clamps in a bit, or spend a load on longer bars, but I was hoping someone might have seen a larger rear opening box.D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
Have you tried a site search? A couple of days ago I saw a post from someone who got a rear opening box from the roofbox.co (can't recall the user or thread - the search should sort that out)The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
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Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
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Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
12th Jul 2009 10:09 pm
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
If you put two side by side, would you not need a decent gap between them to allow them to tilt open.
To illustrate the point take a look at the picture below, i cannot open the roofbox (which opens from either side) at all with the kayak in place, cannot reach the key on the off side, and from the nearside the roofbox needs to tilt in to the space where the kayak is. It is not a problem because the roofbox is only used to get to and from the camp site and it then goes in the tent and is used for storage.
Hope that gives you something to consider before you commit to something which sounds like a practical solution but which might not work in reality
I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
12th Jul 2009 10:13 pm
freebie2disco
Member Since: 01 Jan 2007
Location: wantage
Posts: 334
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
SJR wrote:
If you put two side by side, would you not need a decent gap between them to allow them to tilt open.
I figured that the rear opening boxes are hinged at the front, therefore they don't need any space inbetween, as the space they open into is at the front.... I have examined them thoroughly, and in principal, the idea works if I can either move the mounts or get longer bars, but I'd rather have one rear opening box of a larger capacity.D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
12th Jul 2009 10:35 pm
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
Character
Just shows how wrong looks can be then
The car was in access height
The weight on the rear towball is under 50KG (combined bikes and bike rack), same rack as used by many on here.
Kayak only weighs 25KG and the roofbox had all the bedding in which weighed next to nothing, the boot had no more weight in it than 2 adults in the same seats would weigh.
Why should any of this cause a problem, it is all well under the plated limits of the vehicle I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
12th Jul 2009 10:40 pm
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
My D3 doesn't have a spare wheel on the back, (!) and the box I borrow at the moment is side opening. There's already something to stand on, if only the box opened at the back.D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
12th Jul 2009 10:41 pm
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
hey character that's brilliant, thanks...one wife.......livid
12th Jul 2009 10:43 pm
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
SJR wrote:
Why should any of this cause a problem, it is all well under the plated limits of the vehicle
SJR I'm with you. It looks fine. In fact, it looks fantastic. I love to see them all racked up like that. These are working vehicles, not Chelsea X5 tractors. It can take it, and loads more besides. The vehicle is capable of way more than the British law allows you to load onto these things. It's a Land Rover, not a Micra My HSE works hard here on my Welsh Farm, and it is a truly hard working vehicle, and it never moans or grumbles, just carries on regardless.D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
12th Jul 2009 10:46 pm
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
[quote="redjelly5000"]
SJR wrote:
Why should any of this cause a problem, it is all well under the plated limits of the vehicle
i think the problem is that the disco3.co.uk sticker is hidden by the saddle of the mens blue mountain bike... one wife.......livid
13th Jul 2009 12:00 am
freebie2disco
Member Since: 01 Jan 2007
Location: wantage
Posts: 334
By the way the same rear opening box without the Halfords logo is considerably cheaper on the roofbox.co.uk and other mail order sites even when Halfords are having a "half price sale".
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The other thing with those types on a tall vehicle, is that you want to put it biased to one side so you can reach it, which looks like you are a dumb ass and can't fit your roof box centrally! If you do fit it centrally, how long do your arms need to be then????
