[ashish2135]

Originally Posted by graaja

Doing a cross country drive with a roof box is impossible in India.

I was hoping to get a roof box with roof rack for my 330Li for my newborn's stroller. Will a stroller in the roof box be a problem in the future for cross country runs?

I do have other large SUVs in my garage that can easily fit all the luggage but that makes my beamer sit idle with minimum running.

Want to know from the members if its worth spending 50k on something which will only be used once a year and might cause a problem with the state police.

[graaja]

Originally Posted by ashish2135

Want to know from the members if its worth spending 50k on something which will only be used once a year and might cause a problem with the state police.

I use the roof box on my 3GT for my Astro trips to Coorg. In my experience, I have not had any issues with roof box in the southern states of TN, KL, and KA.
But when I do a long road trip covering the northern states, I usually remove the roof box as I have heard about rules in some states that do not allow roof boxes.

Having said that, I have also heard about experiences from travelers who have been let go by the police when they explained about their road trips.

[AJ-got-BHP]

Originally Posted by Traveler

After much confusion I got the Farad roof box for my Jeep Compass. The package was sent promptly from Mumbai and arrived intact.

It’s a big box, 6 x 2.5 feet and 40 inches high at the tallest point.

It was paired with black aluminium cross bars and had all the necessary fittings.

Got excellent support from Farad and they even sent an extra pack of fittings after I managed to slightly shear the head of one of the bolts during my over enthusiastic tightening.

All in all I find it to be very well built and everything fits properly with no corners cut or adjustments to be done.

I wa not expecting it to be so well engineered to be honest.

There is minimal wind noise and a slight hiss is heard above 100 kmph only if you are listening for it.

I would definitely recommend Farad for at least the Jeep Compass.

How are the FARAD Cross Bars holding up after 2 years of installation ? Any wind noise with only the Cross Bars ??

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by AJ-got-BHP

How are the FARAD Cross Bars holding up after 2 years of installation ? Any wind noise with only the Cross Bars ??

On the Compass the bars only used to start making noise beyond 80 kmph. I don't have the Compass any longer so can't comment on how long lasting the setup was.

Recently I got the same set for another car but noticed that the quality of bars and box were both noticeably inferior. I ended up returning them both. Don't have any thing at the moment. Maybe it was an issue with the set I got but at almost 50k for the set I could not justify it.

[hiren.sharma]

This is strange. It seems the prices have skyrocketed in the past one year.

I was looking to install the Farad Montair 480, along with bars and the dealer has quoted 60k for it, that too after hard hard bargain. How did you guys manage to keep it under 50?

And on the other hand, I still wonder if the investment is worth it. Going on road trips is a slight hassle with a dog and an infant together. Since they both have their own stuff to carry around.

In my carens, the third row seats are folded down so my golden can leisure through the trip. In the middle row, sits my wife along with my kid on his car seat. All this leaves, close to very less or no room to carry, 2 medium size luggage, stroller, big duffel for my dog stuff.

Thoughts ??

[Ajirules]

2+ Years and 65,000 km with a Rooftop Box: My Experience

Hello BHPian Friends,

Whistleblower- As someone passionate about long road trips and frequent family travel, I’ve been using a rooftop box for over two years now, covering more than 65,000 km. In 2021, shortly after purchasing my Safari, I fitted a rooftop box and shared my initial impressions after 2,000 km on Facebook . Now, with my Team-BHP membership and years of experience, I’m revisiting the topic, hoping it helps fellow enthusiasts.

Why I Needed a Rooftop Box back in 2021

Traveling with seven adults often meant cramming duffel bags and small suitcases into the cabin, which compromised comfort, especially for seniors. I wanted:

• A legal solution without much called out hassles from authorities. Despite traveling across Kerala, Bangalore, and even to Mumbai, I’ve faced no issues with RTOs. For peace of mind, I carried a printout of Tata’s brochure featuring the Safari with a rooftop box, but I’ve only received curious questions or compliments from officials and onlookers.
• Aesthetic appeal that wouldn’t ruin my Safari’s bold looks.
• Spacious utility to hold duffel bags and soft luggage.
• Stability and safety at highway speeds of 90-100 km/h.
• Easy loading/unloading and unobstructed sunroof operation.

Exploring Options

After research, I considered three options:

1. Luggage Bag Carriers (Amazon/Similar):
   Affordable but required ropes and weren’t rainproof - One was luggage bag carrier that can be fixed on the top. However that needed a lot of tying up ropes sipping up the big bag. These are available online from Amazon and I've seen them installed on some cars.
2. Ajanta Carriers:
   Known for good quality, but I couldn’t see one in person, and color compatibility was uncertain. They're from Mumbai or so and ship anywhere and they officially have a website and a shop. Thev even export their items. One thing I felt after talking to them is they were confident on experience and they had a good network right now.
3. Pentair/Thule Rooftop Box by:
   - Recommended by a Tata dealer in bangalore itself but priced high.
   - A vendor in Kochi, 5GOff-Road Hub, offered a professional installation (with live demo) at a worthy price.

Why I Chose Pentair

• Matched the Safari’s aesthetics (in my opinion!).
• Robust build quality for long-term use.
• Supported sunroof operation (with minor restrictions).
• Hands-on installation by 5G Off-Road Hub. for such costly accessories.
• Practical perks: It even protects my sunroof from falling coconuts in Kerala!

The setup cost ₹40,000:

• Box (400L): ₹31,000
• Roof rails: ₹7,000-₹8,000
• Installation: ₹2,000
  
  Note* There were two sizes for the boxes - medium and large. The medium box comes to around 25,000/- The large box comes to 31,000/-. medium Box is more higher .

Post-Installation Experience

First Trip:
A 250 km drive from Kochi to Munnar with seven adults and their luggage. The box proved stable even on hilly terrain and hairpin bends. Over time, I’ve driven across Kerala, Bangalore, and beyond, and the box has been reliable at highway speeds. Today, even when I don’t need it, I leave it on as it has become a part of my Safari’s identity.
Pros

1. Enhanced Road Presence: Draws attention and curiosity on highways and in villages.
2. Practical Storage: Ideal for soft bags, accommodating luggage for seven passengers.
3. Convenience: Easy to load/unload and weatherproof.
4. Sunroof Protection: Shields against falling debris and coconuts in Kerala.

Cons

1. Height Restrictions: Be mindful of low-clearance areas like mall parking or railway gates.
2. Noise with Hard Luggage: Soft bags are quieter in the box.
3. Sunroof Limitation: While functional, no more sticking your head out.

Final Thoughts

After 2+ years and 65,000 km, the rooftop box has been a worthwhile addition. It combines practicality, style, and safety, enhancing the road-tripping experience. If you’re considering one, I hope this helps you make an informed decision.
Happy driving and safe travels!































Mr.Kamaal from Kochi

[viXit]

Anyone using a low profile solution on a fortuner?
I want one but don’t like how far away from the roof these boxes sit.

[achilles101]

I am looking for a roofbox for my Carens which can be removed when not in use as I plan to use the same only during our of station travels with family.
Any suggestions on the same.

[pratyaksh]

Originally Posted by achilles101

Any suggestions on the same.

I’ve been using Farad box on my car which I highly recommend as well.


Link

[john.gt]

Originally Posted by achilles101

I am looking for a roofbox for my Carens which can be removed when not in use as I plan to use the same only during our of station travels with family.
Any suggestions on the same.

I have been using Farad roofbox since last 3 years. No complaints so far. Wind noise is nil with the box on, but is present with just the bars, w/o box, at speeds above 70kmph. Installation was breeze. I installed it myself. The setup is easy to remove and fix (both bars and box).
Removing and storing the box when not in use is a challenge I faced in an apartment. So, I keep it on full time.

[BharathXUV700]

Isn't this box removable? can i remove it and store it in my garage when not needed so that my sunroof becomes useable?

And how easy is it to install it back ourselves?

[skb1811]

The side profile of the Safari with the roof-box, man, that is absolutely beautiful. The proportions are near perfect, and it looks like you can basically go anywhere with all the things you need!

[mHawk_UTKRISHT]

Originally Posted by Ajirules

2+ Years and 65,000 km with a Rooftop Box: My Experience

Hello BHPian Friends,

Whistleblower- As someone passionate about long road trips and frequent family travel, I’ve been using a rooftop box for over two years now, covering more than 65,000 km. In 2021, shortly after purchasing my Safari, I fitted a rooftop box and shared my initial impressions after 2,000 km on Facebook . Now, with my Team-BHP membership and years of experience, I’m revisiting the topic, hoping it helps fellow enthusiasts.

Wonderful upgrade on storage sir

Can the rack fit in full sized suitcases? Also,

Can the roof rails be used mutli-purposed for carrying cycles?

[Ajirules]

Thanks for reading it and sharing positivity.

Not the full international size luggage's and neither tried nor needed but check in luggage's all go in well and I have tried. That's what we use for our domestic travels in India. This is the wider and longer version of pentair which has a higher depth or height between the crossbar, so middle part is the most tallest and widest. Just that suitcases need. I have also used a full size stroller folded within during one trip in folded mode.

Yes the crossbar are the same and multi purpose that can be used for tents or other activities as per Mr. Kamaal, just I have never tried it.

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[handsofsteel]

Originally Posted by Ajirules

Thanks for reading it and sharing positivity.

I was under the impression that roof racks and top boxes can't/ are not supposed to be used on vehicles with sun roof? Something to do with the strength of the roof structure? Am I mistaken or is that an antiquated notion? In fact it was one of the reasons I did not buy a Safari as I perceived that, with a dog in the boot, I would not have any space for luggage and the absence of a luggage rack/ top box would mean no luggage carrying capacity.