Well, technically you can fit a roof box and a bike rack on the roof of your car given that they are the right size and you have enough space. They should not rub against each other at any cost.
However, there are few factors that you need to carefully consider before mounting both roof accessories on your car.
What to Look For
Load Capacity of Roof Bar
First, you need to figure out the maximum loading capacity of the roof bar and make sure that you are not exceeding it at any cost.
So basically you need to follow this basic formula –
- Maximum Load Capacity of Roof Roof Bar < Combined Weight of Roof Box + Combined Weight of Bike Rack
Try to stay below the recommended limit and you will be able to avert any disasters. Car with sunroof should be extra careful as exceeding the maximum weight limit can inflict serious damage to the sunroof.
Max Weight Capacity of The Roof Your Car
The maximum load capacity of the roof of your car is another important factor that you need to take into account.
The load capacity of the roof is usually mentioned in the car manual. If you have lost the manual, you can always check with the car company. Most car roof can bear a load of around 170kg (it usually hovers between 60kg to 200kg).
Installing a Roof Rack and Roof Box Together
Install Roof bars
It goes without saying that you need to get the roof bars installed first. Cars that have got crossbars that cover the entire length of the roof can accommodate both the bike rack and roof box quite comfortably. But sadly, not all cars have this feature.
Read the car manual to collate as much information about the roof box and bike rack installation process as possible. The installation process should not be that complicated, however, you might have to purchase extra parts to get these parts fitted properly.
If you have crossbars already, then congratulations as you will not have to go through the rigmarole of installing them. Just make sure that they are of good quality, can bear the weight and are positioned in the right manner. You can get both the roof box and the bike racks directly attached to the crossbars.
Another option is a bit complicated but is known to be quite effective. Get two bars running along the length of your car roof and then attaching the bike racks and the roof box directly on them.
Install Roof box
Now, it is the time to get the roof box installed. All you have to do is to get it attached to the roof bars. Next, you will have to tighten the latch of the roof box to make sure that it is secured properly. If you are a shorty like me, get a step ladder and it will make your life a lot easier. Secure both latches of the roof box and then you are good to go.
Install Bike Rack
The next step is to get the bike rack installed on the roof of your car. You will have to fix it on the crossbars in such a way that it is positioned evenly. Once you have done that, use the straps to secure the bike rack properly. Make sure there is enough gap between the roof box and the bike rack to avoid any rubbing.
Make sure that the cargo box and the bikes don’t come in contact with each other no matter how bumpy the road gets. The last thing you would want is your bikes and the roof box butting against each other while you are driving on a rough patch of road.
Conclusion
If you have followed all the steps correctly, congratulations as you have successfully installed the roof box and bike rack on your car. Just make sure that you don’t exceed the maximum weight limit and you will be good to go.
