Roof boxes are very useful when you tour with items that can’t be fitted inside the trunk. They can be used to carry skis, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks or even tents.
But should you mount a roof box in the center? Well, technically you can install a roof box in the center of the roof of your vehicle but it has some drawbacks. If it is mounted on the center, you might have to get a step stool to get full access of the roof box. You will have a hard time installing and removing the roof box carrier if it is positioned center. But that problem ceases to exist if the roof box is mounted to one side. Side mounted roof box makes it super easy to access the items inside it. No longer do you have to worry about getting a step stool. Installation process of the roof box will be a breeze in that case. If you are planning to install roof box, we suggest you to get it installed on the passengers side as it will help you have full access of the gears inside away from the traffic.
Should a car Roof Box Be positioned in the centre of the roof?
While you can load a car roof carrier on one side of the vehicle roof, it is not ideal. If the box is heavy, at high speed it may topple, causing hassles. However, it should not matter much if the box is positioned a little away from the car roof center, if it is lightly loaded. Just ensure the box opening is suited for your needs.
Most rooftop carriers you will find in the market can be opened and accessed from the side. Sometimes, car drivers set up the rooftop carrier a little sideways, so that they can access it with ease.
Rooftop Carrier Installation – do with Racks or without?
Most rooftop boxes are made with hard-shell material or a mix of polyester/vinyl material. The good thing is most such units can be set up atop the car even if your car lacks a roof rack. Check with the company before buying a roof cargo box if it can be set up without a roof rack.
Installing Your car Rooftop Carrier
Rooftop carriers typically have two side rails, parallel to your vehicle length. They also have 2 or more crossbars which are not static. The crossbars are tweaked so that load can be evenly distributed. Finally, you have to use brackets and screws to fasten the cargo box.
You have to abide by the setup guidelines offered by the manufacturer, setting up the cargo rack should not be hard. You may want to install the box on one side of the car roof, but it is not mandatory. Several rooftop carriers are laden with mats so that car roof does not get damaged.
