roof pods

[speedcomm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close speedcomm]

Anyone use a roof pod ? with no.4 on the way we need more space, roof is the logical place for baggage etc, at this stage we dont need it for jerry cans and tyres etc, only luggage. Any thoughts ?

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Used a Thule pod for years.....not great for heavy items.......but perfect for sleeping gear (sleeping bags, tarps, air mattresses & pillows) for a big family. Fits well on a pair or Rola Cross Bars between the Prado rails.

[Just*Managing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Just*Managing]

I too have used the Thule & they are great for clothes, bedding & other lighter goods etc. They are completely dust & waterproof & relatively light (lighter than my OZTENT. Couple of things. Don't get caught buying the elcheapo's that can be found at some discount autoshops. They warp and sag in the heat. AND be aware it adds a lot of extra height to an already tall car. Not me but the day before I bought mine, the shopkeeper was telling me a guy bought one, had it fitted & drove homestraight into his garage which only had a 2 metre clearance. Expensive lesson.

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Not me but the day before I bought mine, the shopkeeper was telling me a guy bought one, had it fitted & drove homestraight into his garage which only had a 2 metre clearance. Expensive lesson.

:lol: :lol: Baaaahahhahahahahahahhaha. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Man, that's hilarious! Some people. :roll:

Anyone use a roof pod ? with no.4 on the way we need more space, roof is the logical place for.......

I so thought this was going some place else. I guess putting the tin lids in the roof box would help keep the vehicle's interior clean! :lol:

I'll shut up now. ;-)

Drew.

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

I'm not sure that these roof boxes are so good off-road -- they don't seem to like the torsional and flexing forces.

We keep our Thule box for use on the Tarago and use the Rhino Racks for much-needed luggage space in the Prado.

Gee the interior of the Prado is small when you've got a wife and four kids and an Engel to fit in there... :cry:

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Those engel's are great value at the moment.

I am torn between that and 2 other upgrades for this month... Decisions decisions...

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Hi Damien

Are Engels on special?

I'm looking for a 40litre + transit bag.

Cheers,

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Yeah they, are going for around 1100 with an accessory pack which includes a little thermo electric job. Matt just got his for not much more that that with a transit bag from BCF.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

......apologies for wandering .......way off topic, but I am considering the same fridge question at the moment. I have had a 32ltr Engel for many years, and it is perfect, except just a little small.
So if I had the choice of an Engel 40ltr at $1,100 or a Waeco 50ltr at $800.......which way would you go?

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Personally I think the Engel is worth paying a premium for.

The swing motor reliability and non-plastic construction make it a better long-term bet in my view.

I've seen a few crook-fitting Waeco lids lately that haven't inspired confidence.

Others may disagree.

[Just*Managing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Just*Managing]

[quote="Grandeman"]I'm not sure that these roof boxes are so good off-road -- they don't seem to like the torsional and flexing forces.

We took ours along the Gibb River Road & some pretty fierce corrugations. I checked the thumb screws each day & tightened but had absolutely no probs at all.

On the topic of Engel vs Waeco, our Waeco is strapped down inside the car & so I didn't need the extra strength of the Engel casing & I sure could use the spare cash and the extra space. I've been very happy with the Waeco although if I had my time again,would go for the 60l instead of the 50. The Engel 40 would have been way to small for my camping needs & I certainly couldn't have afforded 2.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

I'm not sure that these roof boxes are so good off-road -- they don't seem to like the torsional and flexing forces.

I am about to purchase Rhino Rack alloy tray (1.8m x 1.0m). When I asked the guy at Roof Rack City about roof pods his advice was to forget about them if you do any off roading. He said the rivets tend to pop out on corrugations and any warranty claims are denied if the pod has been "off road".

Cheers - Byrnsie

[xvprado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xvprado]

I have a rola brand roof pod that we bought specifically to take the Ozrent and stuff. It has been all thru vic high country and 8000klm to Alice, the "back way". No problem to date and the roof box is as good as they day we bought it.
It is mounted on two Toyota branded racks off of the factory rails. Maybe this helps in the way it is used?...dunno, but to date no problem for ours

[P1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close P1]

I can also "Vouch" for the Thule. I have a Polar 200. It's travelled over 25,000Km with us. I guess maybe a couple of 1000km on unmade roads, some with serious corrugations.
I have also left it on when we have been on a couple of real offroad day trips (seasonal tracks in the Alpine NP, Lorne and Jamieson regions) where it was very useful for putting clean warm cothing, food etc due to the rear being taken up with esky, recovery gear, boots and the like.
No problems with the pod.
I would also recommend a sticker on the windscreen to indicate the extra height. Both in the wilds of inner city car parks with low roofs and offroad with low hanging branches, a small warning sticker can avoid embarassment. :lol:

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

Have a look at this UK site with some very useful info on roof boxes http://www.roofbox.co.uk/. It has steered me towards the Thule Atlantis 780 rather than the Ocean 200. $150 more but better features and appears to be stronger. I see plenty of these things on top of some seriously dirty offroaders up my way so they must take punishment.