Roof boxes are great because they allow you to carry luggage without having to worry about how it will all fit into the vehicle. This is due to the fact that roof boxes provide extra storage space.
However, some roof boxes come with limitations. For example, what you can store in your roof box depends on the size of it. So when you are loading things into the car you want to make sure you know you have enough space for everything.
If you are planning on going on a trip and you know all your suitcases won’t fit in the boot of your car, you may be wondering if you can put your suitcase in the roof box. Well if this is something you want to know the answer to, you’ve come to the right place.
We are going to answer your roof box-related question for you and guide you on how to best use your roof box.
Table of Contents
What Is A Roof Box?
A roof box is an area located at the top of your vehicle where you can store items such as luggage. It’s usually made from plastic or metal and is designed to hold items like bags, and other types of items.
The roof box allows you to keep these items out of sight while still being able to access them easily. However, there are certain restrictions you need to consider before using your roof box, for example overloading it. Roof boxes may also be referred to as rooftop cargo boxes.
Roof boxes are attached to the roof of your vehicle through a bracket system or a roof rack system. They are usually clipped onto the roof bars. You should also note that some roof boxes are only suitable for small items, although larger ones do exist.
If you plan on storing large objects in your roof box, then you’ll need to make sure you get one of the larger kinds of roof boxes.
Roof boxes are perfect for allowing you to fit more items into your car when traveling. They are great if you go on a lot of outdoor adventures as you can store key equipment in them.
Also, some roof boxes have been designed to have tents in them. This means when you open them a tent also opens up, so you can sleep on the roof of your car. These are commonly called tent boxes.
Can You Put A Suitcase In A Roof Box?
So is it possible to put a suitcase in a roof box? Yes, but not every roof box is compatible with suitcases. You’ll find that most roof boxes are large enough to hold a standard-sized suitcase.
However, if you own a smaller roof box this may not be possible. Roof boxes are the perfect place to fit any suitcases that cannot fit in the boot of your car.
However, whilst you most definitely can put a suitcase in a roof box, the question is, should you? There are certain things you should consider when thinking about putting a suitcase in your roof box. So let’s have a look at some of them.
Things To Consider
Even though some roof boxes might fit a suitcase in them, would it be beneficial to put the suitcase in the roof box? These are the things worth thinking about before you load your suitcase.
The Type Of Suitcase
The first thing to consider is the type of suitcase you are bringing on your trip. If you have a hard suitcase, these may be more impractical to put in the roof box. This is because they take up a lot of room and you can’t squish them to fit other things in the roof box.
Soft suitcases might be a better fit as you can put pressure on them to mold. You can also squeeze other things around them or on top of them.
Size And Depth Of Your Roof Box
You also need to think about the size and depth of your roof box. Just because your suitcase fits in the roof box when you first load it on, doesn’t mean the lid of the roof box will fit. This is why it is important to know the depth of your roof box.
If you have a hard suitcase this becomes even more important. This is due to the fact that you cannot squash a hard suitcase and squeeze it so the lid of the roof box fits.
Weight Limit
Some roof boxes come with weight limits. These are important to follow because if you don’t follow them you could end up damaging your car. When you pack a heavy suitcase, you need to make sure it meets the roof box weight requirements so it doesn’t weigh the roof down.
Also, when you use a roof box, the weight needs to be distributed evenly. If you have a heavy suitcase that only fits in at a certain angle, you may not be able to do this.
Tips For Packing Your Roof Box
So now that we know about the things to consider when putting a suitcase in the roof box, here are some tips to help you pack efficiently.
Heaviest Item Goes Inside
A good rule to follow when packing a roof box is that you put the heaviest item you have in your car. This is a good way to make sure you do not exceed the roof box weight restrictions.
Also, your car is always going to be able to handle more weight than a roof box. So any heavy items should stay in your car.
Use The Roof Box Straps
If you do plan on filling your roof box with a suitcase then make sure you use the straps inside your roof box. This is especially important when storing a hard suitcase in the roof box. These straps will ensure that your items do not move around too much and that they are secure.
This will help prevent damage to the inside of your roof box by having a heavy hard suitcase hit the sides every time your car goes over a bump.
Pack Away Awkward Items In Your Roof Box
Since you might not be able to easily grab an item from the roof box on your journey, try to pack any awkward items that you don’t need much of in there. These could be things like fishing equipment, your tent, or any other camping equipment.
These items will not need to be accessed until you have reached your destination, so you can keep them out of sight and in your roof rack.
Even Weight
We mentioned this briefly earlier but when you are loading your roof rack, it is important to spread the weight evenly. This helps to make sure that the roof rack doesn’t lean to one side when traveling.
It can also help with avoiding accidents. For example if you happen to hit a bump in the road, the weight on one side can cause damage to the roof box. This also helps to keep the noise down as you won’t have the heavy side constantly hitting the lighter side of your roof box.
Secure Your Roof Box
Whilst it might seem like an obvious thing to suggest, you would be surprised at how easily forgotten this tip is. Make sure you secure your roof box before you go on your trip. This means using either a strap or locking the lid of your roof box.
Make sure that there is no chance your roof box can come off the roof rack system. If you are going to put your suitcase in the roof box this step becomes even more important.
The weight of your suitcase and rough road conditions is the perfect combination for having an unsecured roof box fall off of the car. There is nothing worse than having all of your belongings thrown off when you can’t stop to pick them up.
Also, this ensures the safety of other road users. That way your roof box won’t fall into someone else’s car during their journey.
Install Extra Security Locks
Another way to ensure that your journey with your suitcase in your roof box runs smoothly is to lock your locking system. This will help to stop the lid of your roof box from opening if the locking system included with the roof box fails.
The last thing you want is to have your belongings spill out of the roof box as you are driving without you knowing.
Also, there is never anything wrong with a bit of extra security. This helps to keep potential thieves away from accessing your luggage. This is a win/win top tip.
Remember You Have A Boot
Sometimes we can get a little overexcited when packing our rooftop box. We often forget about all the space we have in the boot. Your boot is always going to be the safest and most secure place to pack your things away.
You will also have easy access to your boot most of the time. So when you are packing your items away, start by packing the boot. That way only the extras make it into the roof box.
Final Thoughts
So to answer your question, yes, in most roof boxes you can put your suitcase in them. In fact, if you’ve run out of space in your boot you should definitely make use of the space and put your suitcase in the rooftop carrier.
However, it may not be suitable for you to put your suitcase in your roof box at all times, especially if you haven’t got the things you need to secure it all.
We hope that we have been able to answer your question. Thank you for reading!
