How long does it take to fit a roof box on your car? You asked it yourself did you? Let’s find the answer today!
When it comes to installing a roof box to your vehicle, the time it takes to complete the task depends entirely on the carrier itself, mostly the type of roof box it is and whether or not you need a roof rack to install it properly.
If the carrier you just bought requires a roof rack and you don’t have one, it’ll naturally take a little longer because you’ll have to first install the roof rack before you go any further.
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How Long Does It Take to Fit a Roof Box on Your Car?
Just the Basics
The question, how long does it take to fit a roof box, can be answered in more detail once you determine how the carrier is attached to your vehicle. Rooftop carriers are usually connected one of two ways:
- Attached to the car itself, in which case there are usually straps that fit over the carrier and through the car doors themselves to secure it; or
- Attached to a roof rack that is already attached to your vehicle, which usually consists of either side racks or cross racks, known as cross bars.
Fortunately, in both of these cases you can easily learn which steps to take to get the roof box installed properly because there are usually step-by-step, detailed instructions in the package.
Furthermore, since most carriers come with everything you need to install them properly, you can have most of these roof boxes installed and secure in under an hour, sometimes under 30 minutes.
Are Tools Required to Install a Rooftop Carrier?
Fortunately, most current rooftop carriers come with the straps, buckles, and other items you need to properly install them to your vehicle, so they require no tools or special equipment to get the job done.
This means that even if you aren’t the most mechanically inclined person on the planet, you can still install your roof box quickly and without stress, thanks to clear directions and user manuals.
On the rare occasion when you buy a rooftop carrier that does require extra implements, the only tools usually required are the simple ones, so you should already have those tools on hand.
If you’ve never installed a roof box before, not to worry because many of them can be installed using a little common sense and little else – although it is always wise to pay attention to the detailed instructions that come with the product!
A Few Tips to Make the Task Easier
Even though the job of installing a roof box is usually much easier than you think, there are still some basic tips that apply to most of these carriers that can help you install them perfectly every time. Some of those tips include:
- Make sure the top of your vehicle is clean and dry before installing your carrier; or better still, place a non-slip mat on top of the roof before installing the carrier.
- Don’t line up the front end of the carrier with the very front of your windshield; the room between the windshield and the front of the carrier should be roughly 8 inches.
- Watch where and how you place the straps that attach the carrier to the roof; pay attention to the directions because if the straps slant too far to one side, the carrier may start to move in that direction after you’ve been driving for a while.
- Never load too much weight in the carrier; in other words, if the carrier manufacturer says the maximum weight is 80 lbs., you should not go over that limit, not even by one pound.
- When you’re tying down the carrier with the straps, try not to have any creases in the fabric of the carrier bag, because this can cause flapping noises and may even damage the fabric itself.
Lastly, you should always do exactly what the instructions tell you to do – nothing more, nothing less. Diverting from them will definitely affect the answer to how long does it take to fit a roof box on your car.
Never use tools or additional straps or buckles that aren’t made specifically for that particular carrier.
These things may cause the carrier to become too loose or even increase wind-resistance, which in turn can cause you to increase the amount of gas you use when driving.
A Video: How To Fit a Roof Box on Your Vehicle
Some Final Thoughts - How Long Does It Take to Fit a Roof Box
Asking yourself, how long does it take to fit a roof box, is only natural, but you should know that the amount of time required to install a carrier to your car’s roof can take as little as 10 minutes or as long as an hour.
Of course, even spending an hour on this task is not that long, so even if you wait until right before you take off on your vacation to install your roof box, you should have enough time to finish the job.
Roof boxes are perfect for people who like to take along lots of items when camping, fishing, or going on family vacations. They are reasonably priced, built to last, and best of all, easy and fast to install, especially when you decide beforehand to pay attention to the instruction guide so that everything turns out perfect in the end.
So, how long does it take to fit a roof box? It will always depend on you.
