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The box is an external trunk. It is used for transportation by car of non-standard size and shape loads. Increases the carrying capacity of the machine, and the load on the axles is distributed evenly. Today, the demand for an external trunk is increasing day by day. Therefore, both the number of manufacturers and the variety of offered autobox models are also increasing. Many do not think that such devices come in different categories, sizes, and volumes. Therefore, before choosing a box for the roof of the car, carefully study the existing offers and understand the details. This will help you choose what is right for you and your car.
Why do you need a roof box?
The main purpose of such an adaptation to a car is to increase the carrying capacity of the car and help in the transportation of oversized loads. They will be useful for motorists who like to travel. They easily fit all the necessary things, from suitcases to tents. If you're into extreme sports, some external racks help you carry snowboards, bikes, skis and even fishing gear.
Another purpose of Autobox is to protect luggage from precipitation, dust, dirt during transportation. It is reliably closed against robbers. At the same time, a correctly selected model will not reduce the aerodynamics of your car. It will harmoniously fit into the overall appearance of the car.
What types are there?
There are 3 main categories of auto boxes on the market:
- sporty- used for transportation of sports equipment;
- economic- ideal for transporting luggage, construction material and inventory, small furniture;
- tourist- used for delivery of tents, suitcases, food.
By type, it can be full-time or universal. The first ones are suitable for a certain brand of car. But they are not produced for all cars. When choosing a standard device, make sure that it is compatible with a specific machine. Universal trunks are suitable for all car brands. But even in this case, find out whether it will fit your model.
The main nuances that should be known when choosing
Before choosing a box for the roof, it is enough to know its type and what it is intended for. Many points are important here. After all, there are many manufacturers, and even more models, and they have significant differences. Let's understand the nuances that you need to pay attention to when buying.
- Producer. Let's name some famous companies that have been filling the market with various Autobox for years. The leader in the production of Thule (Sweden). The companies Whispbar (America) and Inno (Japan) are very close in terms of quality. Trunks from Italian manufacturers Fabbri, Menabo, Farad are also worthy of attention.
- The material from which the body is made.Offers can be the following: plastic, acrylic and ABS plastic. External trunks, regardless of their function in transportation, must be resistant to shocks and sunlight. It is also important that the material does not change its properties at high or low temperature indicators. ABS plastic meets all these requirements. Its service life is much longer, and at the same time it is lighter than its counterparts. That is why companies that value their reputation produce models from this material.
- Declared volume.Any buyer is interested in this indicator. But before choosing a box for the car roof, it is important to understand that manufacturers do not have standards for calculating this characteristic. This means that everyone considers it in their own way. Volumes up to 350 l, from 350 to 500 l and over 500 l are mainly indicated. But all this, as you understood, is relative. Therefore, it is better to rely on parameters when choosing.
- Dimensions. This is one of the essential factors. To understand what parameters you need, estimate the dimensions of your car and think about what you will be transporting. It is necessary to push back from this. It is important to remember that for cars with a fifth door, the box must have such a length that it does not prevent them from opening completely. The inner size will be 7-10 cm smaller than the outer size. Consider this if you are going to transport oversized cargo. So, the market presents the following categories of automatic boxes according to parameters. Short ones are 120-130 cm long. Long ones are from 170 to 235 cm. Narrow ones are 50 to 80 cm wide, and wide ones are 80-94 cm. They are standard (40-45 cm) and low (30-35 cm) in height.
- Carrying capacity. There are three types of gradation according to this criterion: up to 55 kg, up to 75 kg and up to 90 kg. The latter are very strong in their construction, but they are suitable only for SUVs of considerable size. Only their roofs can withstand such loads.
- Opening and closing.As soon as automatic boxes appeared, almost all of them opened from the back. But it turned out to be quite inconvenient and impractical for motorists. Today, the market offers options for closing and opening from one or two sides. In practice, two-way systems are considered more practical. They are easy to install and load. But their cost will be higher than one-sided. Therefore, it is up to you to choose.
All boxes must have straps for fixing the cargo being transported. This is important not only for reliable fastening, but also helps to maintain an even load on the machine.
Now you know how to choose a box for the roof, and what to pay attention to when buying. Use our recommendations and choose a high-quality, convenient external trunk that will perform all tasks.
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