Im a relative newcomer to camping, but myself and my family have well and truly caught the bug! The only problem we are having is getting everything into our car. I've been looking at roof bags which can be bought reasonably cheaply online, but my car (Ford Focus 5dr Hatch) does NOT have roof rails or bars.
My question would be, in the UK can I legally put a roof bag on my car without roof bars or rails? Obviously I would be suitable tethering the bag to the roof of the car via straps which would run through the car (as seen in various US-based photos on google), but I just wanted to know where I stood with regard to the law.
Any advice that can be offered on this would be much appreciated.
Why not just go and get some roof bars? Much better than strapping through the car. I've heard stories of people doing that and when it rains the ratchet staps absorb all the rain and it starts dripping on the inside of the car showering everyone inside.
Yep, probably best to get down to your local car accessory shop, the Mont Blanc Classic roof bars and feet, will be around £75 far cheaper than Ford OEM, and will do just the same job as the more expensive Thule models.
Got my Mont Blanc Classic set a few years back, and when the car was changed in May 2015 for a new Mk7 VW Golf, all I needed to do was buy the relevant Mont Blanc foot pack, which was just £15 at the time.
It's a great system, and should be fine if the car model gets changed again, just a case of having the relevant foot pack, if the car does not have roof rails.
Bought a set of Thule bars and feet locally, second hand from Gumtree.
Went and checked them out. A Few sqirts of oil into the locks, a strip and 'proper' clean and it was a fraction if the cost.
I Would worry about marks on the roof, regardless of how well you attach it.
It's 'legal' until it falls off. A cop can stop a car if they believe it has a dangerous or insecure load but a properly secured roof bag would not be that.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
As has been said, strapping something directly to the roof, no matter how securely you may(may not?) manage it, will damage/buckle/scratch it to some degree..
This isn't just a short trip to the tip or the journey back from the DIY store, this is you all going on your holi-bobs!
Get some roof bars and maybe a cheapie box off *ebay?
(* we bought a used Halfords box local,for 50 quid)...
(Slightly off topic but my niece used to use those padded strap/bars to secure her canoe to her car..and the only way to really secure it, was to buckle the roof! )
Those "tubes" look like what my niece used..
As I say, possibly okay(ish) to keep in the boot, for the occasional, unforeseen trundle back from the DIY store etc..but I'm not sure they'd be my option for a planned family camping holiday?
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Topic: Roofbags and the Law
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