Fixing a Roof Rack can be a technical matter when there are so many different makes and models of vehicles on the market.
We only use Thule Roof Racks as they are the leading manufacture of Roof Racks and Roof Boxes.
To be able to fit a Thule roof rack to your vehicle we need the following details:
Make & model of your Vehicle, year of registration, number of doors.
Is it an estate, saloon, MPV?
Does it have roof rails?
Once a Thule roof rack is fitted to your vehicle you can attach either a Roof box and/or Bike & ski carriers to the roof bars.
There are FIVE MAIN TYPES OF ROOFS that a Thule roof rack can be fitted to.
Unfortunately we cannot fit a rack to convertible roofs!
1. Flat Roof
The Thule roof rack sits on rubber pads on the flat roof of the vehicle and is secured by plastic coated plates around each door. The rack is then tightened for a secure fit. All racks are lockable, with a key provided at hire. For some 3-door cars, a Thule short roof adapter may be needed.
Please note if you have a Thule roof rack fitted to your car for several days and you travel to a warmer climate once the rack is removed there may be an imprint of the rubber pad left on your roof. This imprint can be removed by cleaning your roof afterwards.
2. Fixed Point in the roof
On top of the vehicle roof there is an insert (may be hidden by a flap or plastic cover that is easily removed). A bolt or screw securely attaches the Thule roof rack to the roof. On some vehicles it may be necessary to cut away some excess of the insert to gain access to the screw holes. Lockable covers are also provided for the foot plate fixing.
3.Tracking system in the roof
On top of the roof there may be a channel that runs along the edge of the roof. A plate, which is attached to the rack, can be inserted into the channel and tighten to securely fix the Thule roof box. Lockable covers are provided for the foot plate fixing.
4. Roof Rails Solid Integrated bars
The vehicle has a solid integrated bar attached to the roof, which the Thule roof rack securely slots over. Lockable covers are provided for the foot plate fixing.
5. Roof Rails with a gap between the roof and the bar
A rail runs along the vehicle roof and there is a gap between the roof and the rails (often your hand will fit between the gap). The Thule roof rack fixes over the rail and is tighten so the rack fits securely to your roof. The Thule roof rack is lockable via a key supplied on hire.
PLEASE BEWARE OF WEIGHT & LENGTH RESTRICTIONS
There are weight limits on how much a roof rack can carry and on some vehicles it is not possible to have both a roof rack and a roof box because of these weight restrictions.
Your hire contract will stipulate how much weight you can carry.
A normal vehicle will be able to take between 75-100 KG on your roof, this includes the weight of the Thule roof rack and the Thule roofbox. As the rack weighs around 7kg and the box between 12-26kg it can dramatically reduce the amount you can carry in the roof box.
For example a 460 litre roof box will normally carry around 50kg and the larger 650 litre roof box 75 kg inside the box. Please also check your vehicles handbook for additional guidelines.
If you carry large items on your roof rack, ie a mattress or fencing panel, there are speed limit restrictions placed on the vehicle. Please ask our staff for more details.
