Roof bar loading weights.

[123hotchef]

I think I was a bit optimistic with my roof rack today. It's now touching the roof.

 

[voipio]

Yep!!

 

[pedrobedro]

Did you check the handbook for the maximum roof load on your vehicle ? It's 100 kg on our Berlingo.

 

[Scalarocco]

When the roof starts touching your head that's when you have gone too far. Take off a plank or two, otherwise you'll get a stiff neck...

 

[pedrobedro]

Have a close look at 8ob's avatar, that's when you have overdone it. What you need is a trailer.

 

[brightspark]

you know when you overload the vehicle the suspension springs hits the bump stops and you cant steer it faster than 30mph

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

That looks wet. Never mind the roof rack weight. What about the MAM.

Do hope you didn't drive that home....

 

[willie.macleod]

Brought this one to mind;

I'd have stuck the aluminium ladder on top and the wood inside! I think you must be at least double the rated roof payload with that lot?

 

[Ton-up]

I work for a timber company. Our forklift drivers are not allowed to load cars and vans directly, the customer must do their own loading.
Last year, a young guy turns up in a new BMW 3 series saloon with two of those blow up roof bar things on. He’d come to pick up some decking. The forklift drops the order beside the car and he proceeds to load it on the roof.
The manager comes out and tells him to stop putting it on, take some off and come back, you will need several trips! No, the guy puts more on, and the roof collapsed in!!

 

[8ob]

When the roof starts touching your head that's when you have gone too far. Take off a plank or two, otherwise you'll get a stiff neck...

I agree

 

[addjunkie]

I think I was a bit optimistic with my roof rack today. It's now touching the roof.

View attachment 371074 View attachment 371075

Im a big fan of free delivery via hiab! When I ordered my last two packs of fence posts, it was 40 quid delivery bargain, as its a 3 hour round trip.

Ive a friend trying todo up an old cottage, bought a pickup to save money collecting materials…..he wastes so much time and money running around all over the place collecting what he needs, theres almost no progress.

I did suggest based on experience its far more productive to have an account at builders merchants and have free delivery. But he likes to pay as he goes

 

[not done it yet]

Apart from the roof strength issues, there is also the suspension,and tyre loading to consider - as well as the centre of mass - too easy to tip over in an accident, for instance. Just barmy to grossly overload.

Anything heavy on my roof rack gets ratcheted down through the car. Last car had rear windows so two straps were easy. This one (two door) generally only gets one strap over the driver’s head.

 

[Onoff]

Overloading your roof rack is a nick!

Many years ago, I scored a load of free timber at work. I loaded the roof rack until it was about 2' high and the cars width. "Secured" it with a couple of the cheapo, orange ratchet straps about 1" wide.

Just before I set off across the Dartford bridge I gave the whole stack a good two handed push to check security and BOTH straps snapped. I dread to think what would have happened if I'd have driven off and braked suddenly or cornered hard. Lesson learnt.

Now it's big blue 2" ratchet straps for the main load and the tiddlers for backing up here and there.

Roof racks/bars vary hugely in quality. I've Thule on my Focus estate and they were ace. Just bought Farad ones to go on the Mondeo estate and they are crap by comparison.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I did suggest based on experience its far more productive to have an account at builders merchants and have free delivery. But he likes to pay as he goes

Most merchants will have cash accounts without credit.

Even without a credit should still get free delivery.

No telling some people.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Remember the Volvo advert where they claim the car is so strong it is capable of carrying another car on the roof ?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I agree

View attachment 371093

Assuming that rolled off/dropped from something? Big old lump.


I still want to know if the op drove home like it?

 

[123hotchef]

I only drove 15m onto the driveway, no way will I be driving any further with it on there

 

[8ob]

Assuming that rolled off/dropped from something? Big old lump.

One of the nippers had only just passed his driving test and was bleating about getting him some wheels, said he could take the Renault which had unbeknown to him recently died. Just for a bit of fun I dropped a log on the roof with the timber grab, the look on his when he came in to collect it

Bob

 

[Barking Mat]

Remember the Volvo advert where they claim the car is so strong it is capable of carrying another car on the roof ?

That's impressive / insane.

 

[Stupoty]

Remember the Volvo advert where they claim the car is so strong it is capable of carrying another car on the roof ?

To be fair the roof "shouldnt" collapse for less than the weight of the car for roll over safety but maybe it will be a bit of a funny shape ?

Stu