We have already figured out how to transport large cargo in a passenger car, and found out that the most convenient and versatile solution is a roof rack. However, not every design is legal and safe. We'll tell you what kind of trunk you can buy to transport the luggage you need without risk to the car and its passengers. And without violating traffic rules.
车顶行李架如何工作？
The main requirement for any trunk is that it must be a reliable "connecting link" between the cargo and the car body. So that, firstly, additional luggage along with the car reaches its destination safely. And secondly, so that neither it nor the trunk itself damages the car during transportation.
Things that have to be carried on the roof have different sizes, weights and shapes. A luggage rack that can be used to take it to the dacha, for example a wardrobe, will be inconvenient if you need to transport a bicycle there. And if in the old days car owners were simply forced to make do with the simplest products, today a roof rack is a real construction kit. Which can be "assembled" for specific purposes and luggage format from a set of elements. The trunk usually includes three main parts:
attaching the trunk to the car body;
load-bearing trunk cross members;
a device for holding cargo on/in the trunk, which is attached to the crossbars.
The third part, in turn, can be a closed box for transporting luggage in bulk, a universal "platform" made of slats or tubes, or specific fastenings designed for a strictly defined type of cargo - for example, bicycles, skis or surfboards.
Each component can be purchased separately, although manufacturers often offer ready-made kits designed for a specific car model. And each component of the trunk requires attention - only with the correct selection of them all will a trip with a load be truly safe. Let's deal with them in order.
There is no single standard for mounting roof racks on cars - each automaker solves the problem of safely transporting additional cargo in its own way. Typically this is done in one of three ways.
To regular seats. The car manufacturer makes several mounting points (4 or 6) on the roof, to which the trunk cross members can be screwed. They are made in places where the roof frame is reinforced and are usually closed with plastic or rubber caps.
Not every luggage system is suitable for a car with such a mount, but only one whose fasteners are certified for use on a specific model and, accordingly, are ideal for standard seats.
For the roof rails. The design of the vehicle itself often includes longitudinal "rails" on the roof, to which roof rack crossbars can be attached. Rails are available with clearance or integrated into the roof. The shape of both differs not only among cars from different automakers, but also among different models of the same brand. This must be taken into account when selecting the crossbars to which the box will be attached.
In general, the system with rails is the most universal: they are less demanding on the design of the crossbar fastenings, and the installation locations of the trunk vary - the crossbars can be moved back and forth, secured at different distances from the beginning and end of the rails. However, the mounting system must still be approved for use on your vehicle.
Behind a gutter or doorway. Such fastening systems are considered not the most reliable and rather outdated, but are still used today. For example, domestic manufacturers of luggage racks for domestic cars. Structurally, such fasteners resemble pliers. The trunk cross member rests with a rubberized platform on the hard part of the roof or on the gutter running from the windshield to the rear window. A bracket is also attached to the platform, which presses it to the gutter or to the roof - on the side that is covered by the upper edge of the door.
If the trunk is intended for a specific cargo - primarily sports equipment - then it is best to choose it with fitting. Find out whether the bike racks are suitable for your size, whether the mount will be secure, and how easily and quickly it can be put on the roof and removed.
Tube and bar designs are both versatile and inconvenient. Yes, you can most likely load almost anything you want on them. However, in the case of the same bicycle, you will have to tinker with the mount so as not to scratch both the bike and the roof of the car. In addition, the cargo on such a trunk is exposed to dust and rain - in order to get it to its destination clean, complex packaging will be required. And the film or fabric cape will flutter mercilessly in the air as you move.
Therefore, closed boxes in which the cargo is protected from wind, precipitation and even dishonest people are becoming increasingly common. But when buying a box, you need to consider several important factors. A poorly designed trunk can open at speed or slide off the crossbars.