FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS FROM £100
GUIDE TO ROOF BARS
Some useful tips and advice on fitting, using and driving with roof bars.
Roof Load
Never exceed the maximum roof load of your vehicle. Check your owners manual for the maximum roof load capacity of your vehicle (it can be less than the capacity of the roof bars).
Choosing the right bars
Bars are fitted to the vehicle roof with brackets or feet. To know which type of feet you need, first identify the mounting options on your vehicle. Alot of vehicles are fitted with raised or flush roof rails that you can attach roof bars to. If your vehicle does not have rails or plastic strips along the roof then choose roof bars for gutterless fixing.
Black or Aluminium Load Bars
Load bars (sometimes called cross bars) are available in black coated steel, normally with a rectangular profile, or aluminium with an oval profile. Aluminium bars are lighter and more aerodynamic that steel bars but the choice can be down to appearance as much as weight savings or noise reduction. If you plan on carrying roof boxes then the aluminium bars would be a better choice.
Fitting
Read all the instructions carefully before you start.
Clean the vehicle, rails and fixing points before you fit the roof bars.
If possible, get someone to help fit the bars and load items on to the roof. This will reduce the chance of dropping the bars or load and scratching or denting your vehicle.
Do not lose the keys, the locks are unique and the keys cannot be replaced.
Tightening
Tighten the bars according to the recommended torque settings.
Check and recheck all 4 feet, fixings and loads before every journey.
If you plan on leaving the bars on your vehicle for a long time, lightly greasing the mounting bolt threads can make them easier to remove.
Driving
Do not go over the recommended speed limit.
Note the new height of your vehicle with the roof bars and any attachments and loads you are carrying like bikes or roof boxes.
Drive carefully, the vehicle may handle handle differently with an extra load on the roof due to the higher centre of gravity.
Be cautious driving in windy weather, cross winds will affect the handling.
For loads that extend beyond the roof bars i.e. planks of wood or kayaks, tie them down at both ends to the bonnet, boot, tow bar or bumper.
Be careful opening the rear door if the roof has a longer load
Remove the bars before using an automatic car wash