roof top luggage pod or basket?

[Lukeis]

Hi Guys

It looks like you can get some fairly decent sized luggage pods for your car which also seem to price quite well when compared to a full size basket. They look like a quicker and safer solution, does anyone have any experience with these? are they quiet?

also to help me decide I have a couple of questions..

1) (I don't have the extended roof rails but I will get some soon). Looking at the roof line the roof-rails must move inward towards the back but from pictures it also looks like the roof-rails at the front don't run exactly with the gutter but instead edge slightly inward which makes choosing the right width basket difficult. Does anyone with these rails know the distance between the rails at the front (before it dips to the roof)? I'm trying to figure out the minimum width basket i can have.
2) Ideally i will just secure the basket directly to the roof rails (without the roof racks) which will keep the basket/pod close to the roof line rather than sitting up really high, has anyone done this? is it quieter or noisier?
3) failing that, does anyone know if the roof racks which I have on the D4 (without roof rails) will then fit on the car with roof rails or do I need to buy different ones?

thanks!

[DiscoJeffster]

I have a 440L pod and it's silent. It is great as it's easy access and relatively well sealed. It does however let in some very fine dust so you'd still want to bag up whatever you put in there that's precious. I brought mine over from the UK when I returned. They're a great way to get extra boot space essentially. It really comes down to how you want to travel. What would you want to put on the roof? If you want a spare tyre up there, forget it with a roof box - no room alongside.
When you understand what you want on the roof, the decision will be clearer. Personally I love the look of a decent full size rack on the roof and the utility it provides, but compared to a roof box for simply throwing bags of crap in and locking the door, it's a difficult call.
Again, when you determine what you want up there, the decision becomes simpler. Saying that, roof box limits you, rack will support all use cases.

[Rockylizard]

Gday...

I have a Thule pod on the roof of my D3. I have had it up there for seven years.

I travel full-time with my van and I have found the pod to be excellent. It holds lots of stuff - small chainsaw, some engine oil, spare bits and pieces, snatchum strap and attachments, etc etc. Probably close to the 40Kg it is rated to.

It is perfectly waterproof and I think is very aerodynamic. It creates no noise.

119778

Cheers - John

[Stuart02]

Yeah I find the pod great for road trips where accommodation isn't required but for Oz tents, spare wheels, Jerry cans etc a platform is much more useful. Maybe a space case on a platform is the compromise but there's no doubt modern pods are light, aerodynamic and pretty well sealed - and secure for parking overnight etc

[l00kin4]

I have a Hapro Carver ~440l roof pod which I used to have mounted on two rails and is now mounted on the long Rhino platform and can fit 2 OzTents alongside. I actually added 2 aero crossbars on top of the platform to mount the pod (to get the right spacing and a better fit for the mounting brackets I have). The pod is silent and I find it really good to carry bulky but light items like self inflating camp mattresses. Have never had any water or dust get in there.

David

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/119785d1487894840-roof-top-luggage-pod-basket-img_9442a.jpg

[eddomak]

I have also got a Thule Pod and it is fantastic. It made less than 5% difference to fuel economy on the freeway. They are super fast to put on and off, and great for being waterproof and fit an amazing amount of gear in them. I can also fit an Oztent beside it.

If you are considering buying one, you might also consider those that can open on either side so that it won't matter which side you mount an awning (if you have one).

I was going to link to the threads that show you the amount of space etc, but it looks like the photos are all wrong.

As for your third question, if you go to a decent roof rack specialist (like Roof Rack World Artarmon) then will most likely be able to fit any adapter plates so that your existing racks will sit on the rails. I have used and recommended them several times in the past and they are great at doing whatever it takes to solve the problem in a cost effective manner.

[gotaflat]

Hi l00kin4,

did you just cut thew aero bars and bolt onto the platform? been looking to do something similar as the Thule pod I have has claw/clamps that does not look long enough to reach down to grab cross rails on the underside of platform (between gaps)

Any close up pics of how you fixed :) ?

Cheers

[l00kin4]

Hi l00kin4,

did you just cut thew aero bars and bolt onto the platform? been looking to do something similar as the Thule pod I have has claw/clamps that does not look long enough to reach down to grab cross rails on the underside of platform (between gaps)

Any close up pics of how you fixed :) ?

Cheers

yes, IIRC I just cut one bar into 2. I had the same issue with my mounting clamps for my pod. Away this weekend but will take some photos and post up early next week. I just drilled through the aero bars and used 6mm bolts through to Rhino channel nuts like these: Rhino N002-BP M6 Channel Nut (4 pack) - Roof Rack World (https://roofrack.com.au/product/rhino-n002-bp-m6-channel-nut-4-pack/)
They are meant for heavy duty channel but work fine in the Pioneer tray.
David

[gotaflat]

yes, IIRC I just cut one bar into 2. I had the same issue with my mounting clamps for my pod. Away this weekend but will take some photos and post up early next week. I just drilled through the aero bars and used 6mm bolts through to Rhino channel nuts like these: Rhino N002-BP M6 Channel Nut (4 pack) - Roof Rack World (https://roofrack.com.au/product/rhino-n002-bp-m6-channel-nut-4-pack/)
They are meant for heavy duty channel but work fine in the Pioneer tray.
David

Thanks Dave,

[Lukeis]

Thanks guys, very helpful insights!

Has anyone fitted a pod just to roof rails without using a full roof rack? I understand you would need to make a crossbar but this should be simple and the benefit being a much more stream line pod/car as it would sit only an inch from the roof instead of 5-6 inches.

Also anyone who has the extended roof rails, do you know the width at these three points?

119882

[Rockylizard]

Thanks guys, very helpful insights!

Has anyone fitted a pod just to roof rails without using a full roof rack? I understand you would need to make a crossbar but this should be simple and the benefit being a much more stream line pod/car as it would sit only an inch from the roof instead of 5-6 inches.

Also anyone who has the extended roof rails, do you know the width at these three points?

119882
Gday...

As shown in my earlier pic, my pod is fitted just to roof rails.
This pic may make it a bit clearer.
119883
Cheers - John

[ozscott]

I had considered a Pod. Lots of good ones around. In the end I opted for a Rhino Mesh basket in half size ....perfect fit for my instant up touring tent that fits into a waterproof bag and enough room on the side for other gear. Advantage of this is the mesh tray is 9kg. Many Tuesday down points and easy to get to tie downs. In the end I didn't like that stuff inside a pod can move around offroad unless perfectly packed and stuffed full.

I think we all need to think hard about adding too much roof weight.

Cheers

[l00kin4]

yes, IIRC I just cut one bar into 2. I had the same issue with my mounting clamps for my pod. Away this weekend but will take some photos and post up early next week. I just drilled through the aero bars and used 6mm bolts through to Rhino channel nuts like these: Rhino N002-BP M6 Channel Nut (4 pack) - Roof Rack World (https://roofrack.com.au/product/rhino-n002-bp-m6-channel-nut-4-pack/)
They are meant for heavy duty channel but work fine in the Pioneer tray.
David
I took a couple of pics - sorry, not much to see really...
Let me know if you want any measurements, bolt lengths etc.
David

[l00kin4]

Thanks guys, very helpful insights!

Has anyone fitted a pod just to roof rails without using a full roof rack? I understand you would need to make a crossbar but this should be simple and the benefit being a much more stream line pod/car as it would sit only an inch from the roof instead of 5-6 inches.

Also anyone who has the extended roof rails, do you know the width at these three points?

119882

Front to rear. 1122, 1113, 1052
David

[Lukeis]

Thanks David, much appreciated!

The roof rails follow a much straighter line when compared to the gutter itself which I measured at 126cm down to 111cm.

This allows me now to weigh up the cost of a basket which fits vs pod. Appreciate it!

[Lukeis]

Sorry just to clarify, did you measure the inside edge or outside?

[LRD414]

Good solution David. Why didn't you bolt the pod directly to the platform channels?
I'm guessing the platform members don't line up with the attachment points within the pod.

Cheers
Scott
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/119902d1488114746-roof-top-luggage-pod-basket-img_3707.jpg

[Lukeis]

Does anyone know if these roof racks can be used with the extended roof-rails?
119921

[l00kin4]

Sorry just to clarify, did you measure the inside edge or outside?

Sorry, I should have stipulated. Inside edge as per your pic
David

[l00kin4]

Good solution David. Why didn't you bolt the pod directly to the platform channels?
I'm guessing the platform members don't line up with the attachment points within the pod.

Cheers
Scott


Thanks Scott,
4 reasons:
1. The pod brackets and the mechanism inside the pod don't really lend themselves to fixing to channel nuts or similar (see pics below) and I did want it to be easy to remove. It is. ;
2. Even though there is a fair range of adjustment available in the pod the rails under the platform didn't line up nicely for me North-South along the rack;
3. The brackets I have with my pod are shaped for the aero bar profile (or similar) - see pic below - so I thought they might move around a bit more as the bars under the platform as not as wide (moot point after I discovered point 4); and
4. The pod mounting brackets aren't quite deep(/tall) enough to reach down far enough to fix around the bars under the platform.
David
119922119923