 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Thule box on frontrunner roof rack |
 
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| Jimb1978 Member Since: 05 Sep 2012 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 808   
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I don't know for definite as I haven't got a Thule box or a front runner rack. However, I do have a Hannibal rack and fit a roof box on there for camping trips. The only difference I can see is the slats run left to right on the front runner rather than front to back on the Hannibal. They look a similar width of around 100mm, so I would think the clamps supplied would not reach.
Also, most roof boxes are designed to slot over roof bars to reduce wind noise, and therefore will not sit flat on an expedition rack. To solve this I made some oak bars which bolted to the rack with home made u bolts. I couldn't source online any square shaped u bolts the right size. I then recessed the brackets that came with the roof box into the oak. (Not the best description and I haven't got any pictures of this.) The main difficulty was left to right positioning of the box due to my rack slats running front to rear. This might not be an issue with the front runner. Hope this helps, and if I can take a picture tomorrow I will post it up 2002 110 td5 |
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22nd Aug 2016 9:05pm |
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| Jimb1978 Member Since: 05 Sep 2012 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 808
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It also whistled unbearably at first. Trapping a foam camping mat between the rack and the box solved that issue 2002 110 td5
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22nd Aug 2016 9:08pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6298 
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could you not simply ditch the U bolts / brackets and using 2 nuts / 2 washers / 2 bolts in each of the 4 fixing locations simply bolt the roof box to the roof rack slats. the slats will accept a certain size bolt so just go with that size. granted it wont be easy lining the nuts / bolt up but I'm sure it can't be too difficult?
good luck. |
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23rd Aug 2016 1:54pm |
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| Jimb1978 Member Since: 05 Sep 2012 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 808
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That could work but you would only be able to get one fixing in each of the four locations due to the clamps pointing front to back on the roof box and still have to fill the gaps with a 50mm thick spacer. However, a penny washer to spread the load could replace the need for two bolts. 2002 110 td5
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23rd Aug 2016 2:31pm |
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| johnnyd Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Chippenham Posts: 1006  
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Now I'm looking at one of these 3 wolf box holdall type things, any comments?
http://www.4x4overlander.com/product/hanni...uble-copy/ JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW |
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23rd Aug 2016 4:01pm |
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| Jimb1978 Member Since: 05 Sep 2012 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 808
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Yep, use those too. They are very difficult to load unless you can stand on your wing tops and bonnet if you load at the front or a drop down tailgate if you load at the back.
If you can access them they are brilliant though. Transfer to your tent and job done 2002 110 td5 |
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23rd Aug 2016 4:54pm |
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| johnnyd Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Chippenham Posts: 1006
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Hmmm those boxes are too small, struggling here, what do people here use for storage on a roof rack, just normal holiday stuff, thats easy to secure ?
JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW |
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27th Aug 2016 2:09pm |
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| Organic Member Since: 05 Oct 2015 Location: Shropshire Posts: 21 
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Hello,
I've attached a Thule to our Flatdog roof rack using S.S. M8 bolts, the adaptor kit and 4x 25mm thick wooden blocks.The bolts are secured to the rack with nylock nuts and suitable washers. The box is offset to accommodate our Oztent RV4 and accessories bag.  Click image to enlarge Last edited by Organic on 28th Aug 2016 7:41am. Edited 1 time in total |
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27th Aug 2016 7:41pm |
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| DOOFER Member Since: 07 Oct 2012 Location: Suffolk Posts: 412 |
i've got a full length front runner rack on my 90 with an ARB roof tent and three wolf boxes up front. one each for me, wife and daughter in an xl front runner bag. rule is, if you can't get it in your box, you can't take it.
we also have two more wolf boxes in the back of the 90, one for cooking and crockery and one for food. this set up works perfectly for us and encourages us from bringing too much crap. DON'T PANIC |
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27th Aug 2016 8:03pm |
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| johnnyd Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Chippenham Posts: 1006
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Hi Organic, which adaptor kit did you use, there seem to be many, also is it easy to get any pics of the arrangement you made for the rack? Looks cool on top
JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW |
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28th Aug 2016 6:19am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
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I'd say organic has the right idea, maybe pop down to b&q and buy a couple of lengths of steel or aluminium, put the under the rack and bolt thru from the roof box mountings ... Simple
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28th Aug 2016 6:46am |
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| Organic Member Since: 05 Oct 2015 Location: Shropshire Posts: 21
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Hi Johnny, My box is the Touring 200. Halford ordered the two adaptor kits in for me to compare that fitted. The only difference I could see was the U-bolt length and you're not going to be using them anyway! My main concern was obviously ensuring a rack slat was within the slot range of the box. The slots are quite long so had no problems. My receipt says I purchased the T-track Adaptor 697003. I measured the distance between the box slots then secured the M8 bolts with a washer and nylock nut. I worked out the bolts needed to be 80mm long. I'll see if I can grab a photo later. There is a gap between the rack slots and the actual bottom of the box which you'll need to pack. I looked at using rubber but it would have been way too expensive so I cut, drilled and painted wooden blocks. Sorry, no pictures of assembly. I hope the above helps. Paul. |
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28th Aug 2016 7:24am |
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| Organic Member Since: 05 Oct 2015 Location: Shropshire Posts: 21
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I'm sure the frontrunner and flatdog racks are very similar. Here's an image showing my rack slats.
Click image to enlarge |
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28th Aug 2016 8:09am |
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| johnnyd Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Chippenham Posts: 1006
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If anyone has any spare time, a diagram of what might be required would be fantastic, I will only have about 4 days to make this work before the trip to Scotland, At the moment I don't have the Thule box, I don't have the roof rack, I don't even have the Defender LoL as its with Zagato being treated, so it's all guesswork for me ATM.
JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW |
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28th Aug 2016 3:09pm |
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