Roof Box on a bike rack? (12 Viewers)

[Heebson]

Hey Gang - hoping someone has gone down this route before!

Context is that we’re going skiing in our motorhome (for the first time) - but it’s not a big van! An A-S Neuvo, it’s only 6m and has one relatively small under bench garage. There is a Fiamma Pro-C bike rack on the back, which I’ve switched to e-bike rails. I also have large car roof box. And finally, as we’re going for an extended period, it’s made sense to buy skis, rather than hire.

The cunning plan is to somehow mount the roof box onto the bike rack and transport the skis in it.

I did a bit of research and got confirmation some people have done this, but frustratingly short of detail! Having had a quick look, the weight is fine, the length is fine, but I think the box will be too wide to either sit on the horizontal rails or mount onto the vertical bars if I remove the rails.

Anyone have experience here?

Thnx,
Heeb

 

[Minxy]

Pictures would help us help you!

 

[MalcMc]

Hi Heeb, I’ve fitted a back box on my bike rack, in principle got to be the same, just add holes in right place & bolt on, I silicone sealed existing holes in box, works for me fine

 

[jwells]

Put the skis across the bike rack!
We had a Nuevo, it's not winterized, outside water will freeze, you will use alot of gas keeping warm! Avoid staying in high altitude sites unless spring skiing!
Most important thing is to weigh the van with all the kit onboard, you will probably find your back axle is well over weight!!!
Hope it all works out for you, wish my body was still up for it!!

 

[Heebson]

Put the skis across the bike rack!
We had a Nuevo, it's not winterized, outside water will freeze, you will use alot of gas keeping warm! Avoid staying in high altitude sites unless spring skiing!
Most important thing is to weigh the van with all the kit onboard, you will probably find your back axle is well over weight!!!
Hope it all works out for you, wish my body was still up for it!!

jwells thanks for the reply. In theory, our van has the Winterised pack. We’ve been out in sub-zero, but not extreme! Did you have water tank heating pads? Obviously still worried about exposed pipes freezing solid! Will be doing the bucket method with the waste. We’ve weighed ourselves with e-bikes on the rack and were on the wire, so yes, will be being careful there. Any other tips/warnings about skiing with the Neuvo greatly appreciated!

As to just putting the skis straight onto the rack, I’ve heard horror stories of how much road muck can make them rust/degrade.

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[Heebson]

Hi Heeb, I’ve fitted a back box on my bike rack, in principle got to be the same, just add holes in right place & bolt on, I silicone sealed existing holes in box, works for me fine

MalcMc what kind of backbox do you mean? And did you mount to the horizontal bike rails, or remove that and mount onto the vertical rails (as I’ve seen with a roof box)?

 

[Heebson]

Pictures would help us help you!

!

 

[Mikeco]

Hey Gang - hoping someone has gone down this route before!

Context is that we’re going skiing in our motorhome (for the first time) - but it’s not a big van! An A-S Neuvo, it’s only 6m and has one relatively small under bench garage. There is a Fiamma Pro-C bike rack on the back, which I’ve switched to e-bike rails. I also have large car roof box. And finally, as we’re going for an extended period, it’s made sense to buy skis, rather than hire.

The cunning plan is to somehow mount the roof box onto the bike rack and transport the skis in it.

I did a bit of research and got confirmation some people have done this, but frustratingly short of detail! Having had a quick look, the weight is fine, the length is fine, but I think the box will be too wide to either sit on the horizontal rails or mount onto the vertical bars if I remove the rails.

Anyone have experience here?

Thnx,
Heeb

I use one of these

https://bags4everything.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rear-storage-bag-with-pocket-grey-2.jpg.webp

 

[Minxy]

Having had a quick look, the weight is fine, the length is fine, but I think the box will be too wide to either sit on the horizontal rails or mount onto the vertical bars if I remove the rails.

I'm trying to imagine what you mean by too wide. Do you mean it will stick out too far backwards, ie too deep?

Can you mount it with the back of the box facing the back of the MH with the 'hinge' on the side and the opening on the other side, ie as a door would open? You'd need to have straps/netting to keep the contents in place when you opened it but could possibly work.

 

[KASPAR]

How many pairs of skis? Can you not just put them in a ski bag inside the van to travel, then under the van when on site?

Or strap the ski bag to the folded bike rack, vertically?

I did once fit a Thule roof box vertically to a bike rack by bolting roof bars on the cycle rack and mounting the roof box on the roof bars. You could replace the bike carriers with roof bars on the outside part then mount the roof box on them.

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[Itsmcb]

Noticed this on Facebook yesterday, might give you some ideas

 

[Heebson]

Noticed this on Facebook yesterday, might give you some ideas
View attachment 953779View attachment 953780View attachment 953781View attachment 953782Thak

Thanks. Yeah, I actually exchanged messages with this very helpful guy. The fundamental differences are the mounting rails attached to the van : (a) they are much longer than ours, so can have the cross (roof) bars quite far apart - I’d need to have cross bars much closer together, so drilling new mounting points and worrying about stability, but not impossible ; (b) more fundamentally, our vertical mount poles are too close together for existing roof box clamps - again I guess I could drill out some new holes, but again worry about weakening the box and stability.

Think I also envisioned having the box horizontal across the van, with the bottom of the box in its normal orientation on the fold down rail, or facing the back of the van, 90° to normal.

 

[Heebson]

How many pairs of skis? Can you not just put them in a ski bag inside the van to travel, then under the van when on site?

Or strap the ski bag to the folded bike rack, vertically?

This is Plan B & C!

I did once fit a Thule roof box vertically to a bike rack by bolting roof bars on the cycle rack and mounting the roof box on the roof bars. You could replace the bike carriers with roof bars on the outside part then mount the roof box on them.

Can I ask if you had the same Fiamma Pro-C rack as me and a standard width roof box (I.e. not family or slim).

 

[Heebson]

I use one of these

https://bags4everything.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rear-storage-bag-with-pocket-grey-2.jpg.webp

Mikeco was quite excited (as it’s not too pricey) - but I don’t see it being big enough for my 176cm skis!

 

[Mikeco]

Mikeco was quite excited (as it’s not too pricey) - but I don’t see it being big enough for my 176cm skis!

They would not fit as only 1200mm long, however they make bags to order and they would probably make you a longer version if you asked. Your skis would not be secure from theft though so probably not a good idea.