By Where has the year gone? In what feels like yesterday, we celebrated the entry of 2023. Made New Year’s resolutions that lasted till the end of January for most. And the rest soldiered on till maybe around the Easters. And now here we are at the tail end of 2023, looking forward to spending much deserved festive season with loved ones. Thule, the Swedish manufacturer of premium vehicle accessories, has you covered with a wide variety of rooftop cargo carrying solutions to make the carrying of gear easy and safe for the thousands of South Africans who will hit the road to their favourite holiday destinations this festive season.
The rooftop cargo carrier can expand your carrying capacity, even if your car is equipped with a towbar as it frees it up for other duties, such as the fitment of a Thule bicycle rack or towing your motorcycle trailer or caravan. Carrying bicycles behind is an effective way to do so as it will have the least effect on the cars aerodynamic performance and fuel consumption.
Take the pain out of packing
Thule’s rooftop cargo carriers are able to transform your holiday packing to safely and securely transport everything needed at your holiday destination. Models range in size from 360 to 610 litres and longer models are especially ideal for items such as golf clubs, beach umbrellas or a pram, items that don’t fit into many boots.
To put in perspective how big a 610-litre space is, compare that to the boot size of some of South Africa’s most popular vehicles. The boot capacity of a Toyota Fortuner, with the third row of seats in the upright position measures 296 litres, while a Volkswagen Polo has space for 351 litres of luggage. The Hyundai Tucson offers one of the biggest boots currently available in the family SUV class, measuring 620 litres. In real terms it means even with Thule’s smallest rooftop cargo offering one can easily double the luggage carrying capacity of the average South African car.
Cost saving benefits
With the optimum aerodynamics in mind, the effect on your overall fuel consumption will be negligible if any, which is a big advantage given the current high fuel prices.
Economic pressures have also forced many motorists to downsize their vehicles to smaller, more fuel-efficient models that are well suited to the daily commute, but don’t always have the space that holiday adventures require. The rooftop cargo carrier allows owners to transform these compact models into more practical holidaying solutions, with the increased luggage space now making city runabouts suitable for holiday adventures.
Peace of mind
Thule’s engineers worked in conjunction with all major car manufacturers to ensure that the boxes as well as the bars on which they are mounted on fit seamlessly onto the vehicle, with no permanent modification needed, which means that their fitment will not affect your vehicle’s warranty.
Full access to the boot, easy and securely mounted onto the vehicles roof rails. The cargo carriers are easy to open and close thanks to well-located handles and supporting lifters. Their SlideLock system, with separate locking and opening functions, automatically locks the lid in place and indicates when the box is closed securely. Thule rooftop cargo carriers have a five-year warranty.
A range to suit every need, vehicle and pocket
Thule offer a wide range of rooftop cargo carriers in various styles and sizes, starting from R8 999. The Pacific M is available in 310 and 410 litre options. The Force XT M has the DualSide opening providing easy access to all areas of the box, from both sides of the vehicle and is available from 300 to 420 litres.
The Motion XT perfectly integrates with sleek sedans or sporty SUVs. It is available in five different sizes in either a glossy silver or glossy black finish and can guzzle between 300 and 610 litres.
The Vector incorporates seamless integration of the lid and base. Inside it boasts a felt lined interior for increased gear protection, while a white coloured interior lid and LED light makes for easier loading and unloading in the dark. It is available in 360, 380 and 430 litres.
The Canyon XT roof basket has an added advantage of not being limited in terms of height. It is ideal for bigger items like cooler boxes, tents, jerry cans or even an additional spare wheel and items can easily be secured by tie down straps or a cargo net. Its robust styling perfectly complements SUVs and off-road vehicles.
The Caprock platform roof top carrier allows off-road vehicle owners to transform the roof of their vehicle and create a foundation for everyday work or leisure adventures. The roof platform is easy to load and unload. The Caprock can be fitted with accessories such as bicycle carriers, roof boxes and kayak holders concurrently.
The complete package
Accessories such as the Thule GoPack, allow for the packing of all your regular luggage in an efficient manner. This complete set of duffel style bags is the perfect solution for organising the roof box load. They allow for easy access to gear through an oversized, wide mouth opening while side handles make loading and unloading easy. The bags weigh under a kilogram each but can swallow 60 litres. Colour coding or ID panels allow for easy identification.
Available nationwide
Thule’s wide range of rooftop cargo carriers, bicycle racks, accessories and luggage are available from Thule Concept stores located throughout South Africa.