Which roof box and rails system are you all using?

[mourneuk]

I went into Halfords with a view to getting a roof box as we're going to Wales in a couple of weeks and the 5 is a bit smaller than my past couple of cars.

When the guy put my reg into their database all that was coming up were rails with suction cups for £500. I'm not keen on that, so what are you all using and where did you get them from, and which box would you recommend?

I'm driving a 22 plate LR, so the roof bars are rated for 75kg.

 

[weedavemac]

I went into Halfords with a view to getting a roof box as we're going to Wales in a couple of weeks and the 5 is a bit smaller than my past couple of cars.

When the guy put my reg into their database all that was coming up were rails with suction cups for £500. I'm not keen on that, so what are you all using and where did you get them from, and which box would you recommend?

I'm driving a 22 plate LR, so the roof bars are rated for 75kg.

Is Miles still selling his? If so, that could be a good option for you.

 

[Green Salop Man]

I use G3 CLOP aluminium aero roof bars on mine together with my 30 year old Halfords roof box. The advantage of these bars is that they fit on closed and open roof rails (CLOP) so I have been able to use them on all the estate cars I have owned that have rails. They cost around £70 so probably more now.

 

[Ian MG5]

Hi
Here’s what I bought for my MG5 still not used it yet I bought it for camping trips but we have just bought a static caravan ?
Menabo brio roof bars (£38 eBay)
and Halfords 420l roof box (£240)
Test fitted them they seem very sturdy

 

[Fluffykins]

I've got a set of 1200mm Brio roof bars I picked up for my Passat a couple of years back in Lidl (or possibly Aldi) for just thirty quid. They fit the MG5 rails perfectly. I'm very pleased indeed with them AND there's decent support from Brio.

eBay and Amazon might be worth a trawl.

There was some discussion on this board a while back about roof bars.

I think these are the same. They seem to have gone up a bit since I bought mine. (Turn off adblock for Amazon links to work)

Amazon product ASIN B001B72RE8

 

[biffo]

I’ve had mine since previous car - both bars and box were AutoExpress category winners. Likely superseded now. Still working well though.

Biffo Roof Bars

MG5 LR ROOF BOX

 

[Archev]

I’ve had mine since previous car - both bars and box were AutoExpress category winners. Likely superseded now. Still working well though.

Biffo Roof Bars

MG5 LR ROOF BOX

My box and bars came from Halfords a few months ago ?? for my “new” diesel Austin Maestro ?? (well it was the second last Maestro made I believe — terrific car for nine years or so until a wee woman in Glasgow tried hard to write it off )
Anyway I’ve never needed the box again and certainly not for the MG5 as it’s big enough without and we use a back seat protective hammock for my Daughter’s delightful mad Cocker Spaniel on rare occasions.
The bars only fit cars with old fashioned gutters anyway and I don’t see too many of them around any more ?
I’m sure the box would be OK on the correct bars for the roof rails though.
So the box and bars were hoisted up into the garage roof and forgotten about until I read all these stories- I’ll maybe just sell it ??

 

[EVsince2016]

My roof bars are on their 5th car, well over 20 years old. Just simple cheap ones with a clamp each end! Probably cost me under £10

 

[billdunstew]

I used the roof bars from my previous Skoda Kamiq. Only needed the end clamps to be moved out about 5mm for a perfect fit. My roof box is now about 20 years old but still serviceable, tried it this week with a 50Kg load of logs and no issues at all. We are off to France next month and will use the roof box for clothes etc, leaving the boot free for important items in bottles. The only snag is that a lot of hotel car parks have a 1.9m height limit. The Skoda just crept under, but I think the MG is a bit higher.

 

[biffo]

I used the roof bars from my previous Skoda Kamiq. Only needed the end clamps to be moved out about 5mm for a perfect fit. My roof box is now about 20 years old but still serviceable, tried it this week with a 50Kg load of logs and no issues at all. We are off to France next month and will use the roof box for clothes etc, leaving the boot free for important items in bottles. The only snag is that a lot of hotel car parks have a 1.9m height limit. The Skoda just crept under, but I think the MG is a bit higher.

I’ve had the opposite height issue/advantage coming from a Ford Grand CMax - the MG5 is much lower so can get into some car parks - but yeah, 1.9m will be tight depending on your set up.

 

[Miles Roberts CG]

I went into Halfords with a view to getting a roof box as we're going to Wales in a couple of weeks and the 5 is a bit smaller than my past couple of cars.

When the guy put my reg into their database all that was coming up were rails with suction cups for £500. I'm not keen on that, so what are you all using and where did you get them from, and which box would you recommend?

I'm driving a 22 plate LR, so the roof bars are rated for 75kg.

You just need roof bars to fit raised roof rails. The roof dimensions are similar to the Skoda Fabia Estate, so if you put one of those in the configurator, you can get something to suit the MG5.

I'm selling a set of Yakima Whispbars to fit the MG5, here, if you need some still. (Will sell bars separately from the box, and post if needed)

 

[billdunstew]

A bit more info, my roof box is marked Karrite, and was bought from an auto spares shop in Oxford about 35 years ago. It is universal fit - I have used it on 8 other cars before the MG. Unfortunately the overall height is 2.05m, so it might not get into a lot of hotel car parks and also supermarket parking places. Please remember that the permitted weight on the MG roof is 75Kg - this includes the weight of the box and rails, in my case 10Kg so that the sable capacity is only 65K.

 

[biffo]

The part number for the official MG bars (Mont Blanc brand?) is the same for the MG5 and ZS EV. So, if looking for alternatives you can filter on ZS if MG5 not listed.

 

[mourneuk]

You just need roof bars to fit raised roof rails. The roof dimensions are similar to the Skoda Fabia Estate, so if you put one of those in the configurator, you can get something to suit the MG5.

I'm selling a set of Yakima Whispbars to fit the MG5, here, if you need some still. (Will sell bars separately from the box, and post if needed)

I bought a box and thule rails from "the roof box company" using their mg5 configurator, thanks.

Hopefully putting it all together and on the car won't be beyond my (very) meagre skills.