Adding a Roof Basket to Your Car's Accessory List? Be Aware of These Effects

A roof rack and platform are very handy to have if you want to take luggage or sports equipment that doesn't fit inside the car with you, but securing the items can be a bit difficult. This is especially true for smaller items, but a roof basket can eliminate that problem. The sides of the basket hold in those smaller items and don't let them roll off the car when you go around a turn. Using a roof basket is slightly different from using a plain rack and platform, however; you need to be aware of the effects of the raised sides and increased size of the basket.

The Car, Rack System, and Basket All Need to Be Compatible

First, the car model, rack system, and basket all need to be compatible. Certain sizes of baskets need certain sizes of rack systems, and the rack system has to be the right size for your car's roof. In other words, you can't just buy your neighbour's old roof basket and expect it to fit perfectly. You can find used baskets that are in good shape, but research the models those baskets fit to ensure you're spending your money well.

Even an Empty Basket Raises Your Car's Profile

Roof baskets have sides that are raised up by a few centimetres. This doesn't sound like much until you're faced with a safety bar at the entrance to a multi-storey car park that has a clearance of—well, hopefully higher than the basket and anything in it. You have to be aware that even if the basket is empty, if you've left it on your car, it will change the height of your car. That means you must be extra careful about driving under bars, branches, and anything else that could sweep the basket off the roof of the car.

Pay Attention to the Weight of the Basket and Rack

This also affects how your car handles high winds. While roof baskets have mostly open sides that allow wind to flow through, the weight of the basket changes where your car's centre of gravity is. That affects handling, particularly on turns. This is easy to forget when the basket is empty because you might not be aware of the difference in weight until you try to turn or stop.

A roof basket is an excellent addition to your car's accessories and gives you peace of mind when transporting smaller items that need to be placed on the roof of your car. Once you get used to the slight differences between the basket and the typical platform, it's all systems go for your trip. 

For more info, contact a company that sells roof baskets.