Make Your Truck More Road Trip Friendly with Roof Baskets
The comfort of your home is irreplaceable but it isn’t necessarily the place where you can explore the world and find yourself, which is why many people tend to go to nature. Getting to remote places where no one is around and where you and your friends can have fun and relax almost always requires some form of transportation. The most common form of transportation into the wild are 4×4 vehicles. Taking a road trip with one of these vehicles is something that is as enjoyable as the time you’ll spend in nature.
One of the benefits of going on a road trip is that you can see the real world. While the driving itself can take time, it’s an experience that can teach you to live in the moment and maintain your perspective on things. But no matter whether the trip is a long one or not, one thing is for sure – you have to equip your 4×4 with accessories. One of these accessories are roof baskets. But why?
Contents
Advantages of Roof Baskets
Secure
One of the reasons why almost every single 4×4 owner who decides to go on a road trip has a roof basket on top of their vehicle is because of how secure they are. With a proper 4×4 roof basket your items stay in place and can’t move for anything even if you’re swerving. A car roof tray is made so that you can tie down your gear and equipment securely in place so that even a thunderstorm won’t affect their position.
Reliable
Once you set a car roof basket you don’t need to worry about it getting damaged or loose. Roof baskets are reliable 4×4 accessories that will last you a long time. Whatever you need to carry is going to be there when you arrive at your destination as long as you place it properly.
Mounting Platform for Other Accessories
If you want to put additional accessories on your 4×4 but don’t have the place for it you can do so on a car roof tray. There is plenty of space to put on lights or recovery gear. They won’t get in the way of your luggage and will stay on securely for the whole ride.
Weight
Putting weight at the back of your 4×4, either in the boot or back row of seats can affect your handling. Putting a lot of weight in the centre of your vehicle, however, makes it easier to maneuver especially when it comes to sharp bends.
Safe
A roof basket is a safe way to store all your items despite being out in the open. You can have it covered with a waterproof material to prevent the elements from damaging items. When it comes to the basket itself, you won’t have to worry about the adverse effects of the elements as baskets usually come with an anti-corrosive coating.
How to Install Roof Basket
Before you start installing a roof basket you need to make sure that you have nitrile gloves on you with the vehicle shut off and parked on flat ground.
1. You need to start off by placing the basket with its lower main frame up. Then, you usually need to connect the upper to the lower mainframe. Typically you need washers, lock nuts, M8 screws, half saddle washers, and metal spacer tubes for this.
2. With all the lock nuts tightened you then need to place the metal that comes on the front of the car roof basket. Do this by inserting the washers, lock nuts, and M6 screws that usually come with this plate. When you tighten all the nuts you can have the basket placed either on the roof racks of your vehicle or bare roof.
3. If it’s on a bare roof you’ll need to drill holes but if you’re placing the basket on roof racks you will usually have a U bolt that you’ll need to place through a wire mesh. This is done from the upper side of the tray. Secure the bolt to the underside of the roof rack and then fasten it to the securing plates using the securing nuts.
How to Pack a Roof Rack Basket
Heavy Items
When packing a roof basket you want to start with the heaviest items first. The heaviest item needs to be at the centre or at the front of the basket and then all other items need to be put on top. This makes for a better centre of mass and a safer vehicle too.
Load
The load you’ll have to bring with you needs to be under the maximum carrying capacity of your vehicle. If it exceeds that limit it can slow you down and cause your vehicle to use more fuel.
Accessibility
You want to have all your items accessible or at least most of them. Don’t put them on top of each other like you’re going to carry them in a bag. Have as much space as you can between them and tie them to the basket.
