Are roof-boxes very noisy?

mij

Having never driven with a roof-box, I am hoping somebody can tell me if they add a lot of noise on the motorway?

I once drove on the motorway with a roof rack fitted and the added wind noise drove me up the wall, I am hoping these don't do the same.

Thanks.

Bl4ckGryph0n

It depends, there are many models. We used to have a Thule Atlantis 900 on a very quiet car and didn’t notice anything particularly.

nvingo

With a roof-rack, it's the vibration of the cross-bars, like a guitar string, that causes the noise.
Roof box is a carefully-considered wedge shape, i wouldn't expect excess noise from one, though it will still adversely impact fuel economy.

IronGiant

What are you fitting the box to? you'll need some sort of rack or roof bars to fit the box to.  Make sure they are aerodynamic and the box should be fine.

mjn

I used Thule Aerobars and you can hear them but only at 80mph and above.

nvingo

I take it you mean driving into a 20 mph headwind at 60

mjn

No, i mean anything above 80mph. The noise is the same whether it is 80 or 150 mph.

IronGiant

"Autobahn"  

Bl4ckGryph0n

I've never driven them with no roof box on, but yes I never noticed a material difference with speed.

mij

Thanks everyone, sounds as if they are not a problem, I don't drive over 80mph anymore

It was the 1970's when I had the roof rack fitted to my car, so things have probably improved a bit since then

I am thinking of fitting one onto my wife's Nissan Note to save buying a bigger car that will only be needed a few times a year, she keeps forgetting that I am saving up for a Caterham 7 for us