Recommendations for roof bars+box for 2019 XC60?

[mattgemmell]

Hello everyone,

We have a baby on the way, and recently (end of last year) bought our first ever Volvo - a 2019 XC60 R-Design T5. We have a fairly big dog who enjoys his boot space, and we’ll also need to carry a buggy etc, so we’re thinking of getting a roof box.

Can anyone recommend (ideally from personal experience of this same model) a suitable set of roof bars, and the biggest box I can fit? This XC60 has the flush roof rails, so I worry about vertically clearing the shark-fin, and in terms of box length (front to back), I worry about clearing the tailgate when it’s open. I’d love something like the Thule Motion XT or Force XT (in the XL size), but I’m unsure if that would be OK with the tailgate open. Thanks for any recommendations, and I’d love to see a photo of your own roof boxes on a 2017+ XC60 too.

Here’s the car (and Whisky the dog) in question!

[nu11eaf]

I appreciate what you are looking for but you can also program the tailgate opening to stop at the height where you want it to open too, to prevent it hitting anything.

[simonjedrake]

A very useful site is https://www.roofbox.co.uk/roof-boxes/ which always has excellent advise with a product range to match ....... as well as pretty competitive pricing.
The site allows you to select by model range as well.

[Jms153]

Don’t use roof boxes personally but received this earlier from another forum

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/buy/fin...ssories/offers

Save a bit on the purchase of the roof bars

[scw]

I bought the plain (non-aero) Thule roof bars for my XC60, after finding the bars from my 1st gen XC60 did not fit (still have the originals if someone wants to make an offer). They're a bit of a fiddle to assemble but fit well once installed.

My ~300 litres "Halfords" (basically a rebranded Thule) roof box is fairly old now but is probably closest in size to the current Thule Motion XT model, and it fits fine on the roof with plenty of clearance for the tailgate. I doubt you'd have any trouble fitting the "XL" version.

As others have said, you can adjust the tailgate's stop position anyway.

Steve

[WhatNext?]

IMG_20190719_182623-02.jpeg

I have a medium Thule Motion XT, fits absolutely fine. Plenty of space for the shark fin antenna

I have the Summit SUP-957 and Volvo roof bars and (Bought that as it was a good deal on Amazon). Again fits well.

This is my first set ever. I only used it once

I see we are in the same city. Would you be interested for second hand purchase?

[Steve XC60]

+1 for roofbox company. I have used them for over 15 years and have found their customer service to be excellent and their prices competitive. I have no link to them other than being a happy customer.

We have the Atera Signo ASS aluminium roof bars. (Whilst not specifically relevant to the original question, but as noted by another post, our bars for our Mk1 XC60 do not fit the SPA XC60.) We also have a Kamei Delphine 340 roofbox. These are both listed on the roofbox website (although, as our roofbox is about 10 years old, I suspect the 340 listed is an upgraded version).

We have typically carried four bikes (all carried on Thule Proride 591 bike carriers – although the 598 is now the latest Thule version of the 591) or the roofbox plus two bikes (as the Atera bars have usable space past the feet, there is just enough room to fit the box plus two 591s) or just the box or just two bikes.

All our travels have been trouble free (so far!) although I am really careful to set up the bars and racks/box as carefully and as tight as I can before each journey (I am like that). We have travelled several thousand miles with stuff on the roof, including across Europe. Whilst I am not a fan of having stuff on the roof (and am always relieved once I take the rack etc off the roof at the end of a journey/trip), with an active family it is a case of needs must.

Two reasons we went for the Atera bars is that (as noted above) they have usable space past the feet (unlike the flush bars where the bar finishes flush with the feet) and they have a maximum load of 100kg. In relation to the maximum load, the XC60 roof has a maximum load of 100kg but quite a few of the bars are rated at a 75kg maximum load. Whilst I don’t think I have ever got close to the 100kg (I am too cautious for that), knowing the bars are higher rated gives me a little more confidence. Also, when putting a box (c.16kg), two bikes (c.24kg) and two 591s on the roof (c.8kg), you soon get to 50kg and so a 75kg maximum does not feel like much spare capacity once you have put a few things in the box. Worth noting that the roofbox website is a little misleading on the Thule bar maximum loads. It suggests they might be 100kg, but having looked into it in a bit more detail, I think the footpack for the SPA XC60 (the 7106) has a maximum load of 75kg and so that then determines the maximum load.

Worth mentioning fuel economy briefly. With bikes on the roof, I expect fuel economy to drop by 25%+. With just the box it is typically about half this. This is notwithstanding that I will typically drop my speed by about 10% to take into account the fact that I have stuff on the roof. If I tried to maintain the speed I would drive without anything on the roof, I expect the fuel economy would drop even more. Just something to take into account.

Good luck!