As the April long weekends approach, many South Africans will be getting ready to hit the open road with their families for a well-deserved break.
A holiday packing list for a family can contain a long list of essential items and often includes bulky sports or leisure equipment which can make packing the car a tricky affair.
Ensuring that your passengers and cargo are securely transported in or on your vehicle is key to travelling safely. Incorrectly secured cargo or overloaded vehicles or trailers can lead to catastrophic accidents or danger to other road users. Similarly, loose items in the cabin of a vehicle can have lethal consequences should you be involved in an accident.
Thule, the Swedish manufacturer of premium vehicle and travel accessories, offer a wide range of solutions for carrying luggage, cargo or leisure equipment safely and securely. This includes specially designed products for the transporting leisure items such as bicycles, e-bikes, aquatic equipment and fishing gear to name a few.
Double, or triple, your load carrying capacity with a rooftop cargo carrier
Thule offer a range of rooftop cargo carriers that can significantly expand the cargo carrying capacity of a vehicle and which are a great solution for the easy and safe transportation of gear on top of all types of vehicles.
The use of rooftop cargo carriers is advantageous over other methods of expanding luggage carrying capacity, such as towing a trailer for a wide variety of reasons. For example, rooftop cargo carriers require no permanent modification to your vehicle such as installing a towbar and require no licensing, maintenance or lots of storage space.
Thule offers a line up of cargo carriers that range in size from 360 to 610 litres and can be fitted to most vehicles sold in South Africa in combination with the correct roof bars and foot packs.
While 360 litres might not sound like much, the volume takes on greater meaning when compared to the boot capacity of some of SA’s top selling vehicles.
For example, SA’s top selling passenger car, the Suzuki Swift, features a boot capacity of 265 litres while one of SA’s top selling crossovers or SUVs, the Toyota Corolla Cross offers 440 litres of boot space. The boot of the evergreen Toyota Fortuner measures 296 litres with the rear seats in the upright position.
This means that even Thule’s smallest rooftop cargo carrier will double the luggage carrying capacity of the Suzuki Swift or Toyota Fortuner. The larger 610 litre option offers 150% more packing space when fitted to a Corolla Cross. This is a game changer for families hitting the road this Easter holiday as it allows all the luggage and gear for a family to be safely and securely transported along.
Thule’s rooftop cargo carriers are also ideal for bulkier items such as beach umbrellas, strollers and golf clubs which might not be heavy, but which take up a lot of space.
Thule’s range of rooftop cargo carriers has been designed to have as little effect on your vehicle as possible. Their fitment will have a barely noticeable effect on vehicle acceleration while optimised aerodynamics mean a minimal contribution to overall fuel consumption.
Thule’s rooftop cargo carriers mount securely onto the vehicles roof rails and are easy to open and close by design thanks to well-located handles and supporting lifters.
Many South Africans have been forced to get behind the wheel of smaller more cost-effective vehicles in order to beat the effect of a strained economy. The use of a rooftop cargo carrier allows owners to transform these compact models into more practical holidaying solutions.
One of latest additions to Thule’s rooftop cargo carrier range is the Motion 3 which offers the perfect blend of space, efficiency and style, an element that is accentuated by the Black or Titan glossy finish.
The Thule Motion 3 boasts clean lines and contemporary aesthetics that will complement the appearance of sleek modern vehicles, while expanding their luggage carrying capacity. Enhanced functionality includes an intuitive locking mechanism and dual side opening that can be operated with one hand, providing ease of access without sacrificing security or style. The Thule Motion 3 is available in a wide variety of sizes, including new low-profile options.
Rooftop solutions for off-road vehicles
Thule also offer a variety of other rooftop cargo carrying solutions such as the Canyon XT roof basket that is ideal for larger bulkier items like firewood or cooler boxes.
The Thule Caprock platform roof top cargo carrier allows owners of off-road vehicles to transform the roof of their vehicles thanks to a modular design and endless possibilities that support a variety of gear and mounting types.
Carry bikes on the back
The use of a rooftop cargo carrier also frees up the towbar of your vehicle for other uses such as the fitment of a Thule Outset towbar mounted tent or the carrying of bicycles.
Thule are well known for their well-engineered products that have been designed to safely and securely transport bicycles without any chance of damage to the bicycles or the vehicle.
These bike racks can carry one to four bikes, are easy to mount, and limit heavy and high lifting, which is especially important to e-bike owners. Thule’s towbar mounted bike racks are designed to make loading and unloading quick and easy, fold up when not in use, and easily accommodate a variety of frame styles.
The product range includes models like Thule Epos and EasyFold XT which can accommodate, road, mountain or e-bikes and allows for seamless loading while still allowing access to the vehicles boot, via a smart tilt function.
Available nationwide
Thule’s wide range of rooftop cargo carriers, bicycle racks, accessories and luggage are available from Thule Concept stores located throughout South Africa.
For more information please visit www.thulestore.co.za
