Thule 688006 Ocean 80 Glossy Roof Box, Black, Size 80

Product Information

The Ocean 200 is large. Huge in fact. However, despite its gargantuan size, the box is surprisingly lightweight. In fact it is only 14kg and its external size is 175 x 82 x 45 cm. Lifting it onto the roof bars can be easily done by one person, although the box can be easily scratched so we'd recommend using two people. Then there are those that are impressed with the weatherproofing. One reports driving for over 1000 miles in the rain with no leaks or damage to the contents. If you still want to max out on your capacity with a shorter roof box they are then likely to be taller to compensate. Bear in mind this can also affect aerodynamics and negatively affect the gas mileage.

Some roof boxes can slow your car down by over 30% which can hit your wallet in fuel costs. This is due to the added weight and drag of the roof box. How Aerodynamic

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The Ocean 100 offers single side opening (passenger side), so you need to be mindful of parking and access. You will notice there are just a few centimetres difference in the dimensions, but you do notice the extra 40 litres of luggage capacity that this provides over the Ocean 80. Most car roof boxes are designed to fit most cars – the key factor is to ensure there is enough space on your car roof. The Thule roof box only weighs 13.5kg when empty, so it isn’t too hard to attach it to the roof. It is sold as the budget, smaller model, with simple U-bolt fittings, but there are no complaints about this approach. It lifts up to reveal the contents and remains secure on the road.

The boxes are aerodynamically designed so they don’t cause a huge amount of noise or drag, most users report an insignificant increase in fuel consumption. They also have a blunt rear to ensure easy opening of your boot. Thule Ocean 80 Roof box There are four boxes in the Ocean range, starting with the Ocean 80 offering 320 litres of extra luggage space, followed by the Ocean 100 with 360 litres. The Ocean 600 is a narrower, half width roof box but still has a capacity of 330 litres and finally the Ocean 200 is the largest in the range and offers 450 litres of added luggage space. Is it better, on the sportage, to have a shorter but wider roof box, or, a longer and thinner roof box? Obviously need to ensure the box does not overhang the windscreen, nor impede the opening of the boot.Roof boxes can be expensive, and they are on the whole certainly pricier than their soft counterparts, roof bags.

If that sounds like too much then you can opt for smaller load carriers. The Thule Ocean range starts with the Ocean 80 - with 320 litres of luggage space - and moves up to the Ocean 100 with 360 litres of space. There’s also the Ocean 600 which surprisingly has less space than the Ocean 100 at 330 litres, but is a narrower, half width roof box. The hard, solid exterior will protect any potential thieves from taking a knife to your box, something that is an advantage over the soft exterior of a roof bag. Compatibility With Your CarI have a Thule Pacific 200 on Thule Wing Bars and it's more than big enough for us. It doesn't overhang the windscreen and it also doesn't interfere with the boot or the sharkfin antenna. It looks like there should also enough space to fit a cycle carrier (one only) next to it if you move the roofbox over to the side of the car.