Slight panic........ In December I took delivery of a new L405 5.0 SC AB, with the plan being that it will be used to transport our dogs across Europe, with a roof box carrying the luggage on the roof.

Today I looked on the Halfords website at roof boxes, you can enter your reg number which I did, only to get the message, "none compatible with you car"

I previously had a standard wheelbase 2016/66 L405, when I would wash it I would see along the roof what I believe to be points for fitting cross bars for a roof box, just looked in the garage at my LWB, only to find nothing, just a couple of trim strips!

Do these trim strips come off and are the fixing points beneath, or is it not possible to fit a roof box to the LWB model?

If not, what are my luggage carrying alternatives?

Many thanks in advance

The genuine LR roof rails come in both standard length (VPLGR0078/VPLGR0079) and long wheelbase (VPLGR0110/VPLGR0112) versions.

You can then attach the roof rack cross bars (VPLGR0081/VPLGR0102) to these roof rails. (I’ve just put a set of these cross bars in the “for sale” section if you wish to save some money).

There are also finisher roof rails in standard and LWB in either black or silver for both cars with panoramic roof or without (VPLGR0094, VPLGR0095, VPLGR0098, VPLGR0097, VPLGR0111 & VPLGR0013) though I’m not sure what these finisher roof rails are for - they could be what the cars come with originally and are the parts that get taken off when the roof rails are attached.

Hope that helps. Current:
- 2017 L405 3.0 V6 Autobiography
Sold:
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

Jeeeeeezzzz...... This is going to cost me a fortune!!

Including fitting and a box, it's going to be circa £2.5k!! - That's without the Finisher Rails which I suspect are just for decoration. Actually, maybe it'll look odd without them, so I may have to add those also.

Thank you for all the info Zebedee, that really is helpful. I would normally save the ££'s and buy your bars, but as the car is new, I'll also get 3 years warranty on all parts bought in the first year, so as I'm going to get shafted anyway, I might as well get Land Rover to supply and fit the lot and take advantage of the 3 year extended parts warranty.

Many thanks once again though for all your detailed help.

a luggage carrier fitted to your towbar [if you have one] is an alternative to a roof box, ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

PowerfulUK seem to do the roof rails for £245, though I doubt they are genuine LR. Current:
- 2017 L405 3.0 V6 Autobiography
Sold:
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

Thanks Stan and Zebedee - Unfortunately I don't have a tow bar.

I have heard good things about PowerfulUK, but if I try to fit them myself, they'll probably fall off!

I'm not particularly handy, so probably best I get JLR to do it

A towbar including fitting is as little as £4-600, if that helps. I had a detachable one done for about that, it sits in a nice little bag next to the spare wheel for most of the time.

I have never seen an L405 with a roof box, sounds like it would be quite hairy in high winds, and getting under most height restrictions like in car parks would be a no no

Thanks for the info MonkeyMan - That's a good point about car parks, will try and plan to avoid.

I would consider towing, but will still need to buy a trailer, plus I'm going to be driving across Europe, so it maybe a bit much covering that distance with a trailer.

Will check JLR have the parts tomorrow - Anything to get away from the news and media at the moment!!

As someone else has suggested, I would look at a towbar mounted carrier. I have a trailer and a towbar mounted bike rack: both very useful for different applications. I would also worry about how to get into a roof box that is that high off the ground. Have you got deployable side steps? If so they make things a little easier, but you might n yourself packing a stepladder unless you are so tall that you feel rain long before the rest of us.

https://roof-bars.co.uk/products/thule-bac...pAQAvD_BwE

Something like this might be of interest.

I have just used one of those boxes for the snow boarding trip.
No or little effect on the fuel economy. No worries about high. I can recommend. SDV8 AB MY 2020
MINI Cooper S Cabrio
Kit: Jaguar XK140 (in progress - the website is link to build)

a good read here,

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic41146...ar+carrier ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thank you all for your comments, MonkeyMan, Luxmoggy and Stan.

MonkeyMan, very good point - I've just been to the garage and checked, I do have side steps so should be OK for height.

Love the rear cargo box idea, my only concern is access to the boot. Looks like this may restrict access. Does anyone know if it stops you opening the lower tailgate?

Still worth exploring though, using just side doors for access:

I'm guessing I need a tow bar?

Can the electric LR ones be retrofitted to the L405 LWB?

Would rather it wasn't visible all the time.

Thanks again to all.

Hi aja,

Sidesteps help getting to the roof box, at least min e help when Im cleaning the roof of the car and thats the same height.

Can you get an electronic towbar retrofitted: yes, but its £3k (versus £1k to spec it where having the car built), so most people dont. A removable tower is just and invisible as an electronically deployable one, and has the advantage that it doesn't have any electronics to go wrong. the consensus on the electronic tower is that its great if you use it regularly, but can get jammed or fail if used rarely.

For reference, fitting my removable one takes about 2 minutes, most of which is the time it takes me to get it out of the wheel well where its stored.

Can you get a towbar carrier that allows you to open the lower tailgate? Yes, Thule do some that flip down. I'm not an expert on those, but Im sure a browse of their website will bring up some options.

a sidenote: I would expect a roof box on something as high asana n L405 to make a negative impact on fuel consumption, which is another thing to factor in (although nobody buys an FFRR because thy are frugal)

I have the Thule bike rack and box. The bike rack has a tilt feature so the boot can fully open when I have bikes or the box on the back.

If I got a flat and need to take out the spare wheel. I might be having to unload as I don't think I could lift the wheel out over it or to the side. SDV8 AB MY 2020
MINI Cooper S Cabrio
Kit: Jaguar XK140 (in progress - the website is link to build)