roof bin options

[brewskie]

Hi all,

I have a question about roof bins. I have a large Yakima ski box (21 square feet capacity) which I bought last Feb. We bought it not for skis specifically but lots of gear and at the time thinking that 99% chance our next car was Subaru.....not so. I am toying with the idea of selling it and getting an aluminum delica bin and ladder.

Just wondering if anyone has used both and prefer using one over the other? Either one would be mainly used during the summer for camping and road trips. Heading to the west coast for a family wedding next summer in fact.

Do the Delica bins come in different sizes as well.

Cheers

[BCDelica]

I quite like the cargo boxes, allowing everything to stay dry and keep the bug splat to the pod only (I’ve had a bin on a Toyota van in the past - didn't relish wet camp chairs after a days surfing long beach ever again). With a raised bed inside the van and the pod on top we were able to carry equipment for more the two week road trips. Using a low roof Delica as our road tripping vehicle, I did want to purchase and mount a bin forwarded of the moon roof for dirty storage, coolers but not extra fuel storage. Fluid weight stored on top of a vehicle doesn’t seem like a good idea; we had no problem storing our food save vehicle fuel inside under the bed.

Our (old) home away from home............


Roof bins come in many sizes and capacities; all the way up to the ultimate one below that’s for sale in the parts department here (could set my backpack tent on-top of that beauty). An expedition style roof bin and rear ladder is a very styling combo on any Delica (looks good);combine that with some bigger lugged tires and snorkel - and you can stop traffic with your rig. At the price of BC ferry overheight charges and worsened mileage (We kept our bin in the vehicle well paying toll on BC ferries).



Cheers,
Kevin

[BCDelica]

So after 20 plus years of driving to most corners of this continent (plus 5000 to 7000 km each month exploring for the last couple of summers in a Delica), I prefer pods.

Roof bins do look better.

My 2 baht's worth.....

[delicat]

I had a pod on my truck when I first bought it. Now it sits in my garage but might make good use of it one day. It was really low profile, here's a picture to give you an idea... If you need close up pictures just let me know.

Bain de bouette.jpg (52.52 KiB) Viewed 3390 times

These are great 'cause you can lock them and pretty drag free. Also keeps everything clean and dry.
Cheers!

[BCDelica]

Ok, your pod is the exception David; meaning your topper looks good.

Not many do.

You look stuck....

[delicat]

Thanks Kevin.

Guess if you don't get stuck you're not trying hard enough! (ya, I was stuck )

[konadog]

These are two different things so it boils down to what you expect to carry in it. If you want to carry valuables and keep them locked and dry, then a pod like delicat's (veeeery sharp looking David!) is the way to go (I know a guy who used the pod atop his Subaru to sleep in!). For us, we us the open basket to carry our power tools - weed-wacker, blowers, chainsaw, fuel cans and the like and when using it for recreation it's mostly to carry ugly wet caving gear so the open basket is preferable either way. We think of that basket like the box of a pickup, rather than as an extension of the inside of the bus like a pod is. Good luck with your decision!

[brewskie]

Thanks for the replys guys. Seeing as though I will not be transporting chainsaws or leaf blowers, rather portable baby cribs and other various child gear, I think I will stay with the bin for now.

What hight of yakima or thule towers do I need?

Cheers

[JMK]

You need raingutter towers with the extension kit. If you get the regular towers (I got mine from eBay), you can build your own 4" extensions, which is what I did. I also bought my own pipe for the crossbars and saved $$.

Using 8 towers and 4 crossbars, I have managed to get a Yakima POD at the front on one side, and space for 2 Copperhead bike racks beside it, or you can turn them upside down and use them as a platform to tie items onto. At the back there is enough space left for a smaller aluminum roof basket which I have rear clearance and flood lights mounted on. I also have a hitch basket. So far instead of a ladder, I use webbing from MEC to fashion a three tier ladder which I hang off the ends of the back two crossbars to access the roof basket. Will post pic's later when it gets light.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Adding to the discussion, have you seen the Silver Bullet's basket? Josh has this full length basket on the roof of the Silver Bullet that also holds the sleeping quarters of the van. Built by Doc Savage, the basket itself is pretty low in profile (the tent part is not so low). You can find pictures of it here: http://www.delica.ca/forum/put-a-name-t ... tml#p22983
Look for the picture with the action hero rocking out on the roof.

Falco.