The accommodation is booked.
The children are ready.
The suitcases are packed.
You’ve brought everything downstairs, opened the boot and suddenly realised there’s a fairly major problem.
It’s not all going to fit.
If that sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone.
October half-term can involve a surprising amount of luggage. Coats, boots, waterproofs and warmer clothing take up far more room than summer holiday clothes, and the family car that seemed perfectly spacious a week ago can suddenly look remarkably small.
At West Midlands Roof Box Hire, we provide roof box hire from our Tamworth location for customers travelling from Birmingham, Staffordshire, the West Midlands and beyond.
If you’ve left arranging extra luggage space until the last minute, don’t panic. Depending on availability and your vehicle, we may still be able to help.
Why Does Half-Term Packing Always Look Bigger Than Expected?
It’s very easy to underestimate how much space a family holiday requires.
You might mentally calculate four suitcases and assume everything will be fine.
Then packing actually begins.
Alongside the suitcases you’ve suddenly got:
- Coats
- Walking boots
- Children’s bags
- Waterproof clothing
- Swimming equipment
- Food
- Pushchairs or family equipment
- Pillows and bedding
- Games and toys
- Chargers and electronics
- Several bags nobody remembers packing
By the time everything reaches the driveway, the luggage pile bears little resemblance to the original plan.
That’s when a roof box can make an enormous difference.
Hundreds of Litres of Extra Luggage Space
Our most popular large roof boxes provide approximately 470 litres of additional storage capacity.
For many families, that can completely solve the problem.
Instead of trying to force every suitcase and bag into the boot, you effectively create a second luggage area above the vehicle.
Move suitable items into the roof box and suddenly the boot becomes manageable again.
More importantly, you don’t have to start filling the passenger area with luggage.
Keep the Inside of Your Car Comfortable
It’s tempting to solve an overloaded boot by putting bags inside the car.
One bag goes in a rear footwell.
Another gets placed between passengers.
Coats get piled on the back seat.
It might technically fit, but you’ve potentially got several hours of driving ahead.
If you’re heading from Birmingham or the West Midlands to Wales, the Lake District, Cornwall or further afield, passenger comfort matters.
Children generally aren’t famous for enjoying long car journeys at the best of times.
Giving everybody enough space can make the start of the holiday considerably more pleasant.
What Size Roof Box Do You Need?
For most family holidays, our large 470L roof boxes provide an excellent amount of additional storage.
These make up a significant part of our fleet because they’re suitable for many different types of family trip.
At our Tamworth location, we also have XXL 580L roof boxes available.
These provide even more capacity and can be useful for larger families, longer holidays or particularly luggage-heavy trips.
However, bigger isn’t automatically better.
The roof box needs to be suitable for the vehicle, and all relevant roof-load limits must be observed.
If you’re unsure which option you need, we can advise.
Can You Hire a Roof Box at Short Notice?
Potentially, yes.
Availability is the key issue.
During quieter periods, arranging a roof box at relatively short notice may be straightforward.
School holidays are different.
Demand increases significantly around popular travel periods, including October half-term.
There’s also another consideration: roof bars.
The roof box is only part of the equipment needed.
We need to have compatible roof bars and fitting components available for your particular vehicle.
That’s why we always recommend booking in advance where possible.
But if you’ve left it late, it’s still worth contacting us.
We may have suitable equipment available.
Have Your Vehicle Registration Ready
If you’re making a last-minute enquiry, providing the right information immediately can help us check availability more quickly.
The most useful information is:
- Your vehicle registration
- Your travel dates
- How long you need the roof box
- An idea of the amount of luggage you’re taking
Your registration helps us identify the vehicle and determine the appropriate roof-bar setup.
If necessary, we may ask for additional details about the vehicle.
Why Can’t Any Roof Bars Be Used?
Roof bars aren’t universal.
Different vehicles use different attachment systems.
Some cars have raised roof rails.
Others have flush rails.
Some have fixed mounting points.
Others have plain roofs requiring a vehicle-specific fitting system.
Even vehicles that look relatively similar can require different components.
That’s why buying a random set of used roof bars and hoping they’ll fit isn’t a particularly good strategy.
At West Midlands Roof Box Hire, we maintain a large selection of roof bars and fitting equipment for a wide range of vehicles.
Professional Fitting Included
When you’re arranging something at the last minute, the last thing you need is another complicated job.
Our hire service includes professional fitting.
Once we’ve confirmed that we have suitable equipment for your vehicle, we’ll fit the roof bars and roof box for you.
There’s no need to spend the evening before departure reading instructions or watching fitting videos.
And when you return from your holiday, we’ll remove the equipment again.
You can concentrate on everything else you need to organise.
What Should Go in the Roof Box?
If you’re solving a last-minute luggage problem, don’t simply move random bags from the boot into the roof box.
Think about what makes most sense.
Roof boxes can be particularly useful for relatively light but bulky items, such as:
- Clothing
- Coats
- Soft travel bags
- Bedding
- Sleeping bags
- Waterproofs
- Children’s lightweight belongings
Heavier items may be more appropriate securely positioned lower down in the vehicle.
Always observe the applicable load limits for the vehicle, roof bars and roof box.
The capacity of a roof box describes its volume, not the amount of weight you can put inside it.
Don’t Forget to Secure the Contents
Even when you’re packing in a hurry, take the time to load the roof box correctly.
Luggage should be appropriately secured and distributed.
Don’t overload the box.
Don’t force the lid closed.
And don’t leave belongings free to move excessively while you’re driving.
Five extra minutes spent packing properly before you leave is worth it.
Where Are Families Heading This October Half-Term?
October half-term provides plenty of opportunities for a family break.
Some of the most popular destinations from the West Midlands include North Wales, the Peak District, the Lake District and UK holiday parks.
Forest lodge holidays and Center Parcs-style breaks are also extremely popular at this time of year.
These trips can involve particularly large amounts of luggage because families often take swimming equipment, outdoor clothing, food and other supplies.
Heading to Wales?
North Wales is particularly convenient from much of the West Midlands.
Whether you’re travelling towards Eryri, Anglesey or the coast, it’s possible to enjoy a proper family getaway without spending the entire day driving.
Autumn can be a beautiful time to visit.
Just make sure you’ve packed for the weather.
Waterproofs and walking boots take up considerably more space than flip-flops and shorts, which is another reason roof boxes become so useful at this time of year.
Driving Further Afield?
Perhaps you’re heading to Devon, Cornwall or the Lake District.
Longer journeys make comfortable packing even more important.
A car filled with luggage might be tolerable for an hour.
After four or five hours, it’s a different story.
Using the roof box for suitable belongings helps leave the passenger compartment clear.
Going Abroad?
Some families use October half-term for a European road trip.
Driving to France, Belgium, the Netherlands or further into Europe gives you far more freedom over your luggage than flying.
But that doesn’t mean your car has unlimited capacity.
A roof box can provide valuable additional storage for longer journeys.
If you’re driving abroad, remember to check current official requirements for every country you’ll be travelling through.
Airport Run with Too Many Suitcases?
You don’t necessarily have to be driving to your holiday destination to need a roof box.
Perhaps you’re taking the whole family to the airport.
Four or five people can easily generate enough suitcases to overwhelm the boot of an ordinary car.
Rather than booking a larger taxi or taking two vehicles, a roof box may provide the additional capacity needed.
This can be particularly useful if you’ve got a large family travelling together.
Remember That Your Vehicle Is Taller
Once a roof box is fitted, don’t forget about it.
Your vehicle will be significantly taller than usual.
Be especially careful around:
- Multi-storey car parks
- Underground parking
- Hotel car parks
- Height barriers
- Garages
- Ferry decks
- Drive-through facilities
When you’ve driven the same vehicle every day for years, judging its height becomes automatic.
A roof box changes that.
Keep the additional height in mind throughout your journey.
Roof Box Hire Near Birmingham
West Midlands Roof Box Hire is based at Amington Industrial Estate in Tamworth.
Our location makes us convenient for customers from Tamworth, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and many surrounding areas.
We’re also well positioned for customers beginning longer journeys using the Midlands motorway network.
Our sister roof box hire business operates from the Codsall/Wolverhampton area, providing another option for customers on the western side of the West Midlands.
Why Hire Instead of Panic-Buying?
If you’ve suddenly realised you need more luggage space, it can be tempting to immediately buy a roof box.
But think about what happens after the holiday.
You’ll need compatible roof bars.
You’ll need to fit everything.
And when you return, you’ll need somewhere to store a very large roof box.
If you’re only going to use it occasionally, hiring can be considerably easier.
You get the equipment when you need it and return it when you’re finished.
Can We Guarantee Last-Minute Availability?
No.
Particularly around school holidays, we would always recommend booking as early as possible.
Our availability depends not only on having a roof box but also on having the appropriate roof bars and fitting equipment for your vehicle.
However, if you’ve left it late, don’t assume you’ve missed your chance.
Contact us with your vehicle registration and travel dates and we’ll check what we have available.
Get Your Half-Term Holiday Started
The hours before a family holiday can be chaotic enough.
Discovering that your luggage doesn’t fit isn’t ideal, but it doesn’t necessarily mean somebody has to leave their suitcase behind.
A large roof box can provide hundreds of litres of additional storage while helping keep the passenger area comfortable.
And with professional fitting included, it’s one less thing for you to worry about.
Check Last-Minute Roof Box Availability
If you’re travelling this October half-term and suddenly need more luggage space, contact West Midlands Roof Box Hire as soon as possible.
Our Tamworth location is:
West Midlands Roof Box Hire Ltd
Unit 154, Amington Industrial Estate
Sandy Way
Tamworth
B77 4ED
For availability and vehicle compatibility: View current hire prices or check availability online.
Telephone: 07903 839112
Email: westmidlandsroofboxhire@gmail.com
Please have your vehicle registration and travel dates ready when you contact us.
If suitable equipment is still available, we’ll do our best to get you fitted and ready for your half-term getaway.
And next time?
Maybe don’t wait until the suitcases are sitting next to the car!