Midnight Rambler Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 By way of introduction as this is my first post we have owned our Rapido 741F for 3 years but only just getting to use it properly - we both gave up our jobs to do this! It already had a roof top box fitted directly to the roof (reinforced) when we bought the motorhome. A great accessory but we don't use it. Now I'm concerned about the effect on fuel consumption and want to remove it. Problem is I can't even get into the box now. I think the airtight sealing has done just that - sealed solid. Any ideas how to crack this one, anyone? Just to reassure me - is the box unlocked with the lock horizontal - or vertical? I've tried both and neither makes any difference though! All help gratefully acknowledged. Thanks, PS checked & searched forums but can't find anything on this already. Neil & Anne Costello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 drive very fast under a low bridge ?? :-> no ? oh well *-) welcome to the mad house and I'm sure someone sensible and intelligent will be along in a minute with a more practical solution to your problem :-> B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Welcome to the madhouse that we call the forum Neil and Anne. There are any number of well informed people on here who may well be able to help - unfortunately I'm not one of them having never had a top box. The reason it won't open may well be due to the rubber watertight seals having stuck themselves to the grp or plastic lid and these can be remarkably difficult to separate once stuck together. If you can wedge a piece of wood or three between the stuck lid lip and the roof to exert some continuous pressure on the joint it may ease over an unknown time period - but do make sure you put reinforcing pads on the van roof to spread the load and avoid roof damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neillking Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 You may find when you get it open that it has been bonded to the roof and will be far from easy to remove without damage to both box and roof. If this is the case a spoiler might be a better bet - one to simply lift the air smoothly up over the front of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Given the phenomenally poor aerodynamics of a home on wheels I suspect that the potential for fuel savings might well be of less value than the potential for extra storage and carrying space? Just a thought before you take it off as very few of us ever have enough space for all the things we absolutely must have and need like a snooker table, inflatable swimming pool, tennis court etc. Just a thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Dwight Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hi Midnight Rambler. We had top box on our first van, we had water ingress that was traced to the top box fittings directly on the roof. I removed the box and cleaned the roof up then fiberglassed the holes. We found a great saving on mpg and wer able to add 10mph extra to the speed of the vehicle. Never even missed the box for storage, most of what was in it we never used plus all that extra weight. As for getting it open brute force!!!!!!!!!! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hi, and welcome Have you considered that removing it may cause damage or repairs that will cost more than the extra fuel that you would use if it was left on ? Just another thought :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_C Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Midnight Rambler - 2008-11-07 5:31 PM Just to reassure me - is the box unlocked with the lock horizontal - or vertical? I've tried both and neither makes any difference though! All help gratefully acknowledged. Thanks, PS checked & searched forums but can't find anything on this already. Neil & Anne Costello. On my old Fiamma top box the key slots are horizontal when unlocked. The locks can be difficult to push in after lack of use, if that's the problem try using a piece of wood as a drift and gently tapping with a hammer. Andy_C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 At best the aerodynamic drag from the box will be in proportion to its frontal area compared with that of the van itself . Say the box is 4ft wide X 1.5 ft high =6 sq ft. the 'van is 7ft wide X 9ft high =63 sq ft so the box adds upwards of 10 per cent to drag. When you say it is fixed directly to the roof I take you mean it is bonded down with some sort of gap filling adhesive. You really need to get the box open to establish if there are any through the roof fixings. If there are it probably means getting past the roof lining to undo them. Complications there. To get the box open spray the locks with WD40 and leave for a few hours and then put firm but not excessive pressure on the key and use just your hand to slap close to the locks. Its amazing what can be achieved with repeated vibrations. If the seals have glued the lid shut the same sort of technique may work. To avoid damaging the box or myself I would probably knock up say a three inch wide sheet steel hook with a hand grip to pull the lid upwards. A low powered explosion inside the box might be an idea but contact a local safe cracker for advice on that. Utimately if the box is bonded down you will probably need a special square section seal cutting wire as used to remove bonded in windscreens . Even then you may well end up witha very messy roof. Once cured many adhesives resist solvents and have to removed mechanically. That is not easy on a relativly fragile roof roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Have you tried applying very hot water to the bits that have sealed themselves ? A sudden expansion might dislodge something ? :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 tried this one and brought the bridge down! Still stuck - only kidding, but it did make us laugh which helps a lot. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks Tracker, We'll add your suggestion to the others that have come in. Great to have such support from so many people - and all with a great sense of humour which helps enormously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks Neil, We've noted your words of caution and good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Hi MalcD Absolutely - we are proceeding with caution using several ideas just to get the box open first. Then we'll decide once we know how it has been fixed on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks Andy_C - you've given us a positive guide to follow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rambler Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks George, We're going to use your ideas for getting the box open. If its bonded to the roof we'll leave it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Glad to have helped MR. Please keep us posted how you get on. Every time I see a top box on a vehicle the words 'air brake' and 'life is a drag' come to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 George Collings - 2008-11-17 8:22 PM Glad to have MADE YOU SMILE MR. :D :D George Collings - 2008-11-17 8:22 PM Please keep us posted how you get on. ..... yup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njw Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I had the problem of not being able to open the top box and then found out even though the key was turning ,the lock had broken on the inside,it was a night mare to prize open without breaking it but did get there in the end and then had to order a replacement.now removed the top box and getting 50 miles extra to the tank now too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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