Thule Excellence roof box no. 6111

Thule could never be faulted for their marketing enthusiasm, and there’s a risk of hubris in calling any of one’s own products “Excellence”, but this new 520 litre box is genuinely very good indeed.

It’s technically very similar to the Spirit range, although the lid has been beefed up with reinforcing ribs to provide more weight and to prevent flexing, thereby giving a smoother opening and closing action, with stronger “Dual force” struts to carry the extra weight. It’s made of full grade ABS plastic and, thanks to its integral steel reinforcing sections, is TÜV approved for loads to 75kg. It’s also set down into the roof line a touch so that it should become more at one with the vehicle it’s sitting on – at its highest point it’s only 36cm higher than the roof bars - and 520 litres is a decent capacity. But to our minds it’s not size or quality that sets this box apart, but its individuality, its uniqueness - the two tone colour, the reinforcing X on the lid, the speed lines, the neat juxtaposition of straights and curves.

Key features and specifications:

• Dual Side opening so you can choose to use it on either side of the vehicle, and to make for easier fitting and removal.
• There’s a Thule 'One Key System' compatible central locking system on each side of the box.
• Thule's "diffuser technology" in the base of the box. The reinforcing ribs are all longitudinal, suggesting that this box will be particularly quiet in use. The reality is that all boxes generate additional wind noise, depending mainly on the speed at which you drive; quality boxes are designed so that you probably won't notice the noise unless you decide to drive with the sun roof open.
• "Power-Grip" box to bar fittings. You just turn each wheel to draw the fitting claws around the roof bars, making this box easy to fit to both standard steel and aluminium roof bars, e.g. Atera and Thule – maximum dimensions 80mm wide by 35mm deep. Power-Grips also make it easier to fit boxes to unusual shaped manufacturers’ “own brand” bars, but these bars must be symmetrical in shape for the Power Grips to work properly.
• The downside of Power Grips is that they take up a lot of space in the box. If you're using aerobars we recommend that you remove these fittings (remove one screw and they lift out very easily) and instead use Thule’s T-track aerobar adapters which provide an invisible box to bar fitting as well as allowing you to make full use of the box capacity. If you’re using Atera or Thule bars you need the 697-4 adapters. If you have car manufacturer’s branded bars with a slot in the top of them, check the pop-up links below to work out which adapters to buy.
• Carrying skis? The Excellence will hold 6 to 8 pairs of carving skis, maximum length 200cm. There’s a ski carrier accessory, part no. 694-9, shown below.
• Box weight 27kg. Before loading the box, check your vehicle's maximum permitted loading limit, taking into account the weight of the roof bars, the weight of the box, and the weight of the contents.
• Dimensions: External 218cm x 94cm x 40cm, with 36cm from roof bars to top of box. Internal 205cm x 85cm x it depends on what you pack, and where, and whether you use Power Grips or aerobar adapters.
• Roof bar geometry: The maximum distance between roof bar centres is 93.5cm, the minimum distance 52.5cm.
• Guarantee: 5 years, but click the sign for a note about Thule central locking systems:
• Fitting tips: A box is generally easier to load and unload if it's fitted towards the edge of a vehicle; you'll probably always be stretching if you fit it centrally. We also recommend that two people lift this large and heavy box into place, minimising the potential for both back damage and damage to the box if it’s accidentally dropped. If you want to keep your Excellence in pristine condition, don’t place or store it on tarmac, gravel or concrete. Thule provide a washable cover for this box.
• Packing tips: Our general advice on packing roof boxes is that bags / grips are much easier than suitcases. And if you can’t get your child’s buggy in the box, which is probably what you’d hoped for, and why you purchased a particular box, put the buggy in the boot and the luggage in the box. “I’ve bought the biggest box and my buggy doesn’t fit” is a frequent complaint!”

Summary: Yes, an excellent box. Individuality of this sort, with specialised moulds and paint finishes, doesn’t come cheap, but this is what you’re paying for.

This season we are offering a free roof box hoist to give you a superb deal. Boxes are bulky items so the ideal place to store them is above your car in the garage, or perhaps in a shed. Many people will leave the box attached to the bars, and also use the box for storage.

If you don't need a box hoist, our alternative gift is a set of 3 Fasty straps - 0.5m, 1.5m and 3.0m. Although of much less financial value they will be useful for 1,001 things, time and again. To order the 3 straps, 'untick' the Free box hoist tick box by clicking in the box, and then tick the Alternative free gift one instead. Please note that only one box hoist or one set of straps will be included per roof box ordered.

External dimensions: 218 (l) x 94 (w) x 40(h) cm

Internal dimensions: 205 (l) x 85 (w) cm

Volume: 520 litres

Weight: 27kg

Max load capacity: 75kg

Max number of skis: 6-8, max 200cm

Ski carrier: available separately (see below)

Opens from: both sides

Type of struts: dual force spring

Fits bars up to: 80 x 35mm, aerobar adapters available (see below)

Distance between roof bar fittings: 54 – 93cm

Guarantee: 5 years

Colour: black & silver

Very few customers know much about the roof box market before they visit our site. We have a lot of information about the things to think about before buying, and the “real world usefulness" of various roof box features, but you’ll be buying sight unseen, and you probably won’t have used a roof box before, so there is inevitably some luck in getting a box that you’ll be happy with.

We want to remove the risks of buying these large and often expensive items, perhaps from brands which almost every other roof box retailer doesn’t stock, and so we have a unique “90 day Exchange Scheme” for roof boxes.

This allows you to use a roof box and, with the benefit of experience, to exchange it for a new one within 90 days of invoice date. Most exchanges are from a shorter box to a longer one, or from a wider box to a narrower one.

These are the rules of the Exchange Scheme:

• You are allowed one exchange only.
• The original box must be in "as new" condition, subject only to fair wear and tear.
• The replacement box must be a different model.
• The replacement box must not be part of a package deal or be from our Bargains section.
• Roof bars are never part of the Exchange Scheme.

This is how the exchange scheme works:

• We charge in full for the replacement box, including the appropriate carriage charge and a charge for any packaging needed for the return of the original.
• We arrange the collection and pay the return carriage costs.
• When the original box arrives back here we refund you for the invoice value of the original box, but you won't get back more than the invoice value of the replacement box. In other words, if the replacement is cheaper than the original we won't be giving you "extra cash back".