How to choose and install a roof rack on the Lada Vesta

To bet or not, pros and cons

The need for additional trunk space is difficult to argue with. The internal volume of the car body is divided into several compartments - the engine, the interior, and for things. The first two are among the main ones (for sedans, hatchbacks and liftbacks).

Everything that remains inside is allocated for the trunk. Often this is very little. For example, you have to transport skis, sofas, pipes, bicycles and other large equipment. How to place them in a car?

Various devices that are not included in the standard equipment of the vast majority of car brands come to the rescue. They are installed on the roof of the car - the least used part of the body. But, when installing a trunk, of any design, it is necessary to take into account that the behavior of the car on the road changes.

The most common consequences of installing a trunk:

• increase in air resistance;
• noise at high speeds (from 80 km/h);
• change in car behavior when cornering;
• increase in braking distance;
• “sagging” of the car on the front axle during sudden braking.

For many drivers who support smooth driving at acceptable speeds, these features are not very noticeable, except for a slightly increased fuel consumption. And for fans of high-speed aggressive driving, changes in the behavior of the car must be taken into account.

To decide whether a trunk is needed or not, it is necessary to analyze in what mode the car will be used.

If you need a car for trips to the country, tourist routes to the seas and mountains, transporting goods for sale, or shopping for the household, a trunk is simply necessary. And to operate the car as a personal vehicle for work trips, or for sporting purposes, a trunk is not required.

Curtain shelf

This element in the Vesta SV and SV Cross configurations is used for decorative purposes. He closes the cargo in the luggage compartment. Objects and things cannot be placed on such a decorative shelf, as it is not designed for heavy weight.

The curtain shelf should be installed in the following order:

1. Insert the front part of the shelf between the support and the back of the rear seat.
2. Fold the back of the shelf forward.
3. Install the lug on the left shelf cover into the groove of the side panel upholstery.
4. Click on the right side cover.
5. Insert the boss into the right groove of the side panel trim.

Pulling out and returning the curtain shelf is done as follows:

1. Smoothly pull out the blade, avoiding jamming of the axes in the guide grooves. The canvas should be fixed in place.
2. Smoothly return the curtain to its original position. When returning, it is recommended to hold it with your hand.

Do not apply too much force when turning, leaning on or putting weight on the back of the blade.

The factory is not responsible for rough handling of the curtain, which may lead to its damage. Do not place objects on it, always secure it properly. Otherwise, injury may occur in a traffic accident. The trunk of the Lada Vesta must be used only for its intended purpose, in compliance with all rules.

How to do it yourself

You can make the luggage compartment more comfortable and convenient with your own hands. Usually, in the basic configuration of a car, there is no rear curtain in the luggage compartment. It’s easy to do it yourself, although many car enthusiasts don’t want to do it. They prefer to buy a finished product in a store.

Man is a curious creature by nature, and when passing near someone else's car, he will definitely look through the glass into the trunk. It’s good if tinting protects the car from prying eyes. But if it is not there, then you can find an alternative option. Moreover, not all drivers like tinted windows.

How much does Lada Vesta cost?

Let's figure out how to make a trunk curtain with your own hands. To do this, you can use your imagination, but today on the World Wide Web you can find various tips from experienced drivers. They have already made similar elements and are ready to share tips.

1. Measurements . Measure the dimensions of the luggage compartment and make a sketch based on which the parts will be made.
2. Selection of material and fasteners . The material you can choose from is tarpaulin, leather or fabric. The main thing is that the material matches the color and does not disturb the interior of the cabin. The fasteners need to be given a lot of attention. Cut out several places from the laminate that will help fix the curtain shelf in the rear grooves in a tense position. Secure the curtain at the front with rubber bands.
3. Fastening . Reinforce the profile cut from laminate with a metal corner, preferably aluminum. It has sufficient strength and light weight. To secure the curtain from free movement, use clamping elements. These are metal or plastic rings, elastic bands, plastic fasteners. They should not interfere with the movement of the rear seats. Also make two guide profiles and secure them along the edges of the curtain shelf. This is necessary so that there is no sagging.
4. Check in folded position . When the curtain is not needed, it can be rolled up and secured with a strap, which also needs to be made from scrap materials and attached in advance.

An easy way to restore wipers.

With little expense and skill in working with tools, you can quickly build protection for the luggage compartment from prying eyes.

Types of roof racks

After making sure that you need a trunk on your car, you need to choose the type of design. Manufacturers of automobile accessories offer several options that differ in the method of fastening, ease of use, load capacity and aesthetic appearance.

When choosing a trunk, also take into account the specific design - some types are designed to transport only a certain category of cargo - folding ladders, boats, bicycles, skis, etc.

For the Lada Vesta car, the designers have provided three types of roof rack systems:

• boat design;
• cross bars on the roof rails;
• special mounts for snowboards, bicycles and skis.

These are relatively few options for installation, but given the fact that roof rails are included in the list, Vesta can transport almost all types of cargo.

For general information, here is a list of all luggage rack options used by car designers. This:

• trunk with fastening to the drain along the body;
• with fixation on the doorway;
• with installation in special places closed with plugs;
• integrated (internal) roof rails;
• T-shaped profile (typical for SUVs and minibuses);
• on magnets;
• belts across the cabin.

The manufacturer of the Lada Vesta quite rationally chose the most popular and safe types of luggage racks, which are suitable for 90% of owners of cars of this brand.

How not to make a mistake when choosing a luggage rack

It is necessary to choose a trunk taking into account the make and model of the car. Regarding the Lada Vesta, which has several modifications, you need to know that the Vesta SW and SW Cross models are equipped with original roof rails.

On sedans, even in the Vesta Cross and Sport versions, roof rails are not provided. That is, the most convenient and reliable method of installing transverse bars is excluded for other models.

If you have a model with standard roof rails, then you can attach car boxes with a volume of 350 - 700 liters, a cargo basket, and holders for skis and bicycles to the crossbars.

The total weight of the cargo must not exceed 75 kg. The limit is set by the manufacturers, which is related to the stability of the body and safety of operation.

When transporting large cargo, it is necessary to take into account the effect of the height of the package on the location of the center of mass of the vehicle. If the box or box rises more than 1 meter above the roof, you need to be very careful when turning.

But owners of other modifications of Vesta should not despair - there are excellent roof racks for fixing them on a smooth roof, typical of sedans. These are luggage racks with fixation in the doorway. Specially designed roof systems of the following brands are suitable for sedans:

• LUX Air Aero;
• Atlant;
• LUX Standard;
• LUX Travel 82.

For owners of cars with a station wagon body equipped with an integrated roof rail, transverse bars on racks are suitable. This is an almost universal type of fastening, allowing you to transport a wide range of goods, the weight of which should not exceed the established norm of 75 kg.

Among the best models of luggage racks for a station wagon

• Thule Wingbar 753;
• Menabo Lince;
• Inter Aerostar R-54;
• Erkul Wingcarrier V2;
• Atlant brand designs

The arches of these models are made in an aerodynamic profile, which reduces air resistance when moving at all permissible speeds. The effect is felt both when loaded and without luggage.

Vesta raised floor in the trunk

The luggage compartment of the Lada Vesta in the SV Cross configuration has a raised floor (removable floor). It consists of two panels that are interchangeable with each other. If you fold down the rear seats and create a flat floor, you can use raised floor panels on the rear and front sides.

Under the raised floor there are two interchangeable organizers, as shown in the picture. The volume of the luggage compartment can be increased to transport large cargo. To do this, the organizer frames are installed on top of the raised floor.

Raised floor panels cannot be used without the support of the organizer, otherwise they may be damaged.

If the panel is installed at an angle, it is prohibited to drive the vehicle. This may damage the panel. When installing or removing the removable trunk floor, be careful not to injure yourself.

Today, in many online stores and car dealerships you can buy raised floors for Vesta and other cars. You can also make it yourself.

Self-production

After buying a car, you want everything in it to be convenient and comfortable. But this car only has a double floor in the luggage compartment in the Luxury version. Making a raised floor with your own hands is not difficult. Stock up on patience, materials and tools. After this, the trunk of your Lada Vesta will be fully equipped.

It can also be ordered as an additional option at the dealership. But it will cost 12-15 thousand rubles. Therefore, it is more rational to do everything yourself.

You will need plywood 10 mm thick, a board 6 m long, 8 cm wide and 20 mm thick. Almost the entire length of the board is used for the entire frame. You also need to buy carpet from a fabric store - a material for interior trim of the body. To do this, you need a piece 1.5 m wide and 2 m long. In addition, you will need staples for a stapler measuring 8 mm. The money spent on materials costs approximately 1,500 rubles.

The most important thing is to do everything according to size:

1. First, make 2 frame frames 900x440 mm from a prepared board 80 mm wide. Fasten the parts with self-tapping screws.
2. Cut out the false floor itself from plywood according to the drawing, also 2 pieces.

After this, all that remains is to try everything on in place, then carefully cover it with carpet. You can use different glue, for example, “Moment” or No. 88. You should end up with something similar to what is shown in the photo below. The first photo shows frames covered with carpet. You can make the number of partitions at your discretion, depending on what you will put in these compartments.

Here you see two parts of the raised floor itself, also covered with black carpet. You can also make holes in them at your discretion: round, oval, rectangular. They serve for ease of grip by hand. It is better to cover the holes with suitable furniture fittings so that their edges are closed.

It looks no worse than in the store, so it’s better and cheaper to do it yourself.

How to attach and remove the trunk

The mounting method depends on the type of car roof. When purchasing an outdoor luggage system, be sure to check how it is installed.

If there are no roof rails, then some models will not fit. Most luggage rack models are not interchangeable. Please read the instructions carefully before purchasing.

Typical installation instructions look like this:

• Check the complete set of the arc. These are racks, couplers, bolts, adapters for the body configuration. Check the details with the picture.
• Install the racks in the doorways (if there are no roof rails) and securely fix them with bolts.
• Install the crossbars.
• Tighten all bolts to the required torque;
• Install caps and other decorative elements.

When mounted on rails, the action scheme differs slightly. The main thing is that when tightening the bolts securing the struts, there is no play left. But it’s also not recommended to overdo it - it’s very easy to break the thread.