I'm thinking about getting a roof box for an upcoming road trip.

Do you have to have the roof rail system in place before you can fit cross bars to attache a roof box?

Cheers! garioch43

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE - Santorini Black/Black Leather
2002 MGF 1.8i - British Racing Green/Cream Leather with loads of walnut and chrome bits

Think Thrule do ones where the cross rails have feet attached so you don't need to mount cross rails onto the vertical rails that LR sell. Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual MY11 - 61REG Stratstone Mayfair
Sumatra black, cloth, DAB Radio, Park Distance Control Front, Privacy Glass, 17" Full Size Spare Wheel.
Aftermarket: Mudflaps

Make sure its not in place before entering a multi storey car park, saw one get clouted a few months back, guy had forgotten it was on, he bend the height barrier and continued on and hit the concrete roof beam before realising what the bump was s, must have thought he was in an Evoque auto so the vibration was normal

Brother of a friend drove into his garage with some very expensive track bikes still attached to the roof rack. General hilarity (almost) all round.

The Thule ones sit on rubber foot pads on the roof and clip into the door cavity. I have had both and prefer the rails with Thule Aero crossbars by a big margin. The rubber foot pad version is a lot noisier but the rail version sits up higher. The rails also allow more scope for placing the crossbars where needed especially if they are needed towards the back of the car.

Thanks for the advice mikehzz.

I've been able to get an original new LR rail kit at almost half price on eBay. Will then add cross bars and a box, once the credit card cools down a bit. garioch43

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE - Santorini Black/Black Leather
2002 MGF 1.8i - British Racing Green/Cream Leather with loads of walnut and chrome bits