surf:Daniel, what distinguishes your roof boxes from other boxes on the market?
Daniel Stefaniak: Anyone who wants to drive a fully equipped campervan has to put the surf stuff on the roof and needs a very large box. Of course there are solid GRP boxes, but these heat up like a blast furnace in summer. If you put wet boards in there, you often get blisters in the paintwork and the sails age in the heat. That's why we came up with the idea of covering the top of a demountable aluminium frame with lorry tarpaulin. Underneath is a high-performance net, which prevents heat build-up and ensures that everything dries immediately. There is a lockable door at the back.
You consistently use doors instead of hinged lids. Why?
This has two decisive advantages: Firstly, I don't have a loading sill and can simply push everything onto the bottom of the box. Secondly, I don't have to open a huge lid on the beach in seven-strong winds, that would be no fun. The door and lock can be operated with one hand, which I also find important, for example when you have to hold on to a ladder or the camper van.
What does the inside of your boxes look like?
A load securing system in the form of a solid net is located under the waterproof lorry tarpaulin. A tensioning mechanism allows the load to be gently pulled together so that it does not slip. The floor consists of an air-permeable and very tightly stretched net so that the wind can always dry the material.
Where do you produce and in what sizes do you offer your boxes?
I produce everything myself here in Germany. There are two widths: 140 centimetres is a good fit for cars such as the VW Transporter or Mercedes-Benz Vito, while the 168 cm width is flush with the top of vehicles such as a Fiat Ducato or Peugeot Boxer. There are also two lengths: 269 and 289 centimetres. The mounting points for the roof bars are variable, allowing the boxes to be moved on the roof so as not to block the opening of a roof window, for example. Last but not least, all dimensions are available as a lighter but firmly welded version ("Feather") or can be completely dismantled into parts of 60 centimetres in length ("Origami"), making it easy to store the box in winter.
Isn't the open design a disadvantage when it comes to theft?
You could of course cut the tarpaulin and the safety net. However, you wouldn't be able to get a board or fork out because of the metal struts. Small parts could theoretically be pulled out, but even a normal box is not a high-security wing. The decisive factor here is the time required and the concept ensures that it would take a very long time.
How much do Aviocean boxes cost and where can I get them?
The boxes cost between 2500 and 3000 euros, depending on the size and model. I sell them myself, information and orders via https://www.aviocean.de/de/
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
