Hyundai Tucson TL: Menabo Leopard Silver roof bars and Diamond 500 roof box

On this third-generation (TL) pre-facelift Hyundai Tucson we fitted Menabo Leopard Silver roof bars and a Menabo Diamond 500 Black roof box. We did the fitting in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Hyundai Tucson 3 (TL), 2015-2021

The third generation of the Hyundai Tucson, with the code TL, debuted at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 2015 and was built from 2015 to 2021, for model years 2016-2021. With it, Hyundai dropped the ix35 name and the model was called Tucson again everywhere. Compared with the previous generation, the TL grew by 65 mm in length and 30 mm in width, and it was assembled at several plants, including Nosovice in the Czech Republic. The Tucson in this fitting is from the first phase, before the facelift for model year 2019, which was presented in New York in 2018.

For a long box, the roof matters twice: the integrated roof rails of the Tucson TL call for roof bars with feet that clamp onto the rail, and the total load must stay within the limits of the car. The Hyundai manual for the 2016 Tucson (US edition) gives 100 kg for the roof rack, with the load distributed evenly, well secured and without sudden manoeuvres or high speed.

What we fitted on this Tucson TL

The Menabo Leopard Silver roof bars for the Hyundai Tucson (TL) 2015+ are made of aluminium, with an aerodynamic wing profile 80 mm wide and 30 mm high, 1,200 mm long, and the system weighs 4.8 kg. They have a full-length 20 mm T-track, 4 locks with keys and a maximum load of 75 kg.

On top of them we put the Menabo Diamond 500 Black roof box: 500 litres, gloss black ABS plastic, over 2 metres long and opening on one side, the right. It fixes on with the 20 mm T Quick Fix system, has an integrated lock, weighs 19.6 kg and is TÜV and City Crash tested. The product page lists it as directly compatible with Menabo Leopard bars, with no adapter.

Video: Menabo Diamond roof box, presentation

Video: Menabo Diamond roof box, details and opening

Video: Menabo Leopard roof bars, overview and fitting

Technical details and what to watch for

• Calculation: the Leopard Silver bars carry 75 kg; after deducting the 19.6 kg of the Diamond box, 55.4 kg remain for luggage, even though the box on its own is rated for 75 kg.
• This means at most 79.8 kg end up on the roof of the Tucson TL (4.8 kg of bars, 19.6 kg of box and 55.4 kg of luggage), below the 100 kg in the Hyundai manual.
• The fitting instructions and data sheets for the Diamond box are in PDF on the product page. For the Leopard bars, the instruction manual is included in the package.
• Distribute the weight in the box as evenly as possible and check the fixing often, as Hyundai requires.

Instructions and documents

• MENABO DIAMOND 450 500 Fitting instructions Compressed (PDF)
• Specifications – Menabo Diamond (PDF)
• Specifications 2 – Menabo Diamond (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which roof box fits the Hyundai Tucson TL?

On the Hyundai Tucson TL (2015-2021) we fitted the Menabo Diamond 500 Black roof box, 500 litres, on Menabo Leopard Silver roof bars. The box attaches with the 20 mm T Quick Fix system directly into the T-track of the bars and is compatible with Leopard without an adapter.

How many kilograms of luggage can I put in the Menabo Diamond 500 box on Leopard bars?

The Menabo Diamond 500 box weighs 19.6 kg and the Menabo Leopard Silver bars carry 75 kg, so 55.4 kg remain for luggage. Even though the Diamond box is rated for 75 kg, the limit of the bars is the one that counts on the Hyundai Tucson TL.

How much weight can the roof of a Hyundai Tucson TL take?

The Hyundai manual for the 2016 Tucson (US edition) gives 100 kg for the roof rack, with the load distributed evenly and well secured. On the Hyundai Tucson TL, the combination of Menabo Leopard Silver bars and a full Diamond 500 box comes to at most 79.8 kg.

Is a 500-litre roof box worth it on a compact SUV?

A 500-litre box such as the Menabo Diamond 500 Black frees up the boot of a Hyundai Tucson TL on holidays, can be used all year round and can be moved to another compatible car. We have gathered the arguments in the guide 6 reasons why a roof box is worth it.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Do you want the same combination on your own Tucson, or a box in a different size? We are waiting for you in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania roof boxes and roof bars Contact us through our contact page or at [email protected]. contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

You can also message us on WhatsApp.

Sources: Wikipedia, Hyundai Tucson (generations, codes, production years) · Hyundai 2016 Tucson Owner's Manual, Roof rack, page 263 (US edition, on manualslib) · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: 6 reasons why a roof box is worth buying · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro