The RocketBox Pro 14 (back) is a bit less stylish than the Skybox (front) or the Motion XT (middle). Increase your vehicles. We like the tool-free installation, but it can be a bit harder to judge if they have been tightened sufficiently. Assessing these models meant lots of measurements and road trips. We hope our assessments and recommendations help you land the right purchase decision for your needs. It weighs 20 pounds but has a remarkable weight capacity of 110 pounds. The felt lined interior gives your gear extra protection, and the white lid and LED light helps you see your packing in the dark. The roof boxes that are size L and larger can fit from 3 to 7 skis and from 3 to 5 snowboards. Finally, the carrier is coated with either a white or black glossy finish that looks great and is long-lasting. This roof box is one of the most expensive options that we have tested and is likely outside the budget for many people. The more dialed-in your car set-up is, the more you can focus on enjoying the open road and the adventures awaiting you at a new destination. Comparing our boxes: Thule Force vs Thule Motion XT vs Thule Vector, How to make sure the cargo box fits your car or SUV. They also use PowerClick mounting hardware, so that you always know youve mounted the box to your roof racks correctly. If the price tag of most of them is still outside your budget, then the SportRack Horizon Alpine is the cargo carrier for you. You may be wondering if it is even worth getting a cargo box in the first place due to their impact on vehicle handling and mileage. It accommodates camping equipment medium-sized suitcases, but it may not be the most suitable for carrying long gear such as skis, snowboards, or fishing rods. Manufactured by Thule, the roof cargo carrier provides 13 cubic feet of lockable storage capacity and features dual-side opening for easier loading and unloading from either side of the vehicle. We found the components on the Thule Motion XT to be very well-made and of high quality. One downside to the smooth interior is the need for a separate tool to tighten or loosen the clamps. The clamps on the Yakima Skybox fit around a variety of different crossbars with ease. The low weight of just 25 pounds helps make installing it atop a vehicle easier, too. Still, they are all easy to latch and unlatch and won't permit the key to be removed while the box is unlocked, preventing you from forgetting to close it or locking your keys in the box. The PowerClick mounting system on the Force is one of the easiest to use that we have seen to date. It's going to kill your milage though. At the top of the line, the Yakima GrandTour is a premium model that comes with a heftier price tag though still a price point we consider quite fair. JavaScript is disabled. Its easy to mount on your roof racks and clicks when its properly mounted so that you know youve secured it correctly. Your email address will not be published. That said, Yakima includes a handy torque wrench for this, and we like this wrench it makes installation convenient and produces a clicking sound to indicate that tightening is just right. All trademarks property of their respective owners It opens from the passengers side, enabling you to access all your gear very easily without worrying about oncoming traffic. One of the main indicators of quality for a cargo box is the overall rigidity of the frame, particularly with the lid. The clamps also have a wider range than most, allowing this box to secure to more sizes and shapes of crossbars. Can I store my spare wheel inside the roof box? This depends entirely on the electric car itself. Rear cargo carriers are a great solution for electric or hybrid vehicles that cant handle anything on the roof. Left: Yakima SkyBox, right: Thule Force. Its a popular option for city-dwellers with small cars to add a roof box to maximize their packing space. That said, Thule roof boxes are designed to be some of the most aerodynamic boxes on the market, especially the more low-profile Alpine sizes. The Vector feels very sturdy and secure and has the look to complement almost any vehicle. Are These Going To Kill My Gas Mileage or Ruin Handling? The RocketBox Pro 14 doesn't have an indicator to show if it is unlocked or locked but won't let you remove the keys if the box is unlocked. The lock indicates when the box has been shut correctly with a red indication button. Although we tend to prioritize function over form for most categories, we do recognize that cargo boxes can be an eyesore and are something you'll have to see daily while on your vehicle. However, a few concessions were made to keep the price lower as is typically the case. Thule Bike Carrier - Fork Mounted. The Thule Vector is one of the best boxes we have seen but it might blow your budget. A felt liner provides a cushion between your equipment and the box, preventing them from bouncing around as you drive. Overall, we really enjoyed testing and using the Yakima GrandTour and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-designed solution for their rooftop storage needs. The INNO BRA240BK is a popular cargo carrier among hatchback and compact car owners. Here are some things to pay attention to: Hatch clearance means that your trunk can be opened completely without interfering with the roof box. Scratches and scuffs are more subtle on the matte finishes, a problem that glossy models struggled with after many miles. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this data, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on these pages. We began testing by unpacking and assembling each model while paying close attention to how easy each one is to install and load with gear. It looks like you're coming from United States. How can we improve GearLab? For me, I would have to avoid black because of travel in S, CA and AZ desert. We've tested and purchased close to 20 different cargo boxes in the past 9 years. The automatic anti-theft lock is accessible by a customized key that keeps the lid firmly shut and secures your luggage. The Skybox has a slightly more prominent handle than the Force but is not as easy to switch between vehicles. The boxes were loaded with a wide variety of equipment, from sleeping bags to climbing ropes to skis. If you dont have roof racks yet, we have some great options! While we originally had an entire metric devoted to this, we found after testing each of these boxes that there wasn't a significant impact on how a variety of different test cars handled, regardless if we were traveling on the freeway at high speeds, over windy mountain passes, or over potholes and bumps on rough roads. Whether youre hitting the slopes, going on a family vacation, or just need more space, a cargo box is a super versatile solution. The installation clamps can be a bit finicky, especially with larger crossbars. However, both of these boxes aren't necessarily the most stylish options out there. While most Subarus have a decent amount of carrying capacity on their own, if youre into the outdoors then chances are youre going to find yourself with more gear than room. Place the two crossbars 2.15 feet apart, mount the Skyline Cargo Box and insert the U-bolts. Want to go there? Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Drag is hugely dependent on speed as well, so you can probably negate any loss in fuel economy by driving just a bit slower and you don't really want to be speeding all that much with a fully loaded cargo box on top of your car anyway. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Your email address will not be published. Cargo box fit guide: Find the best rooftop cargo carrier. Half of your gear should go in the space between the roof racks. Finding the best rooftop cargo carrier is all about first deciding what you want to do with it. To prevent the knobs from over-torquing, the threads wont move an inch even if you keep twisting after the click sound. Overall, we found this metric to be the biggest factor when selecting a cargo box, so it is weighted the most heavily regarding each product's overall score. No. We guarantee that all the above cargo boxes reviewed are of the highest quality and offer value for money. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The RocketBox is very easy to use and feels well-made and secure. Manufactured by Thule. Exemptions apply. The cores come in packs of 2, 4, 6, or 10 and should be lubricated using graphite or any other dry lubricant. You can edit the name of your vehicle by clicking the pencil icon on the right. Thule cargo box sizes: what can you fit inside your roof cargo box? How Rooftop Carriers Affect Fuel Economy for Cars and SUVs, https://aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/1.5092076, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. GearLab is reader-supported. This cargo carrier has a solid handle and is dual-opening, making it very easy to load or unload with gear. We awarded the most points to carriers that have simple and easy-to-operate security systems that seem durable enough to resist break-ins and solid enough that we would entrust them with our beloved gear. An aerodynamic diffuser design saves fuel consumption and provides a quieter ride. The single-piece clamp of the Yakima GrandTour can fit a variety of different crossbars. Lauren has lived out of her van for several years and taken these boxes all over the country, filling them with gear for many kinds of trips. The Skyline XL offers you excellent value for money for an 18 cubic feet cargo box. We liked the dimpled finish on the Goplus a bit more. These machines have not been optimized to clean your Subaru WRX with it on board, and the detergents used could damage the surface of the roof box. No ads. Forward mounting positioning ensures youll have plenty of room to open your hatchback yet be roomy enough to add substantial cargo space to your vehicle. Thule rooftop cargo boxes are a leader in car storage solutions. Summing up all these impressive features of the Thule Vector M justifies the significantly higher price tag. In fact some of the lowest drag numbers were for higher positions. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. It is a great premium product that received a top score, and we would highly recommend it to anyone who wants the best and will pay a premium price, but we think most people would be just as happy with some of the less expensive options. The Vector is made from high-quality ABS plastic and subjected to numerous durability and static tests. As much, its not endowed with the largest trunk size as sedans of its size. The Vector features the SlideLock system to keep your belongings safe, which indicates when the box has been securely locked. We are a bit more concerned about water resistance regarding the SportRack Vista XL and SportRack Horizon Alpine. While the Horizon Alpine will get your stuff from Point A to Point B, plenty of concessions were made to keep the price down. This Thule cargo box fit guide aims to clear some of this up. To put a Cargo Rack on your Subaru you will need roof rack cross bars (bars running across your roof, door to door). Thule roof boxes have a load capacity of about 75kg/165lbs and most vehicles have the same maximum capacity. the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Sleek, large capacity, dual-opening, flat bottom, Interior lights, felt-lined interior, stylish, dual-side opening, Easy to install, ergonomic handle, sleek design, Simple installation, sleek matte finish, great shape for skis, Great handle, cool appearance, less expensive, No integrated light, dedicated tool required for install, Extremely expensive, floor liner might not be for everyone, Frustrating installation with finicky cam clamps, If you are looking for a premium cargo box that's easy to use with plenty of room, this is our strong recommendation, This is the cargo carrier for you if you want all the bells and whistles and dont mind paying for it, An excellent, high-end cargo box that excels in just about every category, This is an above-average product that is very spacious and easy to use, An exceptional value because of its top-notch user friendly design and sleek good looks, Sport (11 cu ft), L (16 cu ft), and XXL (22 cu ft), This top-tier cargo carrier offers ample space and is very easy to install or remove, With integrated lights, an interior liner, and an included dust/sun cover, this cargo carrier comes with just about all the features you might want, This box is a stand-out product that scored high marks in every category, With plenty of space and a user-friendly design, this is a great cargo box for a variety of users, With an excellent user-friendliness score, this is a great value for a mid-ranged cargo box, If you are looking to save some cash and still want a solid cargo carrier, we strongly recommend this one, If you are trying to maximize bang for the buck and arent typically transporting longer skis and gear, we highly recommend this rooftop cargo carrier, If you are looking for a basic roof box that holds your gear without a ton of extra features, then this might be the cargo carrier for you, A great option if you're shopping on a tight budget and need to haul long items like skis or snowboards, This well-sized cargo box offers a functional design for the budget adventurer. The RocketBox Pro 12 measures 58 x 36 x 16 inches with 12 cubic feet of ample storage to carry extra cargo on your trip. Thule Bike Carrier - Roof Mounted. Cargo boxes for SUVs are the same as cargo boxes for any other vehicle. To rank and score these products and see which cargo-carrying box is truly worthy of being crowned the best, we began by doing extensive research, looking at the best products currently on the market. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thule is using the Yakima design with the angled back portion. Our testers were more than happy to load them up with gear and hit the road. Unsure if youll be able to open your cars rear door with your new box? Lets take a look at what you should look for in a roof box, which options are topping the market, and which of those are the best suited for your next big trip. Made from ABS injection-molded plastic, this roof box is tough UV-resistant with a flat bottom strong enough to support up to 165 pounds heavy loads. If your bar spread is the right size according to the roof boxs user manual, then youll have full access to the trunk. Compare this number to the "Front Clearance" dimensions that are specified in the roof boxs user manual. If you are shopping for a rooftop cargo carrier and aren't routinely moving long items like skis around, we think the Goplus Rooftop Carrier is a great option. Where did you get it? Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is manufactured to meet or exceed stringent industry standards. This budget box looks alright and feels very sturdy and durable. Learn how your comment data is processed. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. The hinge spring struts keep the lid open, making it easy to access the contents of your carrier. Only authorized customers can leave a review on our website. If you plan on using your roof box for long road trips across state lines or national boarders, the roof box you choose should be higher to hold bulky gear. Any luck finding any discounts on it? We are an international group of people united by our own passion for helping active families and outdoor enthusiasts. This is the distance between your cars rooftop and the lowest part of the mounted cargo box. The Skyline requires assembling before installation, but the instruction manual provides step-by-step visual and text instructions on how to do it with a minimum of fuss. Each box was left on for several weeks and driven for hundreds of miles. You can unsubscribe at anytime. Sure. We also looked at the construction and design of the clamps and locking systems, as well as the amount of potential water intrusion. David lives in Tahoe and spends a significant amount of time transporting skis, snowboards, and camping equipment throughout the year. They have all the features of the Thule Motion, plus more for even smoother usability. When choosing a cargo box, double check that it will fit your vehicle. Cargo boxes provide you additional space to store your luggage while on the go, as well as protect the car roof from scratches. That depends on the maximum roof load of your car or your roof box. It is neither inferred nor implied that any item sold by CARiD.com is a product authorized by or in any way connected with any vehicle manufacturers displayed on this page. This is particularly useful if you are transporting skis or snowboards as it will protect their edges from chipping. And ever since then, we've made it our business to bring you closer to the world and your passion for life. For sporty types who want to bring a bike or a kayak along on their trip, opt for a narrow sport sized roof box. If your vehicle measures greater than the number listed, that cargo box will fit your vehicle without contacting your hatch.