Car Top Cargo Systems Buying Guides
Do you find yourself lacking on cargo space when you pack up the family to head out to Wisp for your ski adventure or to Deep Creek Lake for your summer fun? If so, then it may be time to upgrade your car with a roof top cargo box or luggage basket.
Cargo Boxes
Fit
Sizing
Access
Accessories
Cargo Baskets
Fit
Sizing
Access
Accessories
See Also
The ultimate way to store your gear and keep it from getting wet and covered in road grime.
Fit
Many boxes will fit directly on to your car or SUV’s factory roof rack (check the Rack Fit Guide to see which boxes will fit directly on your vehicle). If your car doesn’t have a factory rack (or if your factory rack doesn’t have crossbars) you’ll want to check out the Rack Fit Guide to see which rack system is right for your car.Sizing
The biggest influence on what size you need is how much and what kind of junk you want to put up there. Obviously, if you are planning on hauling your skis and snowboards around, you’ll want to make sure you get a box that is long enough for your equipment. However, if skis and snowboards are all you are going to carry, then you might want to check out a lower profile box such as the Yakima Skybox 12 or Yakima Rocketbox 11.Beyond what you are hauling, you will also want to consider the size of your car. Sure you could put the Yakima Skybox Pro 21 on top of your Smart Car (actually you probably can’t), but its going to dwarf your car and you’ll probably have some issues accessing your *cough* trunk.
Access
Most cargo boxes will now allow you access to them from both sides. This feature is something you want to make sure you have if you don’t want your box to be stuck on the passenger side of your car.Accessories
As with everything, you don’t want to forget to properly accessorize.Cargo Box Mat
A thin closed cell foam mat which helps prevent your gear from sliding around and getting banged up by the box.Cargo Net
Made of stretchy bungee cord with clips to lock it down; this is the ultimate way to keep your gear where you want it.Cargo Light
A must have so that you can still find your gear when you arrive at camp after dark (because you took the wrong left down the wrong road – which should have been a right anyways). Of course, if you bought the Yakima Skybox Lopro you wouldn’t need to buy this as it comes with a built in, auto turn, on solar-charged, search beacon.
Sure your Jeep looks pretty rugged, but nothing says week long safari at Deep Creek Lake like a cargo basket on top of your SUV. This is also what you’ll want if you need to strap everything, plus the kitchen sink, to your car.
Fit
Just like the cargo boxes many of the cargo racks will fit directly on to your factory roof rack (but check the Rack Fit Guide to be sure which baskets will fit). If your car doesn’t have a factory rack (or if your factory rack doesn’t have crossbars), you’ll need to check out the Rack Fit Guide to see which base rack system is right for your vehicle.Sizing
Which size basket you get is still going to be based a lot on how much, and what you are carrying (the Yakima Mega Warrior with Load Extender is what you would want if you were trying to haul your fridge to the dump). You also don’t want to get a cargo basket that’s too big for you car (such as if you had a Geo Tracker: the Yakima Load Warrior would be way too big, you would want to go with something more like the… well… nothing is going to make that car look like more than a Matchbox car).Access
You got it from every angle: front, back, left side, right side, and below (if you have a sun roof or convertible).Accessories
As with everything, you don’t want to forget to properly accessorize.Stretch Net
A bungee net to keep all your gear from flying down the road.Spare Tire Carrier
Not enough room in your trunk for that oversized muddy spare tire? Throw it up in your basket and use the spare tire mount to keep it from rolling into another cars windshield.Light Bracket
You guessed it, get these brackets so you can mount on some lights and light up the night. (Lights not included).Locking Bracket
Secure your basket to your crossbars and you’ll never have to worry about its whereabouts while you’re in the great outdoors.Hi-Lift Jack Bracket
The last thing you need inside your off-roader is a dirty jack. Unless you have a friend named Jack who happened to get muddy, in which case you should probably put him in the backseat.Axe/Shovel Bracket
Just as the name implies, this bracket is a great option if you want to secure an axe or shovel inside your basket.
See Also
Rack Fit Guide
