Basket rack or a Yakima type cargo box

[nat]

What is the more practical and aesthetic way to store crap on top of my FJ55.

A basket type rack...........what kinds are nice?

A Yakima (or equivalent) cargo box. This would have the advantage of being lockable, but isn't as nice looking.

I also need to be able to carry a canoe.

Thanks for the opinions

 

[450 DUDE]

I run with the yak box , it doesnt have that cool guy look but its crazy functional.
Its a great place to put chairs trail / camping trash........

ken

 

[High Desert]

Box

I put all the "soft stuff" up top, easy to get to the tent clothing etc. Heavy stuff goes in the back. Works for me, only problem I have is carrying Jerry cans...I still don't want the weight of the fuel up top so working on a bumper some day. The box locks and keeps stuff out of sight. I don't have to unload to just pitch the tent and crash.

Up side to rack is if you get a RTT or want to load it up with shovels and jacks and cans...(there are after market attachment deals for shovels and jacks for Yakima bars so you can run a box and attach other gear to the cross bars ..)

Rack are noisy and really kill MPG on the highway...

finally that all said..If I sell my pickup I might get a rack to haul plywood up top every now and then..probably a INTI..

 

[nat]

Actually, the box doesn't look too bad on your rigs. I definitely prefer the convenience and aerodynamics of the box. Looks like I am leaning that way.

Is there room to put a canoe next to the box?

 

[j_rawks]

you just need long enough crossbars. then you can carry anything you like up there.

 

[High Desert]

Ditto on the long cross bars. However You gotta watch out for trees and stuff if the bars stick out wider than the rig. I have clipped my garage door frame twice with my long bars...can really intercourse up a rain gutter.....

 

[spressomon]

I run with the yak box , it doesnt have that cool guy look but its crazy functional.
Its a great place to put chairs trail / camping trash........

ken

X2. I have owned my Yakima Rocket Box for 11-years. Used it on all my vehicles LC included. It's relatively light, easy to install/remove (I rigged up a pulley system on the garage ceiling with a small winch motor). Contents are protected from sun, dirt, water and prying eyes/fingers. And it is aero enough you don't know its up there including MPG. I have used the Yakima Basketcase too...which led me to the Rocket Box .

Having said that...it all depends on your needs. For heavy duty weight carrying capacity I can see the need for a Hannibal or one of the racks Alvaro sells...BTW Alvaro's is lighter in weight than it looks like it would be...he removed it after Oysterfest and I was surprised how light it was.

 

[ducktapeguy]

I've got a couple of con-ferr's and a yakima basket type rack, because I think they look cooler, the box looks so urban yuppie (no offense). But I think one of those hardsided boxes is probably more useful and easier to use, I'd probably get one if I was going to leave it on my daily driver all the time. With a rack you always have to tie things down and are always worried about it flying off in the freeway, you can't just throw things inside and close the lid. And it offers some form of security from the weather and casual onlookers. One advantage of a basket though is you can secure large akward items to it, things that won't fit in a box.

 

[stevezero]

You could do both. A box on one side, and a J-Moose (or part of it) for longer, odder shaped items that dont need to be in the box. The box would also leave enough room for the canoe. And if youre small enough, you could sleep in it in a pinch LOLOL. (that could be a photoshoot idea for Nat's wife, and a tax writeoff...set and props.....)

You can also get some good alum tubing to slide into the yakima bars. Then you can slide out some additional length when you need it, and slide it back in when youre not using it. I built a kayak loader in my yakima bars that way.

 

[jrfj40]

I've dealt with the "hardbox" before and they have all seemed to
"bounce" (the top) and cause alot of noise. Not that cruisers are quiet! I'm going with a Rack system the wife has a softbag attachment on her minivan and it is pretty useful.

 

[Cabrito]

Go with a basket and a box!

I have two of the Yakima Rocket boxes. One is driver side load and the other is passenger side load., Someday I want to mount both at the same time. You could still carry a canoe or a kayak with the box on if you have wide enough bars. I run a rocket box and two old style Yakima baskets (the shallow type). The box is cool because you can store all the bulky + soft items plus the stinky garbage and or muddy gear/clothes. Plus it locks! The box is easy on and easy off when you get a technique that works for you. I can mount it and remove it by myself. Sometimes I store one on top of my Saab I found both of mine on Craig’s List for around $100. You can find them cheap but you must search constantly until you find one. There are also some Thule boxes that Sears puts their name on that you can get real cheap.
Oh and check the picture - you can really load a ton of other stuff even with the box -