Roof Box Question (1 Viewer)

[Littlehouse]

Why don't I see more rooftop boxes on overland builds?

With my rack incoming, and two large kennels taking up the majority of the interior space of my GX, I'm going to need some additional storage for road trips and snowboarding. "If we ever get to snowboard again."

Why don't I see overlanders using Yakima or Thule boxes? I get they aren't as cool or tough as a big square/aluminum box up top, but the interior volume and aerodynamics seem to make more sense. What gives? Anyone running a rooftop box? What are your thoughts?

David

 

[FirstToy]

I use a Thule roof box and it's great. Swallows a massive amount of stuff. No dust, weathersafe and it saves gas.

 

[Turbohardtop]

I am waiting for my Thule Motion XXL box to ship.

 

[r2m]

Why don't I see more rooftop boxes on overland builds?

With my rack incoming, and two large kennels taking up the majority of the interior space of my GX, I'm going to need some additional storage for road trips and snowboarding. "If we ever get to snowboard again."

Why don't I see overlanders using Yakima or Thule boxes? I get they aren't as cool or tough as a big square/aluminum box up top, but the interior volume and aerodynamics seem to make more sense. What gives? Anyone running a rooftop box? What are your thoughts?

David

One word: Roof Top Tent (Yea, so it's three words)
Most RTT's take up the entire rack depending upon how long your rack is and how large the RTT is.
I suppose one could do a full length rack and one of the real small roof top tents and still have some rack space.
But for most overlanders, including myself, the rack is for my RTT, that is until I get the room enough to build an adventure trailer!
If you need more exterior carry space, there are those flat racks that plug right into your rear receiver hitch and that can handle quite a bit of whatever you'd put on the roof rack. Plus you wouldn't need to worry about the height of your tote, box or whatever you're carrying because it's sitting behind your rear door and not in the wind on top of your rig. The only issue may be the departure angle if you're doing anything much more than fire roads.

Amazon product ASIN B07P72DV84

 

[Littlehouse]

One word: Roof Top Tent (Yea, so it's three words)
Most RTT's take up the entire rack depending upon how long your rack is and how large the RTT is.
I suppose one could do a full length rack and one of the real small roof top tents and still have some rack space.
But for most overlanders, including myself, the rack is for my RTT, that is until I get the room enough to build an adventure trailer!
If you need more exterior carry space, there are those flat racks that plug right into your rear receiver hitch and that can handle quite a bit of whatever you'd put on the roof rack. Plus you wouldn't need to worry about the height of your tote, box or whatever you're carrying because it's sitting behind your rear door and not in the wind on top of your rig. The only issue may be the departure angle if you're doing anything much more than fire roads.

Amazon product ASIN B07P72DV84

That makes sense, but a lot of people still don't do the RTT thing. "Myself being one of them" I'm not an overlander, but I like camping in my big Kodiak tent and using that as a base camp. I'm just starting to get into this, so who knows where I'll end up.

I see a lot of people using Pelican cases, Roam boxes, Alu boxes, Plano cases, and Wolf Packs. Any reason to pick those over a roof box if I don't have a tent, and it's mostly to store stuff for road trips? I can't do the hitch rack because my bikes are there.

 

[LCPrado]

That makes sense, but a lot of people still don't do the RTT thing. "Myself being one of them" I'm not an overlander, but I like camping in my big Kodiak tent and using that as a base camp. I'm just starting to get into this, so who knows where I'll end up.

I see a lot of people using Pelican cases, Roam boxes, Alu boxes, Plano cases, and Wolf Packs. Any reason to pick those over a roof box if I don't have a tent, and it's mostly to store stuff for road trips? I can't do the hitch rack because my bikes are there.

I would like to use a roofbox, but I bought a basket awhile back with bike attachment points and I haven't been able to justify that expense. I can also throw some foam bar wraps and transport my surfboards. I think people like racks or baskets for the ability to add accessories. Lights, awnings, shovels, hi-lift jacks, gas cans, etc.

I also think people would rather have separate boxes/storage for expandability and organization. It's a lot easier to keep certain things in those boxes and only take the ones you need for certain trips than have to pack and unpack a roofbox.

 

[ducktapeguy]

I use a large roof box, but mostly for ski/snowboard trips so I can throw the wet and dirty gear up there. For that purpose it’s a perfect solution, it’s mostly large bulky items that don’t need a lot of organization. For camping, I use a combination of Plano or action packers or various other smaller boxes so I can take them down and carry them where needed instead of having to constantly go back to the roof every time I need something. but it depends on the type of trip and where Im going, I switch back and forth depending on the need. Most of the time when camping the RTT is up there so I can only fit smaller boxes around it.

 

[Tex68w]

I've never been a fan of the roof boxes but I'm also not a die hard skier or snow boarder. If I go I rent, that's how little I care. The beauty of the Plano/Pelican/Alu/ROAM boxes is their versatility and the ability to take them on/off much easier than a fixed aero box like the Yakima or Thule. Don't get me wrong, those still have their place but I think most people are storing camping gear, photo gear, recovery gear and other similar camp type items up there more so than ski equipment. If you go the RTT route you could always get a hard shell style that has a rack on top of it, kill two birds with one stone kind of thing.

 

[FirstToy]

Nice!
Thule are excellent. The Motion is really well made.
You'll fit all your action packers, sleeping bags, firewood and the kitchen sink in a XXL!

I am waiting for my Thule Motion XXL box to ship.

 

[jmanscotch]

I’ve only had one Yakima box of that style and something I haven’t seen anyone say is that I don’t think they’d fair well, over time, to the kind of flexing and jolts that off-road travels would subject them to.

I guess my concern would be their hinges, locking mechanisms and attachment points. I’ve seen a few “break” open at highway speeds and absolutely destroy some things in the process. I’d suspect one put through some repeated torture tests off-road are infinitely more likely to have such a failure, eventually.

 

[nakman]

I have one and at least 3x per year I wouldn't want anything else. If it's a road trip with the family, ski trip, etc. there's no subsitute, IMO. The big downside is nothing inside is really secure, so it can slide around a lot. But as long as what you put up there is ok with that, or you pack in is such a way that stuff is sorta compressed, then it's fine. Probably isn't going to hold up to some epic off pavement adventure, but for mild stuff I think it's been fine, and mine is going on 15 years old, broken hinge and all. I can fit 2 guitars in it. Then when we stop along the trip and wind up buying souveniers or green chili or something, up it goes.

 

[shutupkaren]

overlanders don't sleep on the ground! That's for peons and cub scouts!

Yeah, everyone has roof top tents now. Is it a fad, or are they here to stay? I have a XL yakima rooftop box. it's long enough to fit tons of skis/snowboards in it when I ran shuttles, or I'll pack it with all of our large, lighter weight, "softgoods" other times of the year.

 

[Washingtontaco]

My daughter rocks a Thule box on her 4Runner. Been on there 3 years. It’s starting to crack at the mounting points. They are not very durable. I plan on buying a Packasport for hauling skis on long trips but not for off road use.

Rooftop Cargo Carriers | Parts & Accessories | Packasport

Do you love adventure and the thrill of always being on the road? If so, buy our rooftop cargo carriers. They are sturdy, reduce road noise and look badass!

www.packasport.com

The Packasports are a more durable storage box.

 

[r2m]

Having had a roof box at one time, I thought it was great for all the same reasons pointed out so far by our friends here. But here are a few things I haven't seen mentioned unless I missed:
One: When they are empty, there is supposed to be max speed in the instructions somewhere. I emphasized supposed because the manufacturers line of thought is if it's empty and your running along a Texas highway at 85 mph with a 20 mph head wind, that's over 100 mph of wind pushing on that thing and there's a good chance you'll tear that box off the top of your rig.
I think my instruction stated something like 65 mph max speed when empty.
Two: Almost guarantee you will not always want it on, especially if you garage your rig or use parking garages often. Most times, you'll be too tall.
Three: Until having it on top of your rig becomes second nature, I'd beat you at some point in time you'll drive into a low parking garage and forget it's up there.
Four: I know this probably doesn't apply to many of you not living on the coast where land is NOT easy and abundant, unfortunately space is a rare commodity for me, especially having my daughter and baby granddaughter living with us. So for me when I did not have it on, it just plain took up a LOT of space.

Now about the various cases mentioned. I use a large Pelican case with wheels and extending handle. That keeps the bulk of my camping gear "kitted" and ready to go in a moments notice. In short, when we go camping all I need to grab are:

1. Pelican case
2. Sleeping bag
3. Fridge
4. Large plastic tool box that is our cook box
5. Couple of chairs
6. If it's dry camping, the portable potty and privy tent.
7. Food and minimal clothes.

I keep this all together so it takes all of 10 minutes from the time we say "Where do you want to go this weekend" to being on the road!

 

[ducktapeguy]

I plan on buying a Packasport for hauling skis on long trips but not for off road use.

Rooftop Cargo Carriers | Parts & Accessories | Packasport

Do you love adventure and the thrill of always being on the road? If so, buy our rooftop cargo carriers. They are sturdy, reduce road noise and look badass!

www.packasport.com

The Packasports are a more durable storage box.

I had looked at getting a packasport before finding a great deal on my current box. The two things that stopped me were price and weight. They are expensive, around $2k for the model I looked at, and weigh 100+ lbs. Looking at their site it looks like they have deluxe models for almost $4k. That’s the weight and cost of a RTT, but for just an empty shell without anything in it. If I’m going to spend that kind of money and carry that much weight I thought I might as well buy a RTT.

 

[r2m]

I had looked at getting a packasport before finding a great deal on my current box. The two things that stopped me were price and weight. They are expensive, around $2k for the model I looked at, and weigh 100+ lbs. Looking at their site it looks like they have deluxe models for almost $4k. That’s the weight and cost of a RTT, but for just an empty shell without anything in it. If I’m going to spend that kind of money and carry that much weight I thought I might as well buy a RTT.

Heck, for 4 grand, you can buy a used pickup and carry all your stuff AND keep your GX!!

 

[Washingtontaco]

I had looked at getting a packasport before finding a great deal on my current box. The two things that stopped me were price and weight. They are expensive, around $2k for the model I looked at, and weigh 100+ lbs. Looking at their site it looks like they have deluxe models for almost $4k. That’s the weight and cost of a RTT, but for just an empty shell without anything in it. If I’m going to spend that kind of money and carry that much weight I thought I might as well buy a RTT.

Im buying used, they run around 200-400 bucks.

 

[nw_fj62]

Roof box makes sense to add storage volume - especially for typical on-road travel...

With a roof storage, I think of seasonal modularity.

In summer, camping season, I use a lighter weight RTT and configure around it. With fridge in back, I put oversize spare (255 70 18) on the roof along with 5 gallons fuel, maxtrax and shovel.

For PNW winter season (Nov-April), I'll clear the roof, add ski racks and look something like this: (I will re-orient the max-trax 90 degrees

 

[Littlehouse]

Having had a roof box at one time, I thought it was great for all the same reasons pointed out so far by our friends here. But here are a few things I haven't seen mentioned unless I missed:
One: When they are empty, there is supposed to be max speed in the instructions somewhere. I emphasized supposed because the manufacturers line of thought is if it's empty and your running along a Texas highway at 85 mph with a 20 mph head wind, that's over 100 mph of wind pushing on that thing and there's a good chance you'll tear that box off the top of your rig.
I think my instruction stated something like 65 mph max speed when empty.
Two: Almost guarantee you will not always want it on, especially if you garage your rig or use parking garages often. Most times, you'll be too tall.
Three: Until having it on top of your rig becomes second nature, I'd beat you at some point in time you'll drive into a low parking garage and forget it's up there.
Four: I know this probably doesn't apply to many of you not living on the coast where land is NOT easy and abundant, unfortunately space is a rare commodity for me, especially having my daughter and baby granddaughter living with us. So for me when I did not have it on, it just plain took up a LOT of space.

Now about the various cases mentioned. I use a large Pelican case with wheels and extending handle. That keeps the bulk of my camping gear "kitted" and ready to go in a moments notice. In short, when we go camping all I need to grab are:

1. Pelican case
2. Sleeping bag
3. Fridge
4. Large plastic tool box that is our cook box
5. Couple of chairs
6. If it's dry camping, the portable potty and privy tent.
7. Food and minimal clothes.

I keep this all together so it takes all of 10 minutes from the time we say "Where do you want to go this weekend" to being on the road!

How do you mount your pelican case?

 

[r2m]

How do you mount your pelican case?

Apologies, I did not mean that I was mounting the Pelican case on the exterior anywhere, it goes inside in the back. We lay down the rear and middle seats and load up from there. Although I've been wanting to make some type of rack or track system so I can secure the Pelican case and other camping gear so when I hit a dip or bump things don't go bouncing around. Or worst case, in a roll over, we're not killed from flying debris in the cab.
My post was more related to systems (my graduate degree is in engineering systems) and kitting our gear in the fewest containers for quickest and most efficient method to load up and hit the road. We keep this gear readily available. I was hoping that I may impart some wisdom for folks to have dedicated packed gear for quickly loading and heading out, for whatever reason.
This also aids in case of a disaster (natural or otherwise) this would be our "go-kit". Being an Army reservist, I have to have a quick deployment go bag always ready.