Roof Rack vs. Roof Box

[mpho]

Currently I have a roof rack system. Nice and simple...Handles a couple of bikes up high a few bags, etc. But, I am thinking about getting a roof box. I was thinking that I might be able to carry more and it will be weather protected. I could mount it to some yakima bars and also get two bike racks up on top...


Anyone out there gone from a roof rack to a roof box? Pros/Cons?

 

[atomicshawn]

I used a Yakima system for about 15 years. Good quality stuff. Used it to haul skis, mountain bikes, and camping gear. For the camping gear, I started out with one Basketcase, then two, then as my family continued to grow, and our backcountry excursions got longer, I eventually mounted a full size Surco Safari Rack (pretty flimsy, but light weight) on my old Montero. Presently I am running an ARB rack on my LC. The thing is bullet proof, but weighs a ton. Had to keep my roots though and bolted Yakima fork mounts to it (see pic).

Never used a box, though I have heard they are convenient; just throw your stuff in and close the lid with no time wasted trying to secure all your gear. Another advantage is you probably wouldn’t ever look in your rearview mirror and see your tent rainfly blow up like a funny car parachute behind you on the freeway because the wind caught it just right and worked it out of the tent bag that is still securely fastened to the rack .

A disadvantage to using a box is it seems there would be limitations to the size and amount of things you can carry.

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[atomicshawn]

...another disadvantage with the Yakima system is you can't do this :

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[B-RAD]

I have the best of both worlds. I have GOBI rack, that also fits all of the Yakima attachments I have collected that gives me the flexibility, I think you are seeking as well. The Space Case is nice, but am finding I use it less and less, with the gear I take. It's great for loading up five pairs and skis and poles during the winter when we hit the slopes with the family. For camping, I am not using it as much as I use to though. Check out the link for some photos.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/429871-gobi-roof-rack-1st-off-line.html

 

[firetruck41]

No reason you can't keep the rack, and add the box when needed. That's probably what I would do.

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

I've found the RR with a Thule cargo box to work well. My RR has gone through several different configurations for different trips and demands. I find a good basic/solid RR is a platform to build from and add to.

Good luck

 

[greentruck]

SNIP

Never used a box, though I have heard they are convenient; just throw your stuff in and close the lid with no time wasted trying to secure all your gear. Another advantage is you probably wouldn’t ever look in your rearview mirror and see your tent rainfly blow up like a funny car parachute behind you on the freeway because the wind caught it just right and worked it out of the tent bag that is still securely fastened to the rack .
.........

That's true about using a box -- in general. A word of warning, though, don't forget to latch the lid of the box

We had a large 4'x8' box (about a foot deep) that my dad built for our 1964 Bel-Air wagon. Held a bunch of stuff and was great when camping. Just throw the stuff in and put the lid on...

We were camping one weekend near Payson, AZ. Broke camp, packed things up, and took off. Somewhere 20 miles or so down the road, we realized something was wrong -- I don't recall how. Stopped and got out. Guess what? No lid!

Yep, forgot to latch that thing down. None of us kids were tall enough then to reach up to latch it, so it wasn't our fault! Anyway, backtracking saw us find stuff scattered along the road all the way back to where the lid blew off shortly after getting up to speed on the hardtop road. The lid was OK, built well, but we double-checked that it was latched it down on future trips.

 

[mpho]

What RR do you have?[



QUOTE=britklr;7078137]I've found the RR with a Thule cargo box to work well. My RR has gone through several different configurations for different trips and demands. I find a good basic/solid RR is a platform to build from and add to.

Good luck[/QUOTE]

 

[Bogo]

Thinking of dad made things. For camping he made a roof top box with a hinged door on the side. You could load it from the ground. The door was hinged at the top and secured closed with a hasp and lock. No lid to blow off. It was about 20" wide, 16" tall, and 6' long. The front was beveled for reduced wind resistance. All the seams were glued with waterproof glues, and the outside was painted well. It was sized so the canoe could go on the other side of the roof rack. If you made a full width one, doors could be put on both sides.

On another note... Looks like my 4Runner will be Santa's sleigh for the relatives out east. It'll be well overstuffed with presents. I'm going to use 2 angle irons mounted fore/aft on the factory roof racks. I'll space them so the my Pelican cases will just fit between them. The inside corner of some 2" x 2" x 1/4" thick angle iron stock will support the bottom edges of the Pelican cases. Straps will be used to keep the angle irons from spreading, and to lash the cases to the angle irons. For holding the angle irons to the roof rack cross bars, I'll use flat head machine screws in beveled holes. That way they won't gouge the cases. The screws will screw into the captive nuts on the roof rack rails. I suppose if I end up having to use all 4 cases I could mount my angle irons side to side with short standoffs. That'll get me past the weight limit of the factory cross bars.

 

[Rallyroo]

Never used a box, though I have heard they are convenient; just throw your stuff in and close the lid with no time wasted trying to secure all your gear. Another advantage is you probably wouldn’t ever look in your rearview mirror and see your tent rainfly blow up like a funny car parachute behind you on the freeway because the wind caught it just right and worked it out of the tent bag that is still securely fastened to the rack .

You must have one fast drag racing Cruiser to have a parachute deploy to slow you down.