Roof top carriers?

VaSteve · 05-23-2015, 04:49 PM

i was thinking of getting a rooftop carrier for the old minivan for when we go on vacation. I have a Thule roof rack from an old car...I could buy new feet and a box and attach it. Or, I was thinking about those soft bags. The soft bags would be easier to store when I wasn't using it.

Anyone have experience with these things?

look 171 · 05-23-2015, 07:06 PM

I had a soft bag. They are a PITA when you get going. Unless its filled, they will deform as the wind rip across it on the hwy. I really like out slim Yakima box on top of our minivan. No noise, no decrease in mileage, easy to access and installs in seconds.

VaSteve · 05-23-2015, 07:23 PM

Did you attach it to a separate rack or the minivan's rack?

look 171 · 05-23-2015, 07:42 PM

Goes on the the sienna's rack. The box came with these lobster claw like clamps that tightens from the inside. We drove all the way from LA to Edmonton without any issue. The best part was no noise. This box is the best thing I purchase for traveling with the family. Its about 10-12" deep just right under 3' wide and runs almost the entire length of the Van. We can even open the sunroof but the rack just blocks all the sunlight. There's more then 12" of front and back adjustment.

We packed all our bulky gears up there in duffel bags. Big heavy jackets, and some of the food items all were engulfed by this thing.

look 171 · 05-23-2015, 07:49 PM

Yakima® - SkyBox LoPro Roof Cargo Box

This must be their latest version. The dimension is probably very similar. It looks small, but it holds a lot more then we expected.

look 171 · 05-23-2015, 07:51 PM

I should clarify that, it goes on the stock cross member of our Sienna. the will fit all cross members as long s the bars go from side to side. It just clamp on there.

VaSteve · 05-24-2015, 04:32 AM

Thanks...The one you posted is quite spendy, but it seems like they have quite a few models. Gave me another idea...My other family hauler is a Tacoma. Which works well for most things, but I don't have a cap (nor really want one). I'm going to do some more research and see if I can find one that will fit in the bed of the truck (or above the bed). Hmmm... More research.

Tom '74 911 · 05-24-2015, 05:08 AM

We have a couple of these. One on a Subaru Outback and one on a Honda Pilot. Our neighbor gave us one of them, so free is good! They are spendy for sure, especially if you have to buy the rack (or rack parts) too.

Both of ours are similar in shape to the one in the link a few posts above and we use them for skis mostly. They work great, but are a little wind noisy...

Our racks are Thule and I think both boxes are Yakima, so compatibility is not a problem, although you might want to verify that before throwing down your $$. Definitely check the paper and local wantads as I see them for sale all the time where I live.

A930Rocket · 05-24-2015, 05:31 AM

We have one very similar to that (with racks) left over from our R350 we traded in.

It worked great.

Now we just need to get rid of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Yakima® - SkyBox LoPro Roof Cargo Box

This must be their latest version. The dimension is probably very similar. It looks small, but it holds a lot more then we expected.

Seahawk · 06:03 AM

When the kids were little and we were in the minivan stage, I bought a canvas roof top carrier since the Mazda MPV we owned (loved that thing) was fairly tiny.

I can remember the name of the maker, but the bag was the most useful, well made piece of kit I have ever owned. I wore it out.

It was very made with very heavy outer material, with an inner water proof liner with a separate zipper and hooks all over the bag that you ran the attached elastic cord through. The material was as heavy as a Jeep folding top.

The best thing about it was that it conformed to whatever we put in it. In those days, with two infants, every vacation was like planning for the D-Day landings.

I also used it quite a bit in my trucks, which were older Toyota, the first without any cab extension. I was commuting to Connecticut every week and would put my luggage in canvas bag and just throw it in back.

No noise at all, even at speed, on top of the MPV or in the back of the truck. It folded into a nice carry bag. I kept it stored behind the seat of my 1990 single cab Toyota truck and many times put stuff in it when my son or daughter went shopping with me..

I tried to find a link this morning but my interwebs mojo was weak.

BTW, I have had every possible roof top configuration over the years and much preferred the canvas bag.

willtel · 05-24-2015, 06:03 AM

I have a Yakima I bought off Craigslist, they are too expensive to buy new IMO. It works really well and can be opened from either side. There are crab claw like clamps built into it that are adjustable and it fit fine on the factory Xterra rack.

Xterra by Patrick Downs, on Flickr

VaSteve · 05-24-2015, 06:34 AM

Spotted a good one on CL this morning for two and a quarter. A hard case with the arms. It'd fit my truck bed which would be nice for when we want to take the truck. What I'm finding with this Tacoma is there's a million bed attachments....way more versatile than I realized.

look 171 · 05-24-2015, 09:33 AM

250 sounds like a good deal as long as it has the lobster claws type clamps. Those clamps are a life saver, I tell ya. the go on and off so easily, 2 minutes of unscrewing them by hand from the inside and into the garage it goes. We had a very old one given to us by a friend that has the old clamping style. I have to call my engineer to help with installation and detachment. Thanks goodness it finally broke. That is worth it weight in gold.

VaSteve · 07-03-2015, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Spotted a good one on CL this morning for two and a quarter. A hard case with the arms. It'd fit my truck bed which would be nice for when we want to take the truck. What I'm finding with this Tacoma is there's a million bed attachments....way more versatile than I realized.

A couple of weeks ago I scored this for $225. It fit in the bed of the truck and I found that I can get some arms to span the bed. Thus using the bed, the carrier and my bike rack.....I just need to get the arms.

Anyhow, this came with a rack for a car. I was hoping I could use it. We fitted it to the van this morning and realized the rack was Saab specific. I don't own a Saab, but I made use of it. Storing this beast I reused the Saab rack (drilled some holes in it) and mounted it to the ceiling in the basement. I have a tall strong wife who helped me get it up there.

rfuerst911sc · 07-03-2015, 11:35 AM

Last year at the neighborhood garage sale I spotted a clam shell carrier in the driveway. Stopped and looked at it and thought not bad. It was a Sears Cargo X but the kicker was it was locked shut

. I asked the seller if he had a key he said no. He asked how much would I give him for it because his wife was nagging him to get rid of it. I told him nothing because it was locked shut. He said how about free ? I said for free I'll take it

. Of course as I was looking it over I noticed the locks had numbers stamped on them. Got it home and looked up the number, sure enough ordered a key for 5.00 and voila ! it locks and unlocks. Not bad for 5.00 .

ckelly78z · 07-03-2015, 11:57 AM

Another angle of thinking is one of those rear hitch mounted racks, I don't particularly care for them, but see quite a few going down the highway. They look to be 4 or 5' wide and about 1' deep and could be loaded down up to 3' high. It would eliminate using your back doors, but could provide alot more storage and as long as you wrap your luggage in a tarp or big bag, it will be out of the wind and rain.

look 171 · 07-03-2015, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Another angle of thinking is one of those rear hitch mounted racks, I don't particularly care for them, but see quite a few going down the highway. They look to be 4 or 5' wide and about 1' deep and could be loaded down up to 3' high. It would eliminate using your back doors, but could provide alot more storage and as long as you wrap your luggage in a tarp or big bag, it will be out of the wind and rain.

I mounted one of those to my $ runner and drove up a long steep grade at about 25-35 mph. I had those home depot buckets full with camping stuff and some wood. By the time I got to the camp, the bottom of the bucket near the mufflers has been melted right onto the rack. Since then, I have not been a big fan. Now, I still like to build my own to make it better.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 07-03-2015, 04:55 PM

There are a number of rear 2 inch hitch carriers- This one is my favorite:

pros- it rocks and can make the car VERY comically capable:

cons- really need to relocate license plate and lights/also- cannot open rear hatch with carrier in place.
I am a huge fan of roof racks- heres another pic- the volvo xc70 can hold 2 (two) racks at the same time front to back:

If you are travelling, I highly recommend the roof racks for versatility.

Good luck,
Ron