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Thule cargo box
- Thread starter Hoezay97
- Start date
I hear you on that. A couple of weeks ago, I took my daughter, son-in-law and three grandkids all to Universal Studios. We were packed, but managed to fit everything inside. On the way down, I noticed several suvs traveling with tow hitch mounted racks. That looked very interesting. Anyone have experience with that type of carrier? The roof mounts look cool, but the extra difficulty of mounting, wind resistance, and getting things in and out at that height makes me wonder whether the other approach wouldn't be better. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
#5
I actually had a rear mounted storage tray and i used to toss all my stuff on there inside of a waterproof bag.
the downside I’d say is that the bag gets pretty filthy, and you can’t really access your cargo quickly. Also you add like 3 feet to the car which can be a factor for parking purposes.
i plan on leaving the roof box year round so i don’t really have to install/reinstall
but if you don’t care about the parkint or storage then the rear back is probably just as functional and probably significantly cheaper
actually
the downside I’d say is that the bag gets pretty filthy, and you can’t really access your cargo quickly. Also you add like 3 feet to the car which can be a factor for parking purposes.
i plan on leaving the roof box year round so i don’t really have to install/reinstall
but if you don’t care about the parkint or storage then the rear back is probably just as functional and probably significantly cheaper
actually
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Hmmm... a thumbs down for a very generic observation/question? I did say that I meant no offense. 
I personally don't think it would be a lot of fun hauling that around all the time and an easy target to leave anything of real value in. I think it's a super tool for a vacation and whatnot. Sorry if that was offensive.
I personally don't think it would be a lot of fun hauling that around all the time and an easy target to leave anything of real value in. I think it's a super tool for a vacation and whatnot. Sorry if that was offensive.-
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Thread Starter
#8
Hahaha no worries, i live in an apartment and park on the street hence why I’m not driving an expedition or a suburban
Not convenient to install/reinstall and don’t have a garage to store the box. It works pretty well for me to have the extra storage available whenever we decide to pack up the kids the dog and sometimes even a grandma. Living in the city we tend to road trip a bit
Not convenient to install/reinstall and don’t have a garage to store the box. It works pretty well for me to have the extra storage available whenever we decide to pack up the kids the dog and sometimes even a grandma. Living in the city we tend to road trip a bit
Roof boxes are very useful. Our family has had one on our SUVs for many years. The attachment / clamping systems have gotten so much better. The two photos below show an old 15+ year old Thule that was a giant PITA to take on and off. When we got the new Explorer ST to replace an ancient year 2000 4Runner we also upgraded to a new Yakima that has a slick tool-less clamp system (I'm sure the new Thules do too). We live in central PA about 30 minutes from a nice family ski area so the roof box for us is seasonal where it goes on for the winter months and skis are constantly kept up there. Makes it very convenient. Pro-tip, line the bottom of the box with a moving blanket or two to quiet down skis or other gear that jostles around. The box definitely creates wind drag noise - especially on an ST that can go a lot faster than our old 4Runner. But the utility of the extra storage is worth it if you have the need for that extra storage.
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Hmmm... a thumbs down for a very generic observation/question? I did say that I meant no offense. I personally don't think it would be a lot of fun hauling that around all the time and an easy target to leave anything of real value in. I think it's a super tool for a vacation and whatnot. Sorry if that was offensive.
I personally don't think it would be a lot of fun hauling that around all the time and an easy target to leave anything of real value in. I think it's a super tool for a vacation and whatnot. Sorry if that was offensive.
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Hi,
I use a trailer hitch rack to carry things I do not want to put in the ST (or minivan). Usually gas and diesel Jerry cans. Works fine for me, but you definitely need to turn off the emergency reverse braking. The St jammed the brakes on the first time backing up. I just leave it off all the time now. Even with the gas cans on the rack, the tailgate still goes up unobstructed and the plate is visible.
Cheers,
Ron
I use a trailer hitch rack to carry things I do not want to put in the ST (or minivan). Usually gas and diesel Jerry cans. Works fine for me, but you definitely need to turn off the emergency reverse braking. The St jammed the brakes on the first time backing up. I just leave it off all the time now. Even with the gas cans on the rack, the tailgate still goes up unobstructed and the plate is visible.
Cheers,
Ron
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