Cargo Carriers
It's a problem familiar to millions of Americans: it's time to hit the road for a vacation but there's not enough room in your vehicle to bring along all the stuff you've packed? If you're travelling with too much gear, you're certainly not alone! In this section, we've collected the best, most popular ways to bring your gear and luggage along for the ride. From roof carriers to hitch cargo carriers and racks, we've got car storage solutions that add up to 21 cubic feet of storage space to your vehicle. Need to organize the inside of your vehicle as well? No problem -- check out our car cargo organizers.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this page for tips on selecting the ideal cargo carrier for you and your family!
Where do I start when it comes to picking a cargo carrier for my vehicle?
Feeling overwhelmed by all the choices on FastTrackRacks.com? It's understandable: there are more car cargo carrying options today than there have ever been before. We have assembled the following tips to help in your decision making process.
Tips for selecting a Car Cargo Carrier
1. First, decide where you want the cargo carrier located on your vehicle. You've got two options: on your vehicle's roof or on your vehicle's hitch. For many vehicles, you might not have a hitch so this simplifies things considerably.
The main benefits of a roof top cargo carrier are:
1) Can be used on sedans, station wagons and other smaller vehicles that might not have trailer hitches.
2) Come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles so you can choose a carrier or rack that matches your vehicle and personality.
3) Generally roof top carriers are part of a versatile system, so you can remove the carrier and add a bike rack or ski rack to your crossbars if your cargo carrying needs change.
The main benefits of a hitch mount cargo carrier are:
1) Because they plug into your trailer hitch, hitch carriers are generally right at waist-level thereby making them quite a bit more accessible than roof top carriers.
2) The rectangular shape of hitch mounted carriers often makes for more functional space than the angular style of roof top carriers. Generally, hitch carriers and racks will fit items like suitcases and coolers better than a rooftop carrier.
3) Hitch Carriers do not create wind resistance or drag and will not affect your gas mileage to the degree that roof top carriers will. Hitch Carriers also will provide a quieter ride than a roof carrier.
For a detailed comparison of roof top and hitch mounted carriers, be sure to check out our
Cargo Carrier Guide.
2. Once you've decided where you want to add the carrier to your vehicle, confirm that the carrier will be compatible with your vehicle. The easiest way to do this is to use Thule's Fit Guide, Yakima's Fit Guide and StowAway2's Fit Guide. In general, the most common fit issues for roof top cargo carriers are ensuring the proper length cargo box is used. For hitch carriers, you need to ensure you do not exceed your vehicle's tongue weight capacity by using the carrier. For most SUVs, Vans and RVs, this is not a problem.
3. These two steps should narrow your options significantly. If you still have questions, contact us via email or chat and we'll be glad to help!
