Roof Carriers 101
How To Select a Roof Carrier
Choosing a roof top cargo carrier may seem like a daunting task – with more than 20 carriers and 3 brands to choose from – but selecting the right roof carrier for your travel needs and budget is actually a piece of cake. Follow these easy steps and you’ll be on the road with your new roof carrier in no time!
Check the Roof Carrier Fit Guides
You can save yourself a lot of time and headaches if you check the roof carrier Fit Guides to see which boxes are recommended for your vehicle. Here are links to the Fit Guides:
Remember, you will need a roof rack setup (including crossbars) to mount a roof carrier. If you don’t already have a roof rack on your vehicle (or you’re not sure if your factory rack will handle a roof carrier), check our Roof Racks FAQs or contact us.
Decide on a Roof Carrier Size
Roof Carriers come in a wide range of sizes – from 8 cubic feet to 21 cubic feet. However, regardless of their size, most roof rack systems will not support more than 125-150 pounds of gear. This means you should ask yourself, “What do I plan to carry?” If you’ve got lots of big, bulky items (like sleeping bags) a larger carrier will make sense. If you’ve got smaller, heavier items (like travel suitcases) you might be alright with a small or medium sized carrier.
Quick Roof Carrier Comparison Chart
Use this chart to put the cubic feet of roof cargo boxes into perspective.
|
Size |
Small |
Medium |
Large |
Extra Large |
|
Cubic Feet |
8-12 |
12-16 |
16-18 |
18-21 |
|
Carries |
Duffel Bags |
Small Suitcases |
Large Suitcases |
Bulky Items |
|
Can Carry Skis? |
No |
Sometimes
(check length) |
Almost Always
(check length) |
Yes |
Full Roof Carrier Comparison Charts
These two larger charts allow you to compare all Thule roof carriers and Yakima roof carriers side-by-side.
If you are planning to carry skis or snowboards, it is critical that you check the length of the carrier to ensure it will be long enough to accommodate your longest skis. It’s always smart to allow a few extra inches of cushion to be safe.
It’s also a good idea to check out these top-down views to give yourself a better idea of the shape/size of different roof carriers.
Use our Roof Carrier Finder
If you’ve decided on a size (roughly), it can be helpful to use our Roof Carrier Finder to look at all the boxes in that size and compare them side-by-side. Our roof carrier finder also lets you select boxes by brand – if you have a preference. Don’t agonize too long over your comparison: prices are usually identical or close to identical from one brand to another.
Use these other Roof Carrier Resources
If you’re not entirely sure that you want a roof carrier – but you’re sure you need extra space in your vehicle— you might consider a hitch carrier instead. Check out this cargo carrier guide to compare the pros and cons of roof carriers and hitch carriers.
Read some handy roof carrier tips provided by Thule Racks.
Roof Carrier Quick Links
Ready to shop? Use these quick links to head directly to the roof carrier section of your choice.
