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!
#1. 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 base rack (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 out our roof base rack section or call us at 866-403-8505.
#2. 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. If you plan to carry skis or snowboards, check the length of the carrier to ensure it will be long enough.
Need help selecting the right size for your needs?
Check out these helpful options below:
Option #1: Quick Roof Carrier Comparison Chart
|
Size |
Small |
Medium |
Large |
|
Cubic Feet |
8-13 |
15-16 |
17+ |
|
Ski Capacity |
Up to 6 pairs |
Up to 8 pairs |
Up to 12 pairs |
|
Dimensions |
Up to 88" x 21" x 16" |
Up to 76" x 33" x 16" |
Up to 91" x 31" x 15" |
Option #2: Full Roof Carrier Comparison Charts
Use these two larger charts to compare all Thule roof carriers and Yakima roof carriers side-by-side.
Option #3: Use our Roof Carrier Finder
Use our Roof Carrier Finder to compare all the boxes by brand, price, size, and ski capacity.
