If you want to carry extra gear for outdoor activities like skiing, biking or camping, but don’t have room inside your vehicle to stow it or need to maximize interior space for passengers, loading cargo
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If you want to carry extra gear for outdoor activities like skiing, biking or camping, but don’t have room inside your vehicle to stow it or need to maximize interior space for passengers, loading cargo on the roof might be the right solution. Depending on the weight limit for your vehicle, a hard rooftop cargo carrier is an effective and versatile way to pack extra stuff.
Whereas certain rack systems are only meant for specific items like skis, bike or watercraft, hard-sided roof boxes can be mounted on most roofs with a set of factory or aftermarket crossbars (there are crossbars that can affix to raised or flushed roof rails as well as a naked roof). Roof baskets and platform racks can also transport items, but are not enclosed and are subject to wear and tear from the elements. A hard-shelled roof box will keep items from getting wet or sprinkled with road grime or debris.
In addition to protecting your items from the outdoors, hard rooftop cargo carriers keep valuables out of sight from inquisitive eyes and often come with locking mechanisms for extra security. They also come in different shapes and sizes to fit various vehicles and haul all types of cargo, including oversized equipment and gear with sharp edges with ease.
The one downside to hard rooftop cargo carriers is the effect they will have on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Some are designed to be more aerodynamic, but anything loaded on top of a vehicle’s roof, including crossbars, will create drag and impact mpgs. It’s recommended to un-rack a roof box when it’s empty to maximize your vehicle’s efficiency.
Regardless, a hard rooftop cargo carrier is still superior solution for hauling extra cargo.
The below five hard rooftop cargo boxes were chosen based on their features, storage capacity, overall design and price. We dive deeply into universal hard rooftop cargo carriers that fit most cars, crossovers and SUVs.
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