Any recommendations for a secure cargo carrier? Looked at Thule, Yakima and the Sears brand - can't decide which is best. Need to increase the cargo
capacity of my RAV 4 when I come back in October.willyAirstream - 8-6-2011 at 06:58 AM
Welcome to Nomads MoolaMary! ( sorry, couldn't resist)
I've used Thule racks and pods and they are top quality and Yakima also has a great reputation. The Rav 4 OEM rack is rated at 100 lbs, so only store
light weight items up there.mulegemarylynn - 8-6-2011 at 07:05 AM
Haha WillyAirstream! I've read where that the Thule 1600 is good, but it seems so long for a little bug like a RAV. Do you know what the max length
can go on a RAV?
I'll be coming through Tecate. Wonder if anyone has had them broken into - doesn't seem so hard to do that.willyAirstream - 8-6-2011 at 07:19 AM
Don't park in dark alleys, you'll be finemulegemarylynn - 8-6-2011 at 07:45 AM
Thanks for the link. Looks like the Atlantis 1800 will work just fine. Now to find a dealer close to me......mcfez - 8-6-2011 at 08:22 AM
Here's the ol Rover with our rack. The first rack we ordered thru the web....was junk. Was rated to hold only 150 or so pounds. Hell...we collect 200
pounds of dust went we are on the road!
Make sure you get a heavy duty rack...spend a good buck on it.
We have the Thule on our Jeep Liberty and love it. buy the locking hubs for the cross bars. Otherwise the cross bars with the carrier can just be
loosened and lifted off. REI sells them and has a good idea of what will work best on your vehicle. They have a once a year sale for members and it's
the only time I've ever seen Thule on sale. Membership is about $25 and we saved about $150 on the carrier and mounts.El Camote - 8-6-2011 at 12:08 PM
You'll be able to haul almost half a ton, much more securely, with access while you travel. For the overinflated price of Thule and Yakima roof rack
systems, you could easily buy a used trailer.Diver - 8-6-2011 at 12:48 PM
In my experinece, the Thule black boxes will only last a few years in the sun.
They tend to crack at the mount to the racks.
Yakima makes the best boxes although also the most expensive.
Their white fiberglass boxes will last twice as long as the Thule's.mulegemarylynn - 8-6-2011 at 12:53 PM
El Camote - that sounds like an interesting alternative. You're right about the overinflated price of a Thule - the 1800 Atlantis, with Thule racks,
locks, etc. comes to just a smidge over $1000 here in Michigan. This will be 1st year in new casa, so need to bring a half a ton of stuff and I've
been trying to figure out just how to do it. But a couple of probably stupid questions - would the trailer have to be unpacked at the border and
checkpoints? Would I even be allowed to bring a trailer in? And if there was a half ton available, I could probably get everything and more into
it...but would there be duties to pay at the border? I'd be bringing in stuff like linens, dishes, electronics and such. And backing up a
trailer.....uhhh, that's a little difficult for me, but I suppose it could be accomplished mulegemarylynn - 8-6-2011 at 12:58 PM
Thanks Diver, at the Thule price, it's doesn't seem to be worth it - lasting only a few years. McFez, your Rover is a lot more substantial than a
RAV; I don't think my little bug would stand up to the challenge. WillyAirstream also said that given the weight limits of a RAV, the cargo carrier
would only be able to hold about 60 pounds or so.... doesn't look good for a Thulemcfez - 8-6-2011 at 02:33 PM
[Edited on 8-6-2011 by mcfez]
capitolkat - 8-6-2011 at 03:50 PM
Thule has a lifetime warranty on it's products. That is one thing I looked at when buying. Also, the silver top models are same price as the black and
take the weather better as far as heat and sun wear occcur. Of course the warranty doesn't cover damage caused by dropping or having an accident. Mine
is a year old and looks just like new. I don't keep it on the vehicle when I'm not using it, as it does cut down on milage. No problems in backing or
other trailer problems and I just carry light stuff like bedding, suitcases and twice coming through customs they didn't even make me open it. NormBarry A. - 8-6-2011 at 05:55 PM
I have the Yakima Light Silver SKY BOX on my Nissan X-terra and it has been a dream. It does not seem to effect our gas mileage at all at 65 mph.
The light Silver one does not seem to get as HOT as the others, so that is why we went with it. The Titanium and Black SKY BOX'S really get hot if in
the sun very long, and not moving down the road. It opens from both sides of the vehicle, and seems very secure. I mount it directly on the big
Factory bars, and load it up heavy even tho they recommend only 150 lbs. I know I have had well over 200 lbs in it, and gone on some terrible rocky
roads with no problems. It is pricey at about $600 but I think it is worth every penny. I do NOT leave it on the vehicle when not on a trip-----the
sun would ruin it eventually, so I put mine in a shed out of the sun.
I have a second Yakima Black long skinny "SPACE BOOSTER" cargo box that is 15 years old with no problems at all except it gets really hot in the sun.
I paid $30 for it at a garage sale.
I love Yakima boxes!!! I can relate no negatives about them.
Barryrhintransit - 8-6-2011 at 08:05 PM
welcome to the Nomads, Marylynn.
you specifically asked about a locking system, so I didn't respond earlier. but, since you mention carrying linens, household stuff, etc and that
price is an issue, you might consider a soft carrier. I can't remember the brand of the one I bought when I brought a lot of stuff like that down in
an Explorer Sport, but it cost maybe 100-150. strapped on, no need for anything but gutters of some kind. I stuffed that thing full of linens,
towels, pillows, clothes, my inflatable kayak, etc, all in heavy plastic bags because I was paranoid and did actually unpack it and take the stuff
into the hotels at night.
I had looked at the hard carriers and was unimpressed with their capacities plus I didn't feel I'd use a hard one enough to justify the price.AmoPescar - 8-6-2011 at 11:41 PM
Welcome Marylynn...
Here's another VERY WELL BUILT rack for you to consider. ARB products are off-road tested and tried! The one in the link below is
ALLOY, but they also have a STEEL version.
Michael (aka Miguelamo) Curt63 - 8-7-2011 at 11:14 AM
Fez is right. Spend the $ for quality. Lots of rough dirt roads leading to amazing wonderful fantastic places.
You dont want a cheap one to break on you.
Good luck!
Save space
bajaguy - 8-7-2011 at 11:49 AM
We use those vaccum bags. Pack 'em full of clothes, towels, bedding, pillows, blankets, the cat (just kidding) then use the vaccum cleaner to suck the
air out. Works great, saves space.AmoPescar - 8-8-2011 at 01:14 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
We use those vaccum bags. Pack 'em full of clothes, towels, bedding, pillows, blankets, the cat (just kidding) then use the vaccum cleaner to suck the
air out. Works great, saves space.
bajaguy...
So when you get to your destination...do you unpack the cat and fluff him up? Or...do you have to re-hydrate him for an hour in some warm water??
Miguelamo Hook - 8-8-2011 at 04:32 AM
I just dont get spending 500-1k on a rooftop carrier. Yeah, they are sleek and pretty and aerodynamic and all that.
Garage sales, PennySaver, Recycler, amigo. You can get decent ones (not in the class of Yakima and Thule, of course) for 20-50 bucks. I did. It's a
Canadian model that is probably 3 foot wide by 4 foot long by 2.5 foot high. It is a bit aerodynamic as it is a bit lower in the front than the back.
But it still DOES cost about 1.5 mpg on the Jeep. I also use it on the Lance, when necessary.
The construction is thin polypropylene or something. It does flex a bit. Has a locking mechanism. It attaches to any rack with U-bolts, so it doesnt
lock but a thief will have to take the time to ratchet off all 8 nylock nuts.
But I'm not too worried about it..............they will be working on those pretty Yakimas and Thules on the expensive SUVs anyway.
I guess it's a pizza carrier.Bajatripper - 8-8-2011 at 04:45 AM
You might also want to consider using a soft cartop carrier. They're cheap (around $40) and I find them easier to load than the hard-case variety. As
you should only place light stuff in them, for me, that usually means sleeping bags, tents, etc, items that are easily "squished" into place. I've
never had security issues with them in Baja. I get two-three years of use out of them before they spring a hole. But, to be fair, they can let in a
little dampness when it rains real hard.
Not saying that's the way to go, just another option to consider.bajaguy - 8-8-2011 at 07:16 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by AmoPescar
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
We use those vaccum bags. Pack 'em full of clothes, towels, bedding, pillows, blankets, the cat (just kidding) then use the vaccum cleaner to suck the
air out. Works great, saves space.
bajaguy...
So when you get to your destination...do you unpack the cat and fluff him up? Or...do you have to re-hydrate him for an hour in some warm water??
Miguelamo
Once she sees me getting out the air compressor, she fluffs right up.........but that's another story willyAirstream - 8-8-2011 at 07:56 AM
bajaguy, I think he meant your cat, not your blow up doll.
MaryLyn - your existing roof rails, duffel bags and a cargo net. Cheap, fast, flexible and easy. Come to think of it - Just like Bajaguys doll.
