BajaNomad

Yakima/Thule (and the likes) cartop carriers

hombre66 - 2-3-2016 at 07:46 PM

Any Nomads out there that use those plastic cargo pods on their 4x rigs for extended off road treks? Would like to know how well they hold up. Hinges, locks etc could be at risk, as well as how well they may seal off against dust. My next trip will be Bo'LA to Pta SFO which many of you know, is 90 miles o' dirt each way, with varying terrain. Washboard being the hardest on gear. Thanks

mtgoat666 - 2-3-2016 at 08:04 PM

My Thule works great, every type of road. Don't worry about choosing, the yakimas and thules are about the same.

weebray - 2-4-2016 at 07:41 AM

Goat speaks the truth - I have owned both.

BigBearRider - 2-4-2016 at 08:52 AM

I've been very happy with the Swedish Thule products.

BigBearRider - 2-4-2016 at 08:54 AM

I've been very happy with the Swedish Thule products.

chippy - 2-4-2016 at 10:03 AM

I think they are both comparable in price and quality (very good). I went with Thule as the racks worked better with my P/U.

toronja - 2-4-2016 at 11:17 AM

Ours is a yak, I think, and an old one at that (we got it off of a friend). We don't offroad with it much, but had it fully loaded going up and back the (at the time, fairly long) unpaved stretch of the 5 south of Puertocitos with no problems (along with the rest of the peninsula and associated potholes). I will caution that it makes your rig stick out like a sore thumb, which is why we took it off as soon as we got unpacked until it was time to head north again.

Barry A. - 2-4-2016 at 04:35 PM

I own 2 Yakima's--------a "rocket box" (long and narrow) and a big fat one that holds gobs of stuff. Both double lock with fairly secure rigging, as well as the brackets for the racks also lock securely to the top of your vehicle. I have used both for over 15 years on many a Baja backroads with no problems. Both have never leaked rain, but both do get dust inside under extreme powder/silt road situations, but not that badly. I have been totally satisfied with both of them. The big one cost about $600 new, as I recall, and the rocket box $25 at a garage sale. Never had any damage or breaking with either of them.

chippy - 2-4-2016 at 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Barry A.  
I own 2 Yakima's--------a "rocket box" (long and narrow) and a big fat one that holds gobs of stuff. Both double lock with fairly secure rigging, as well as the brackets for the racks also lock securely to the top of your vehicle. I have used both for over 15 years on many a Baja backroads with no problems. Both have never leaked rain, but both do get dust inside under extreme powder/silt road situations, but not that badly. I have been totally satisfied with both of them. The big one cost about $600 new, as I recall, and the rocket box $25 at a garage sale. Never had any damage or breaking with either of them.



Good score for 25 bucks:bounce:

hombre66 - 2-5-2016 at 09:43 AM

Wow ...great garage sale find at $25. Jealous. If anyone owns the SPORTRACK 18 cu ft one, I'd like some feedback on the quality. They seem to be a little more affordable.