Roof boxes: Let the Critiques Soar

[Buster Highmen]

OK, so the new sled needs a roof box to accomodate all the familial crap I'm hauling around.

Ams those packasnort boxes that much bettah? Is Thule really the Ice Queen of Customer Support? Are Yakimas as flakey as their photographers?

Spill it, O communal wisdoms.

[lemon boy]

Just put an ARE topper on that bad boy, way better than a roofie...oh wait. huh, I dunno.

[Hugh Jass]

I've had good luck with my Thule.

My only recommendation is that bigger is generally better. I opted to close to the smallest (or maybe it was the smallest) Thule due to pricing, but wish I went bigger.

If it were bigger, wider and flatter, I could stuff more into it.

[SkiN00d]

I'm happy with my Thule 2100 but it's the only box I've owned. It opens on either side, tolerates my driving style and I could just fit my 201s in there. I've had up to 6 pairs of fat skis in there at once which was way better than the 2-3 that would fit in my old ski rack.

[GapersGoHome]

If it were bigger, wider and flatter, I could stuff more into it.

Gotta love the eager chubby girls.

Seriously, though... I absolutely love my Thule 2100, REI garage sale find, opens either side, which is great, super fast on/off, no shaking (even up to 120 mph), fits 5 pairs of fatties easily, and there's enough room on top of those to throw a few boards. Also, you don't have to worry about 'did I lock it'? questions; you can't take the keys out til it's closed, locked, and loaded.

Qualms: Minor. The lock sticks in cold weather, threw some graphite lube in there, and it softened up a bit. Still a little sucky in the uber-cold, though. The reason (probably) is that the lock cylinder turns the primary closing mechanism; the same one that snugs the lid closed. If it's not all the way sealed, or there's a strap or something in the way, it's really a bitch to get the leverage down.

[wildstyle]

get the biggest, cheapest box you can that looks to have decent fixings and internal tie downs. Try to get one as wide as possible so you can get more skis in without putting them on top of each other and damaging them while driving along.

I like thule for their bars, i wouldn't buy their boxes as they are over priced and made of the same stuff everyone uses.

[Idris]

We use Thule boxes at work, for airport transfers. These things see a lot of miles. The older 4-5 year old boxes are more solid than the current ones. They creak less. They also dont flap as much when empty. The locks on the newer ones are better, not as bad at freezing up. But I still don't like the idea of the primary closure by key. Far to east to snap the key in the lock. On one particular vehicle we have a polar 900 (that's what it's called here). You could fit 2 normal people in the thing and have room to spare. Problem is most of the time it's empty and over 60mph it begins to flap and try and escape the rack. At 100mph its darn scary...... then again I shouldn't be looking up through the full lenght sun/moon roof at 100mph.

My advice is a little contary. Only get as big as you need - Bigger = more wind resistance and more noise.

[Dudley]

I have the packsport box and love it. Mine was picked up in Belgium and used to move some gear back to the states and looks brand new after five years. The internal (and removeable) ski rack is a sick feature that keeps your skis from getting bounced around and eliminates the need for ski bags. My folks have one that is probably 10-12 years old, the thing has no flaws and still looks really slick and aerodynamic. That being said, I use Thule for everything else and love their products...

[Benny Profane]

My five year old Thule has a renforcement bar running down the middle of the bottom that worked loose of two of it's rivets - otherwise it's just fine. I think that may have happened when I dropped it. I don't bother with internal hardware at all - I have a few cheap Mexican blankets that I use to cushion skis and boards from one another.
And the results are in from this thread: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...highlight=roof - Out of sight, out of mind. Very secure.

[Flexon Phil]

I had a Thule Adventurer now a Yakima Skybox Pro, the Yak is much quiter and being able to open on both sides is a huge asset.

[strawjack]

i have an old thule (can't remember the name) but the thing has been bomber. its about 10yrs old now. the only bitch with it is having to push two button locks at the same time to open it. i think thats all changed now.

one thing to think about before buying is that it fits your car...info that is sometimes difficult to come by. if you have a hatch make sure it will open enough to get your stuff in and out without smashing your head!

im also in the market for a new box 'cause my old one is too long for our new car. i would also agree w/ most...buy as big as you can. i have two kids and a big dog...we throw as much stuff as we can in the box.

[JTrue]

Qualms: Minor. The lock sticks in cold weather, threw some graphite lube in there, and it softened up a bit. Still a little sucky in the uber-cold, though. The reason (probably) is that the lock cylinder turns the primary closing mechanism; the same one that snugs the lid closed. If it's not all the way sealed, or there's a strap or something in the way, it's really a bitch to get the leverage down.

What I find happens with mine is that the metal tabs that are inside the holes where the plastic arms come down into are bent up too far, this causes the shaft that runs through the middle of the arms to not be able to close all the way, so it feels like the lock won't turn.(Hopefully you understand my great description ) Try to push these metal tabs in with your while the box is open with a screw driver so that they aren't sticking out as much. This should allow the lock mechanism to turn. Those metal tabs are the reason you can't turn the lock with the top open.

[Arty50]

When it's really cold out or you have a bunch of skis stuffed in there, there's a trick that always works. Put one hand on the key and turn it gently while you tap downwards on the top of the box lid. Sometimes it needs a good firm tapping, but it always works like a charm.

Also, if you have snow on top of your box, be careful when you open it. Getting snow in the latch mechanism cups can help freeze things up. The tapping method above always gets me out of this though.

[kid4lyf]

Here's my Thule roof box experience:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=71952

Everything's peachy till there's a problem.

[Blatant]

didn't el chup. have a line on roof boxes? thought i remember a thread by him a bit ago.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=51370

[El Chupacabra]

I have the packsport box and love it. Mine was picked up in Belgium and used to move some gear back to the states and looks brand new after five years. The internal (and removeable) ski rack is a sick feature that keeps your skis from getting bounced around and eliminates the need for ski bags.

I have a Packasport 60; search in gear swap, there's a thread on this with a guy in Sacramento CA who has (had?) a lot of old stock he was selling for cheap. I bought mine from him.

I had a Yakima Rocketbox; would've kept it, but it didn't clear my garage door opening on top of my Jeep. The Packasport is lower-profile, and clears by about 1.5 inches.

I like the design of the dual-opening-sides that some Thule and Yakima boxes have. And both Thule and Yakima have some slick easy-on/off ratcheting clamps now. The Packasport is the only one made out of fiberglass -- it's a little heavier, but much stiffer -- don't know whether that's a good thing here or not; might crack, but would be repairable, where a Yak/Thule box might dent/pop back, or shatter.

I'd just buy whatever fits your vehicle's roof and your garage clearance, and whatever you can find a deal on.

[Buzzworthy]

I gots Woodsy's old Yak Rocketbox. Works great. A bit small for a bunch of snowboards, but you needn't worry bout that.

And ours did not work on the Jeep Liberty, can't get in parking garage at USU. Barely fits in our garage with 1/2" to spare. So it is on the Subie and works out great.

Want a larger, lower profile one for Jeep now. Helps with beach/camping supplies too.

[Core Shot]

Had 'em all.

Packasport wins hands down.

Rigid & Stiff.
No flopping or vibration on the highway.
better struts (Yakima struts broke and froze up on me)
Easier to open one handed.
Better hardware. More solid.

Cons: price, weight, and doesn't like impacts with hard objects.

[The AD]

What kind of mileage hit can you expect from putting a roof box on?

[axebiker]

What kind of mileage hit can you expect from putting a roof box on?

Mine went from about 29-32mpg, to about 25-27mpg - not too bad... I have a 2005 Pontiac Vibe, and a Yak rack & box.

[Benny Profane]

What kind of mileage hit can you expect from putting a roof box on?

I've never been able to measure, because I put the snows on around the same time. But it hasn't been very bad.

[El Chupacabra]

What kind of mileage hit can you expect from putting a roof box on?

6-cyl WJ Grand Cherokee w/ Yakima crossbars: mileage went up 1-1.5 mpg with the Packasport box, versus the Yakima ski rack that was on there before. Weird.

[Buzzworthy]

I dropped 2 mpg on my subie on average.

[gravitylover]

I use an old Barrecrafters, biggest they made in 2001. It's been bombproof and doesn't affect handling or mileage too badly. Unfortunately I lost a key so I'm down to one and they don't exist anymore so I can't get a replacement and the lock is a different size than everything else so it's not replaceable either. I've put as many as 12 pairs of skis and 2 snowboards in at once with no problems. Without it I'd definitely need a bigger traveling vehicle.

[shirk]

I have a Mont Blanc Asspen. It's been a great box. Holds six pair of skis and poles without problems. Doesn't creeek too much or make alot of noise. Great value for the money.