The main purpose of a cargo carrier is to expand the load capacity of your car for items that might not fit inside. Arksen has a good range of sizes too, with 64-inch and 84-inch lengths available, as well as cargo bags for weatherproof transportation. No matter the size of your vehicle, we understand that winter sports, water sports and other outdoor activities require a lot of equipment, some of which won’t fit in your car, van or SUV. Our engineers like the alloy steel construction, which should provide exceptional stability even when hauling a max 150-pound load at highway speeds.

Zippers are robust, and you can padlock them closed, but obviously a bag won't offer the same level of security as a hard case. You can find cheaper and bigger roof boxes, but we're not sure there's a more versatile, user-friendly choice, whatever your load needs or type of vehicle. From multiple suitcases to a full camp setup including sleeping bags and a tent, the Fivklemnz soft rooftop cargo carrier is a top-seller in the marketplace. While some high-end carriers can handle as much as 165 pounds, your car's roof may not be able to hold that much weight. That said, make sure your vehicle is equipped with the proper rooftop equipment to carry a cargo box.

The underside has metal railings that both strengthen the bag and allow for an excellent fixing mechanism, where you screw in brackets underneath the bag that fasten it to the roof racks.

Those designed and produced by reputable manufacturers are able to cope with both sunny and wintery conditions for a long time. We mounted each rooftop cargo carrier onto a Subaru Forester according to the directions included with the product. The carrier comes with a self-standing top lid (so you can load it easily) and a simple locking mechanism to keep your belongings safe. If you’re looking to expand your vehicle’s storage space, a rooftop cargo carrier is a great option.Despite the huge dimensions, it's actually quite light, although mounting it onto the roof bars is definitely a two-person job, and the low weight and long dimensions increases the amount of wobble when opening and closing it. A bigger carrier may only fit larger vehicles if it can’t mount your car’s cross bars, so be sure to check the specs of the model before purchase. Once each rooftop cargo carrier was installed, we took it for an extended test drive to determine how much drag it caught. Links in this article may result in us earning a commission but do not impact our advice or recommendations.

Soft cargo bags are great for people who do not want to always have the cargo box mounted on the roof of their car, or are limited for space at home,” explains Mike. The product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute leaned into their expertise in the automotive space to identify brands, types, and styles of rooftop cargo carriers that have proved the most reliable through years of auto-related product testing. It also has a lifetime warranty on its buckles and zippers and works with or without roof rails rails.The boxy pod might be a benefit if you’re mainly hauling luggage, as opposed to skis and snowboards, which the JEGS can’t handle. It's just six inches high for a low-profile solution that won't break the bank, and it mounts to any vehicle with roof-rack crossbars using four U-bolts. Finally, our experts assessed durability, noting the quality of materials and construction, as well as how weatherproof each carrier is likely to remain over time. With its 6-inch-high frame, the Arksen has an extremely low-profile, which is nice if you have a small garage or frequent public parking lots with low ceilings. This isn’t a review of the best rooftop cargo carriers for specialty equipment such as skis, bikes, and snowboards.