Though the job of a rooftop carrier is basic — hauling a bunch of gear from one point to another — you’ll need to balance the following factors to find the perfect model for your needs. In general, it’s wise to consider the following factors when shopping for the best roof cargo carrier: Use

There's quite a few compromises compared to a hard-sided design, but for the price, you won’t find a more convenient way to haul a huge amount of gear, even in bad weather.

5. Best for Storage: Thule Sidekick Cargo Box

Customers are impressed with this storage bag’s capacity and weather resistance. Several people mention long road trips through harsh weather conditions. If you find your vehicle’s current carry capacity limited and want to expand by a few cubic feet, then a rooftop cargo carrier can be worth the investment, depending on the price from the retailer.

When you’re on the road you can think of your roof box as an additional car boot, with your contents protected from impact. Car Roof Bag Our analysts start by surveying the current marketplace to identify top-selling rooftop carriers that you’re most likely to find at stores and online. We then work with our product experts to identify brands that have performed the best and proved the most reliable through years of auto-related product testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We also consider newer brands with unique features or innovations. First, the roof rails of your car have a weight limit that is usually found in the owner’s manual, often 100 pounds/45KG. Secondly, the weight of the load impacts car maneuverability when cornering and if the load is too heavy or unbalanced, it can lead to accidents. This is why you need to ensure that the weight of your load does not exceed the maximum allowed weight on the roof of your car. Roof bags are generally a less costly option than a roof box and you will find ones for all budgets.

Promoted Product: RoofPax Rooftop Cargo Carrier

My go-to items are bulky things like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents and camp chairs,” says Mike. “But the biggest influence I have seen when it comes to choosing what cargo box you are looking for is if you need it to carry skis, where length is critical.” Many roof boxes will fit most lengths of downhill skis and snowboards, but do pay close attention to the box’s internal dimensions to be sure they fit. The larger boxes can have capacity for up to six pairs. How Can You Be Sure You're Not Overloading Your Cargo Box Or Vehicle?

Accessibility: Roof bags are not as accessible as roof boxes once fitted and filled. Roof boxes open easily from one or both sides, whereas roof bags need to be unclipped and unzipped. The Roof Master] worked out perfectly. The only bummer is that the included roof protector left a weird faint pattern that still won’t go away. The bag itself held up great and was easy to get on and off. Nothing leaked even the tiniest bit.” Do also remember that while bigger means more capacity, it doesn't always mean better for your vehicle. Bigger cargo boxes have a greater impact on fuel economy and create more road nose, plus they leave less space on the roof bars for other items. If you don’t need a massive box, don’t get one. Which Key Features Are Worth seeking Out?

Thule is a more expensive brand, but sometimes it is worth it. This is an example of you [get what you pay for]. If you want 100 percent confidence with your stuff on top of your car driving 70 mph down the highway, this is your rooftop cargo box.” Single-side : These cargo carriers only open on one side, typically the passenger or driver side of the vehicle.