When it comes to making sure that you have enough space to bring everything you need with you on your next car trip, you might come to realize that you do not have enough space for everything in your trunk alone.
This might be because the trunk of your car is relatively small and maybe you do not have the option of putting down the back seat.
Or, you might be facing this problem because you simply have too much stuff that you need to pack up. No matter what your reasons are, the first step to solving this problem is looking for more places where you can keep things safely stored.
For instance, some cars allow you to store things on the roof, as long as you have a roof-mounted box that properly attaches to your car.
All Roof Cargo Boxes are designed to be Aerodynamic, however some are more Aerodynamic than others. Keep you MPG down and your cars performance up by choosing the most aerodynamic roof box for your needs, with the help of our guide.
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What Types of Boxes Are There?
There are going to be two main types of roof boxes that you will want to look for. Some roof boxes are hard covered, with a durable lid to keep your belongings safe and sound during the trip.
There are also soft boxes that are designed to be a little bit more flexible in terms of shape, which can be incredibly helpful if you are packing some large and non-conventionally shaped objects. While both of these boxes can get the job done, there are some jobs that are better suited to a specific type of roof box.
If you are looking for something that is designed to be aerodynamic, and are willing to sacrifice potential space, then you will want to look more toward the hard-covered roof boxes. These boxes also have more protection against rocks and pebbles kicked up by passing cars and trucks.
On the other hand, the soft boxes allow for more flexibility in shape and are almost always significantly lighter. You will want to keep this in mind when you are looking for the perfect roof box for your car.
What Should You Look for in a Hard Cargo Box?
If you decide that hard cargo boxes are the way to go when you are looking for aerodynamic roof boxes, then there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
First, these roof boxes tend to be significantly heavier than their soft counterparts, weighing anywhere between 30 and 60 pounds, depending on the size and material of the box.
You will definitely want to make sure that your car is built to have that weight on top of it, in addition to whatever you are planning to load the cargo box with.
You should also keep in mind that for a good, sturdy hard cargo box, you should be prepared to have a few hundred dollars ready. After all, nobody wants their belongings getting damaged on a long car journey.
Finally, you will also want to make sure that your car has racks that are compatible with the cargo box you are looking at. Without these racks, your cargo box won’t have anything to attach to.
What About the Specs of a Hard Cargo Box?
As for a good model of hard cargo box, you will need to pay attention to the load weight of the box when you plan what is going inside of the box. Most high-quality cargo boxes are going to have a load weight around 110 pounds, although it will vary depending on how much you want to spend on your cargo box.
Many of these boxes also come in varying sizes. The smallest boxes will usually have about 10 or more cubic feet of space, while the largest ones can have double that at 20 cubic feet of space, which is surely more than enough for your belongings.
Last, but not least, you will want to make sure that your hard cargo box is secure and locked, so that even at highway speeds, you won’t have to give a second thought to the idea of the cargo box opening and spilling out onto the road.
A well-rounded hard cargo box that you might want to start looking at is the Thule Force cargo box, or for more detail on all sorts of boxes check out our buyers guides.
What Should You Look for in a Soft Cargo Box?
If you have decided that a soft cargo box is a better option for your search of aerodynamic roof boxes, then there are going to be a few different things that you want to pay attention to. These roof boxes might not have the same type of stylish shape as the hard cargo boxes have, but they are still designed to be aerodynamic, ensuring a safe and quiet trip without losing anything in the process.
Usually, soft cargo boxes will have some extra versatility in installations, as they do not necessarily require racks to keep it in place. Many places will offer a few different ways to have the soft cargo box stay on top of your car during the entire trip.
The main installation methods are for bare roofs, as in roofs that have no racks, side rails, and cross bars. Typically, soft cargo boxes will come with straps that you would attach to the car as the directions should state, and there will often be other accessories you can get to further increase the security of your soft cargo box.
You will also need to pay attention to the size of the bag, as some bags won’t be suitable for smaller cars. Typically, anything above 15 cubic feet should only be reserved for full-size sedans, SUVs, and vans, as well as any other larger cars that fit this sizing. On the other hand, 11 cubic feet is usually small enough to fit just about any car, aside from miniature cars.
Be sure to read our Soft box guide for more information.
What About the Specs of a Soft Cargo Box?
Some people might be concerned about the material not being the same as the hard cargo boxes. While this is a valid concern, you won’t have to worry about a thing. Obviously, the materials for a soft cargo box are going to be notably different. In fact, most soft cargo boxes come in at about 10 pounds or less, averaging out at about 7 pounds.
The material, while it might not be hard, is meant to be waterproof and weatherproof against rain, sand, snow, and heat alike. As for the pricing of these cargo boxes, there is so much less to worry about. Even high quality, aerodynamic, and weatherproof soft cargo boxes usually do not exceed $100, and they are almost always less than this.
Finally, the sizing of these boxes can easily be converted to suitcases. For instance, if you decide that you want to play it safe and get the 11 cubic foot cargo box, you would be able to fit about four medium suitcases inside of it, which is usually suitable for any family trip to an airport.
If you are looking at aerodynamic roof boxes and you are wondering which soft one is best for your car, you might want to take a look at the RoofBag line of cargo bags. These cargo boxes are designed specifically to be weatherproof, aerodynamic, and stay securely attached to your car without any issues during your trip.
