Ever asked yourself, what do you put in a roof box for small car?
Cars come in different sizes, from small saloon cars to SUVs. Oddly enough, despite the size of the vehicle, we never seem to have enough storage for our luggage or gear.
It is as if more cargo always pops up whenever you want to take a camping trip or that ski trip that you have been planning all year round.
Therefore, instead of changing cars, why not opt for a roof cargo carrier for SUV. Roof boxes are an accessory that you must have. You might be conflicted at first on whether to get one or not.
Trust me, you need to get one for yourself, and you will be looking forward to your next trip.
Apart from increasing storage space, cargo boxes have a ton of other benefits.
Here are some answers to you asking what do you put in a roof box.
Table of Contents
What Do You Put in a Roof Box?
- Suitcases
- Skis
- Snowboards
- Tents
- Camping Equipment
- Shopping
- Fishing Rods
- Fishing Gear
- Golf Clubs
- Tools
- And much more
Roof boxes for small car also come with some protective benefits. For example, you will be able to have a clear view from your rearview mirror without being abstracted by the luggage piled behind your back seat. This can prevent serious accidents.
Also, roof box can help protect your cargo. In most cars, it is usually tricky to organize your items or gear accurately.
However, rooftop storage for car are specially designed to help you store your cargo correctly.
This can prevent damage from a collision with other things or being cobbled together. Furthermore, modern roof cargo carrier for SUVs are waterproof to ensure your cargo does not get waterlogged during your next trip.
Loading Your Roof Box
The focus of this article is what you should put/load in your roof box. Despite roof boxes being made of durable material, just like any other product, they can get damaged if not correctly looked after. As such, you should always ensure that you pack what your roof box can handle.
All rooftop storage for car have specific load limits that should not be exceeded. Apart from this, your car’s roof can only hold a given weight. For instance, Tesla Model 3 has a weight limit of 150lbs as such weight is an essential factor that you should always consider.
Do not go putting 1000lbs steel bars just because they fit in your cargo box. You will end up damaging both your roof box and car.
Load heaviest items in your trunk
Having a roof box does not mean that you forego using your truck. Roof boxes are intended to complement the existing storage space you have in your car. Since the trunk can carry heavy cargo, it is always advisable that you load heavier things in there.
Make sure you arrange your heavy cargo properly so as not to exceed the windshield level. Now let’s look at the items that could be in the roof box.
Suitcases
Most roof boxes are designed to store suitcases ideally. However, it is essential to note that the height of rooftop storage for car varies significantly. Some roof boxes are long (length) and short (height) while others are tall (height) and short (length).
Therefore the type of suitcase that you put in there will be affected by these factors. Nevertheless, this should not worry you so much as most ordinary bags will fit in your cargo box. Also, since suitcases mostly contain clothes, there are usually lighter in weight; thus, they won’t overload your roof box.
Sporting equipment
For some people, the number one reason why they buy roof box is to store sporting equipment. This is more common for people who enjoy sports such as hockey and skiing due to the size/shape of their equipment.
With this in mind, you will need to select your rooftop storage for car carefully. This is because they come in different dimensions; as such, one can fit snowboards, and another cannot. Don’t let this worry you; we will briefly highlight some specific roof boxes and what they can carry in the next section.
Camping Gear
If you are one of those who enjoy the occasional camping trips and have always been stressed when it is time to pack for your trip, a roof box is just what you need. Some roof boxes are big enough to fit camping gear for up to three people.
Some of the camping gear that you should store on your roof box include your tent, sleeping bags, pillows, clothes, and footwear. When you arrange these items properly, you will be surprised at the amount of cargo that can fit in your roof box.
Specific Roof Boxes and What They Can Carry
We will look at three specific roof boxes on all of different sizes (small, medium, and Large) to get an idea of what they can carry.
Yakima Rocket Box Pro
Yakima is a renowned company when it comes to roof box. They have been in the market for a very long time and have a proven track record. One of their modern rooftop storage for car is the Yakima Rocket Box Pro.
This roof cargo carrier for SUV is specially designed for small cars. However, it can be used in SUVs and Hatchbacks. It has a capacity of 12 Cubic feet, making it one of the smaller versions in the market. The dimensions of this roof box are 58 x 37 x 16 inches and it weighs 30 lbs. This rooftop storage for car is ideal for carrying camping gear.
Despite its small size, it can carry gear of up to 2 people. Also, you can use it to pack your suitcase. However, big suitcases will not fit in this top of car storage container. Despite its size, Yakima rooftop storage for cars are designed to carry a maximum weight capacity of 165lbs.
However, since this item is not long, it cannot fit any skis or snowboards. So if you enjoy skiing, this is not the rooftop storage for car for you. Click the link below to find out how you can purchase one for yourself.
Thule Pulse Rooftop Cargo Box
This roof cargo carrier for SUV comes in three sizes (11, 14, and 16 Cu ft.) For this article, we will take the 16 Cu ft—version to be the medium-sized roof box. The dimensions of this box are 76 x 33 x 16.5″.
It has a weight limit of 110lbs or 50kg. This roof box is very long (length), making it ideal for skis and snowboard. The rooftop storage for car can carry 6-8 pairs of skis or 3-4 snowboards. Due to its size, it has room to fit skis that are up to 181 cm long. However, this roof box is not very tall; as such, it is not ideal for carrying big suitcases.
You can also load most sporting equipment. Also, you can pack your camping gear comfortably in this best roof box for small car. The Thule Pulse Roof Box is beautiful and has storage space adequate to meet the needs of most individuals.
Thule Motion XT Rooftop Cargo Carrier
When we talk about large best roof box for small car, the Thule Motion XT-(Xxl) is the one that comes to mind. While the roof box does come in three different sizes (16, 18, 22 Cu ft.), we chose the 22 Cu Ft version to represent the large roof box.
The quality of Thule roof boxes is top-notch, and you never have to worry about that. They have the reviews and track record to validate that. Therefore, the only thing you need to consider when buying these roof boxes is the size.
The 22 Cu ft. cargo box is fairly large and weighs around 46lbs. The dimensions are 84.5″ x 36″ x 17″. Due to its length, this roof box can comfortably carry skis and snowboards. In particular, it can fit 5-7 pairs of ski or 3 to 5 snowboards.
The difference between this version and the Thule Pulse is that this one is much larger in all dimensions. In addition, it can fit skis of up to a maximum length of 200 cm. Also, due to its wider frames, it is ideal for suitcases and also camping gear.
How Do They Compare?
Last update on 2023-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Things That You Always Need To Remember When Using Roof Boxes
Now that you know the answer to the question “what can you put in a roof box”, let’s look at some of the crucial things that you need to remember when packing your cargo. It is vital that you evenly distribute weight in your roof boxes.
This will prevent the product from being lopsided. I would advise that you always store the heavier items in the middle of the box. Also, to hold the top of car storage container in its place, use straps and holders. This will not only secure the roof box; it will also minimize the noise.
To avoid damaging the lock system and to keep your cargo secured, always ensure that your items, for example, clothes not to obstruct the locking system. Finally, some of the things that you need to consider after loading your roof box include:
Height of your car: Ensure that you can access your cargo since the roof box will make your vehicle taller.
The speed limit of the roof box: Most rooftop storage for car have manuals that indicate the maximum speed that your car needs to be at so as not to affect the cargo box’s safety and aerodynamic nature. Always follow these instructions carefully for a safer journey.
Tire pressure: While roof boxes today are designed to be aerodynamic, it is impossible to eliminate drag completely. Therefore, your car needs to have adequate tire pressure to improve fuel economy.
