Table of Contents
Introduction
Planning for a family vacation can be pretty stressful, especially if you have storage space problems. If you need a lot of equipment but don’t have enough space in the car, you might end up compromising some fun gear or other similar items. And this can only result in a slightly disappointing vacation. This is why investing in a cargo carrier is the best solution.
Cargo carriers allow you to carry a wide range of things. This includes gear, folded baby strollers, camping equipment, and a lot more. And as a result, you won’t have to struggle to find space for your favorite pair of skis or your toddler’s car. These carriers come in various shapes and sizes and can be easily installed on the rooftop of your car. For bikes, snowboards, and other similar gear, you can find carriers that can be installed on the rear side of the vehicle.
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To install most types of carriers, you need a crossbar or load bar. A lot of vehicles come with factory crossbars, however, you can also find all kinds of crossbars on the aftermarket as well. You can make an extra investment and get a professional to have them installed, or you can do it yourself. They’re very easy to mount. And depending on the type, you may or may not need any tools.
After getting your crossbar installed, you can easily mount any type of carrier you want. Again, depending on the model, you may or may not need tools to help you get the job done. However, most carriers don’t require any tools. On the other hand, they come with various claps and straps that help secure the carrier in place for the whole road trip.
Advantages of Using a Cargo Carrier
If you don’t tend to go on too many vacations full of luggage, spending money on a cargo carrier may not seem like it’s a worthy investment. But you should keep in mind that most good and high-quality carriers are designed to last up to 5 years of usage. This includes a lot of vacation and luggage transportation. And if you don’t use it too often, yours might even last up to a decade.
The big advantage of any type of carrier is the extra storage space it can offer. You can invest in big cargo boxes for luggage, or you can get a smaller cargo basket and install a bike rack on the roof as well. This way, you can store both your bike and your luggage on the rooftop of your vehicle. Having a good storage place will also ensure that your items won’t get damaged due to bad transportation. Some things can get easily broken under pressure.
A carrier can also help you carry your dirty mountain bike back home without dirtying the interior of your car or trunk. And a carrier box, bag, or basket can offer an easy-to-clean space where you can put your dirty boots and other equipment. Boxes and baskets are usually made of high-quality plastics and can be washed with a garden hose, and bags can usually be machine washed.
Closed carriers are also usually waterproof and feature a UV-resistant coating. They can also be freeze-resistant. This makes them ideal for any type of weather. No matter if you plan on taking a vacation to the beach or skiing resort.
Rooftop carriers can also be used to carry various larger items without blocking your access to the trunk. This includes skis, snowboards, etc.
Types of Rooftop Cargo Carriers
As mentioned before, there is a wide range of cargo carriers on the market, and they come in various shapes and sizes. So let’s talk about the main four types of rooftop cargo carriers and what are their advantages and disadvantages. This will help you make an educated choice and make sure you buy the Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag.
Some carriers are specifically designed for larger items such as boats, kayaks, bikes, surfboards, and other similar things. While other carriers are perfect for smaller gear and even children’s toys. This includes baby strollers, baby carriers, various larger toys, hiking boots, and other items. Choosing the perfect carrier is important because they all come with their disadvantages as well.
Smaller carriers offer space for bikes but they can’t fit too much. This makes them useless when you have to transport some extra-large suitcases at once. And while larger carriers are great for larger luggage, they often occupy the entire space on your car’s rooftop. Smaller closed carriers may also not fit any larger gear that you’d like to carry without keeping it in the sun, rain, or snow.
The most popular types of rooftop cargo carriers are cargo bags, boxes, baskets, and rack systems. And the big disadvantage of rooftop cargo carriers is that they block your access to low-clearance roads. They also provide a lot of wind resistance.
Cargo Bags
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Let’s start with the more affordable type of rooftop cargo carrier, the cargo bag. These storing bags are also the easiest to install on your vehicle. This makes them excellent for people that suffer from a medical condition and can’t battle with other types of stubborn carriers. They’re also very easy to take down.
Another great advantage of these bags is that they’re foldable. This means you can easily fold them when you want to take them down and store them away. They also don’t take much space and can even be kept inside your trunk for emergency situations. And since they’re made of various fabrics, they’re also great for items that might force the bag to stretch a little bit to fit in properly. This is impossible to do with a sturdy and fixed carrier.
These bags are very sturdy and they feature an effective protection against various road elements. This includes rain, snow, small rocks, and bad winds. The disadvantage is that they don’t offer as much space as other carriers. But you can invest in extra-large cargo bags that cost a fraction of the price of another carrier the same size.
If you need extra space, you want an easy-to-load-and-unload cargo carrier, and you don’t want to spend too much, rooftop cargo bags are the perfect choice for you.
Cargo Boxes
Unlike cargo bags, cargo boxes are solid and can be attached tn both your car’s rooftop or on the rear side. The rooftop-mounted models are the largest and they can be very spacious. This is because they can also be very tall. And although they still provide wind resistance, some models also feature an aerodynamic design. But you can find all kinds of shapes and sizes on the aftermarket.
You can use cargo boxes to store larger equipment as well ad keep them safe from the raging weather while you’re on the road. And since they’re very sturdy, you can be sure that they’re not easily damaged from sharper items that made their way out of the luggage. They can keep everything secure inside the box and ensure no outside elements make their way inside it.
Cargo boxes are also ideal if you want to carry expensive equipment and you want to make sure they won’t get stolen while your car is parked. High-quality boxes are designed with sturdy locks that make sure no one else can open the box, but you. They also feature various extra locks that are specifically made so you can secure the box itself to the car.
Their disadvantages are that they can be very bulky and are harder to load and unload than cargo bags. They also cause a lot more wind resistance as most models are square and very large.
Cargo Baskets
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Now let’s move on to another type of cargo carrier that’s actually an extension to your car roof’s rack. This is basically a narrow sided shopping basket that’s pretty large and can be attached to the top of your vehicle. You can also invest in a cargo bag X cargo basket combination as cargo basket can support your cargo bag much better. However, these carriers can be used to transport various items.
To secure your cargo on top of a rooftop basket you can use the provided stretchy cargo net and hooks. They’re specifically designed to resists all kinds of weather and keep your cargo in place throughout the entire journey. Their big advantage is that they offer a lot more flexibility in the size and shape of the items you want to transport. And their cargo nets are just as flexible.
However, they have their disadvantage as well. Unless you use a cargo bag, your gear won’t be protected against any raging elements. This means that you can only transport items that are resistant to sun, rain, snow, and other weather conditions.
Rack Systems
Rack systems are the connection between your vehicle and whatever type of rooftop carrier you decide to install. And more than that, they offer all the flexibility you need to carry a wide range of objects. This includes boats, bikes, canoes, kayaks, surfboards, snowboards, skis, and a lot more. They also serve as a mount for your cargo bag, box, or basket.
If you’ll need to carry various large and heavy equipment, you might want to consider heavy-duty square crossbars. But if you don’t, then you can find a wide range of rooftop rack you can choose from. They’re also not too hard to install and they usually come with all the hardware and accessories necessary for the installation process.
In this article, we’ll talk about our Top 3 Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bags.
Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag – Comparison Table
Product Name | Sherpak Go! | AUPERTO | Wild Xplorer |
Image |  |  |  |
Waterproof | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Heavy-Duty | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UV-Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Versatile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Capacity | 424/15 Cubic Feet | 19 Cubic Feet | 19 Cubic Feet |
Security Lock | No | Yes | No |
Link |
1 Seattle Sports Sherpak Go! Waterproof Cargo Bag
Description
The Seattle Sports Sherpak Go! Waterproof Cargo Bag is designed to fit up to 3-4 suitcases and it an keep them secure throughout your whole trip. It has RF-welded seams, deeply recessed zipper, an is made out of heavy-duty vinyl. It also features a UV-resistant coating that protects the bag and its content from the harsh sun. Probably it is the Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag.
Thanks to its heavy-duty design, this cargo bag uses 10 coil zippers, heavy-duty plastic hardware, and a universal attachment system. This means that it will easily fit any type of vehicle. And the best part of these cargo carrier is that it doesn’t require any crossbars or cargo basket to be installed.
The installation process couldn’t be any easier. Al you have to do is strap it to your car and go. Its heavy-duty but thin straps are high-quality and can secure the bag in its place without much effort. The bag’s dimensions are 15.5-inches X 37-inches X 45-inches and its capacity is 424/15 cubic feet.
You can use this cargo ban for any car and SUV rooftop with or without a roof rack or cargo basket. It fits on front and sidebars as well.
Pros
- Very Easy to Mount
- RF-Welded Seams
- Deeply-Recessed Zipper
- Heavy-Duty Vinyl
- UV-Resistant Material
- Waterproof Design
- Versatile Design
- Has a Capacity of 424/15 Cubic Feet
Cons
- Not ideal for extremely heavy rain.
2 AUPERTO 19 Cubic Feet Car Rooftop Bag
Description
The AUPERTO 19 Cubic Feet Car Rooftop Bag is highly durable and stable as it’s designed with 600D PVC fabric and high-frequency technique. It also features an upgraded set of protective pads that and a reinforced, rubberized anti-slip mat. This can be placed on the car’s roof or under roof racks. Its job is to ensure that the cargo box won’t slip during transport. Maybe it is not the Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag but is really close.
Thanks to the advanced and safe design, this cargo bag features a free combination lock that can be attached to the zipper. This will prevent the bag from being broken into and it ensures that the zippers won’t loosen and allow rain inside the bag. You will also enjoy its double-flap design that makes sure they are 100% watertight. You can expect from it a long life and high-end performance.
With its easy installation and storing design, you can easily mount it on any vehicle regardless if they have racks or not. And when you don’t need it anymore, you can fold it and store it in the portable bag that comes along with the cargo bag. Its dimensions are 47.2-inches X 35.4-inches X 19.8-inches.
Pros
- Very Easy to Install
- Durable and Stable
- Long-Lasting
- Enormous Capacity
- High-Performance
- Advanced Safe Design
- Uses 600D PVC Fabric
- High-Frequency Technique
- Protective Pads Included
- Its Capacity is 19 Cubic Feet
- Comes With a Portable Storing Bag
- Double Flap To Ensure It’s Watertight
- Free Combination Lock for Zipper
- Reinforced, Rubberized Anti-Slip Mat
Cons
- It can be slightly too big for very small vehicles.
3 Wild Xplorer Rooftop Cargo Bag
Description
The Wild Xplorer Rooftop Cargo Bag is designed to fit up to 4 large suitcases or 6 smaller ones. You will also receive 6 heavy-duty metal hooks (2 spares), 10 reinforced straps, premium NIFCO buckles, a waterproof zipper system, double strap covers with 8 velcro restrainers, and a premium protection mat. It also features an excellent full lifetime warranty. This makes it one of the Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag available on the market.
Thanks to its heavy-duty design, you can confidently use this cargo box for a very long time. It’s waterproof, UV-resistant, and it can deal with whatever the weather has to throw at it. And while it’s full size can be a little intimidating, you can easily store it away once you’ve folded it. It quickly becomes as small as a cereal box and you can store it inside your car to always have it when you need it.
It can easily fit any type of hardtop, 4-door car, SUV, Truck, Minivan, or Pickup Truck. However, if you own a small vehicle with only two doors, you will need to install a rooftop rack. This is because this carrier bag is way too big for a small vehicle.
Pros
- Easy To Install
- Massive Capacity of 19 Cubic Feet
- Ten Reinforced Straps
- Premium NIFCO Buckles
- Waterproof Zipper System
- Premium Protection Mat
- Double Strap Covers With 8 Velcro Restrainers
- Six Heavy-Duty Door Hooks and Two Spares
Cons
- It’s too big for a 2-door vehicle without a rooftop rack.
Conclusion
Cargo bags are some of the most versatile types of cargo rooftop cargo carriers. They’re often waterproof, and you can find high-end quality models at a pretty advantageous price. This is why we included only heavy-duty models that can withstand any type of weather you may encounter while driving. After all the Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag is the one you choose to buy.
