I’ve scoured the web looking at dozens of roof bags and have included only those with a minimum of four stars. Roof bags are generally a less costly option than a roof box and you will find ones for all budgets. Size:77 x 36 x 17 inches | Weight:42 pounds | Capacity:16 cubic-foot | Access: Dual side| Load capacity: 165 pounds

The straps provided are utterly useless. I resorted to heavy-duty bungee cords, and everything stayed put. I’ll use it again but with bungee cords. The straps don’t stay tight, and the ends don’t stay put. You have to pull over and retighten and retie everything every 50 miles.” The Yakima SkyBox 21 is absolutely enormous. The brand says the 21 cubic-foot capacity is enough for five people's camping gear (and skis up to 215cm in length). In reality, if you need more storage space than is on offer, you either need to buy a van, a trailer or edit your gear before traveling. 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. A roof cargo box adds storage space and functionality to your vehicle. Typically, these are useful if you’re taking your car on a vacation and need extra space for luggage. A rooftop carrier may come in handy for large groups or families so there’s enough room for all passengers and their luggage. Can you put a cargo box on a roof basket?Car roof bags (or roof cargo bag) are a popular choice because in comparison to roof boxes (with roof bars) they can cost far less plus they also can be compacted down to take up less storage space.

Single-side : These cargo carriers only open on one side, typically the passenger or driver side of the vehicle. 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. Sizes:92 x 36 x 18 inches | Weight:62 pounds | Capacity:21 cubic-foot | Access: Dual | Load capacity: Depends on vehicle The RoofBag is another bargain buy that will serve certain types of travelers well. It costs hundreds less than most box carriers on the market while still providing a generous 15 cubic feet of storage. Plus it's much easier to store when not in use compared to a bulky rooftop pod (18-inch diameter storage bag sold separately). We've thoroughly research and tested a vast assortment of rooftop storage options to discover the best rooftop cargo carriers, baskets and bags for your needs. And to bolster our research with expert insights, we also sat down with Mike Kreis, an REI sales and service specialist, for his invaluable advice on how to buy and use the best rooftop cargo carriers.

Advantages of Rooftop Boxes

Adding a carrier to the top of your car will create extra drag, which can reduce your car’s fuel efficiency. Once each rooftop cargo carrier was installed, we took it for an extended test drive to determine how much drag it caught. Rooftop carriers that produced the least amount of noise and drag scored best in this category.

Made from 80% recycled plastic, with internal bracing to minimize wobble from such a large lid, it's a two-person job to install, but the fixings shouldn't cause any difficulties, as they just slide over your roof bars, and clip securely from the inside. Dual-sided : The best rooftop cargo carriers open can open from either the driver side or passenger side for easy access.

4. Most Versatile: ROOF MASTER Rooftop Cargo Carrier

If you need more cargo carrying capacity for your car, there are a lot of practical options for you that can be installed right on your car’s roof. When looking for the best roof cargo carrier, you need to first figure out what kind of cargo you’re going to be carrying. Not all cargo carriers are the same and there are different products out there for different purposes: there are travel bags, roof baskets, and cargo boxes. Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers. 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.” Safety should be a priority if traveling with a rooftop cargo carrier. Most manufacturers advise customers to drive under a certain speed limit when a carrier is installed. This ranges from 75.0 to 90.0 mph. What are the carriers on top of cars called?