best cargo boxes for cars

14 Best Cargo Boxes and Their Differences

What are the best car roof cargo boxes available for roof racks? This content lists the best cargo boxes and compares these options in detail to help visitors find the most suitable solutions to their needs on cargo management.

Why are they the best cargo boxes?

These car roof boxes are the best-selling cargo carriers in recent years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. As time goes by, these manufacturers can modify their products to have the most needed features and designs to satisfy customers’ requests from different perspectives. For example, some SUV drivers want to find low-profile cargo boxes to minimize the potential problems from extra height on the car roof. Furthermore, some outdoor enthusiasts need narrow cargo boxes, which can leave space on the roof racks for multiple bike carriers.

With the growing demands from customers, these modern cargo boxes became well-designed with advanced features, even with internal automatic LED lights or solar charging systems. These options below are the best cargo boxes you can trust because they have many authorized customer reviews on Amazon for you to learn from others’ opinions.

Here are the 14 best cargo boxes or the most popular cargo carriers for your consideration, and you can compare these options to find their differences.

In our opinion, when shopping for a rooftop cargo box, you should focus on finding the most suitable one for your outdoor needs, but not the best one because the best one probably does not fit your situation. Fortunately, most hardshell cargo boxes work with most factory, round, square, and aerodynamic roof racks or crossbars. You don’t need to pay too much attention to compatibility checks. However, you must confirm that the existing roof bars on your vehicle have the required bar spreads to meet the specific cargo boxes’ requirement on the distance between front and back crossbars.


Quick-Compare of 14 Best Cargo Boxes

SportRack Vista XL - No.1 of the best cargo boxes
  • Name: SportRack Vista XL – Best Cargo Box No.1
  • Dimensions: 63 x 38 x 19 inches or 1600 x 965 x 482 mm
  • Opening: rear-opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 pounds
  • Volume: 18 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 28 Pounds
  • Materials: ABS material
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: SportRack
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best cargo box - Thule Pulse 614
  • Name: Thule Pulse 614 Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.2
  • Dimensions: 67 x 35 x 16 inches or 1701.8 x 889 x 406 mm
  • Opening: Dual-Side Opening
  • Loading Capacity: 110 pounds
  • Volume: 14 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 34 pounds
  • Materials: ABS Plastic Construction
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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JEGS cargo carrier 18 Cubic Feet
  • Name: JEGS cargo carrier – Best Cargo Box No.3
  • Dimensions: 61.25 x 29 x 12 inches or 1555.75 x 736.6 x 304.8 mm
  • Opening: Dual Side Opening
  • Loading Capacity: 110 lb
  • Volume: 18 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 35 Pounds
  • Materials: ABS Plastic
  • Locks: Four Corner Locking System
  • Brand: JEGS
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Thule Pulse 615 cargo carrier
  • Name: Thule 615 Pulse Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.4
  • Dimensions: 76 x 33 x 16.5 inches or 1930 x 838 x 419 mm
  • Opening: Passenger-side opening
  • Loading Capacity: 110 lbs
  • Volume: 16 cubic feet
  • Weight: 36 lbs
  • Materials: ABS Plastic Construction
  • Locks: Central Locking system
  • Brand: Thule
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Thule Motion XT XXL
  • Name: Thule Motion XT XXL – Best Cargo Box No.5
  • Dimensions: 91 x 37.5 x 18 inches or 2311 x 952 x 457 mm
  • Opening: Dual-side opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 lbs
  • Volume: 22 cubic feet
  • Weight: 55 lbs
  • Materials: ABS Hight-Density Plastic
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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best cargo box - Thule Motion XT Large
  • Name: Thule Motion XT Large – Best Cargo Box No.6
  • Dimensions: 77 x 36 x 17 inches or 1955 x 914 x 431 mm
  • Opening: Dual-side Opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 Pounds
  • Volume: 16 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 42 Pounds
  • Materials: ABS Plastic
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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Thule Pulse Alpine best cargo box for skis or snowboards
  • Name: Thule Pulse 613 Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.7
  • Dimensions: 88.5 x 25.5 x 12.5 inches or 2247 x 647.7 x 317.5 mm
  • Opening: Passenger-Side Opening
  • Loading Capacity: 110 lbs
  • Volume: 11 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 30 lbs
  • Materials: ABS material
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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Thule Force XT cargo box
  • Name: Thule Force XXL – Best Cargo Box No.8
  • Dimensions: 90.5 x 35.5 x 18.5 inches or 2298 x 901 x 469 mm
  • Opening: Dual-side opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 lb
  • Volume: 22 cubic feet
  • Weight: 52 lb
  • Materials: ABS Plastic
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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Auto Dynasty best cargo box for road trips
  • Name: Auto Dynasty Rooftop Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.9
  • Dimensions: 53 x 34 x 15 inches or 1346 x 863 x 381 mm
  • Opening: Passenger Side
  • Loading Capacity: 110 LBS
  • Volume: 11 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 39 pounds
  • Materials: ABS material
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Auto Dynasty
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Goplus cargo box with 14 Cubic feet inner space
  • Name: Goplus Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.10
  • Dimensions: 63 x 31 x 15 inches or 1600 x 787 x 81 mm
  • Opening: either side of your vehicle
  • Loading Capacity: 165 lbs
  • Volume: 14 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 25 pounds
  • Materials: ABS and PC material
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Goplus
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Yakima Skybox 21
  • Name: YAKIMA SkyBox 21 Cubic – Best Cargo Box No.11
  • Dimensions: 92 x 36 x 18 inches or 2336 x 914 x 457 mm
  • Opening: Dual-sided opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 pounds
  • Volume: 21 Cubic Feet.
  • Weight: 62.00 lbs
  • Materials: ABS Plastic
  • Locks: SKS Locks
  • Brand: Yakima
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Thule Vector Medium cargo box
  • Name: Thule Vector Alpine Rooftop Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.12
  • Dimensions: 91 x 35 x 12.5 inches or 2311 x 889 x 317.5 mm
  • Opening: Dual-side Opening
  • Loading Capacity: 165 lb
  • Volume: 13 cu ft
  • Weight: 65.9 lb
  • Materials: Plastic
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: Thule
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INNO 320 cargo box
  • Name: INNO 320 Rooftop Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.13
  • Dimensions: 71.25 x 32 x 10.5 inches or 1809.75 x 812.8 x 266.7 mm
  • Opening: Dual side opening
  • Loading Capacity: 110 lbs
  • Volume: 9 Cubic Feet
  • Weight: 37 lbs
  • Materials: Blend
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: INNO
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SportRack SkyLine XL - best cargo box no.14
  • Name: SportRack Skyline XL Cargo Box – Best Cargo Box No.14
  • Dimensions: 55 x 41 x 14 inches or 1397 x 1041.4 x 355.6 mm
  • Opening: Passenger side opening
  • Loading Capacity: 150 lbs
  • Volume: 17 cubic feet
  • Weight: 30 pounds
  • Materials: Plastic
  • Locks: Yes
  • Brand: SportRack
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14 Best Cargo Boxes For Cars

SportRack Vista XL Rear-Opening Cargo Box

SportRack Vista XL is the No.1 of the best cargo boxes. It has ample 18 cubic feet of interior space for most outdoor adventures, especially road trips. Most people use cargo carriers to transport their luggage bags, and the SportRack Vista XL can hold up to 3 regular-sized luggage bags (18-22 inches). If you use the dimensions of a SportRack Vista XL, which is 63 x 38 x 19 inches or 1600 x 965 x 482 mm, to figure out the actual size of the Vista box and its suitability with your belongings and the size of your vehicle’s roof, you can know how large it will be on the car roof.

SportRack Vista XL cargo carrier

SportRack uses ABS plastic to construct the Vista XL cargo carrier to make it sturdy, water-resistant, durable, anti-corrosion, and UV-resistant, so it is a good pick for most outdoor activities. However, it is not a good choice for long gear, like skis or snowboards, because some skis or snowboards are longer than 160 cm, up to 200 cm. Most kids’ skis or snowboards are under 160 cm. If you have specific demands on delivering skis or snowboards between locations, you can refer to a post to check on some ski carriers and compare them with these cargo boxes for better decisions.

SportRack Vista XL has a rear-opening feature, which makes it unique on this page; however, it is not the only rear-opening option if you look at the DuraLiner 20 Cubic Feet cargo box. The rear-opening cargo boxes can widely open at the back for easy loading or unloading simultaneously from both sides of the vehicle, and the other side-opening cargo carriers allow you to pack or unload luggage separately from both sides of the car. It is hard to tell which opening style is better, so you should depend on your preference. 

SportRack Vista XL allows you to pack up to 100 pounds, but you must take your car’s roof loading limit as the priority. For example, if you drive a Nissan sedan, which has a roof loading limit of 165 pounds, you must ensure that the luggage or gear you put on the car roof is less than 165 lbs; furthermore, the weight of roof racks, crossbars, cargo carriers consumes a part of the roof loading rate. You can follow a beginner guide to find the most-asked questions about cargo boxes and be aware of some prohibited behaviors when using hardshell cargo boxes.

You can refer to another post and find more specifications and descriptions about the SportRack Vista XL to build more knowledge before buying action. You must know that the distance between the two crossbars on your vehicle must be between 60 and 75.5 cm to meet the requirement of using a SportRack Vista XL.


Thule 614 Pulse Cargo Carrier Medium Size in Black

Thule 614 Pulse Medium Cargo Box is the No.2 of the best cargo boxes. The Thule Pulse series has three sizes: large, alpine, and medium. The Medium option is perfect for carrying camping equipment or luggage for road trips.

Thule Pulse 614 rooftop cargo carrier

Thule Pulse cargo boxes are a little more expensive than SportRack Vista XL, but Pulse has a sturdier locking core than the flimsy one on SportRack Vista XL. Why Thule Pulse Medium is one of the best cargo boxes? Most people choose a hardshell cargo box mainly for road journeys or camping events, so Thule 614 Medium gives the perfect loading capacity to satisfy most outdoor cargo needs.

The Thule 614 Pulse Medium model’s dimensions are 67 x 35 x 16 inches or 1701.8 x 889 x 406 mm, so you can use these numbers to understand how big the Thule Pulse Medium is. If you have your gear or luggage bags’ measurements, you can estimate if the Thule Pulse Medium fits your belongings.

Thule 614 Pulse cargo boxes have four easy-to-use mounting hardware, and you can use a switchable knob to hook each mounting hook on crossbars. After securing four mounting grips on roof racks, you can use straps to enhance the tightness and provide more security to the connection between these mounting feet and the roof bars.

Thule 614 Pulse Medium’s mounting hardware is better than SportRack Vista XL’s, and you can find universal fitting mounting hardware on the market to replace the original clamps for most cargo boxes. Thule Pulse Medium requires the minimum bar spread to be 600mm, so you must make enough space between the roof bars.

Most crossbars are adjustable to meet the requirements of different rooftop cargo carriers. If your existing roof racks are fixtures without slidable feet, you may need to replace them with slidable crossbars or drill new mounting holes at the bottom of the cargo box, which we don’t recommend. Drilling new mounting holes at the bottom of a cargo box is risky behavior, which can void the product’s warranty.

If you require to know more about the Thule Pulse series, you can refer to another post to check their specifications, features, designs, feedback, videos, and more.


JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier

JEGS 18 Cubic Side Opening Cargo Box is the No.3 on this list of the best cargo boxes. It has the lowest price compared to other options on this page, and we also have a list of 11 cheap and small hardshell cargo boxes for people who want to compare and find the most affordable rooftop cargo carrier with reliable quality.

JEGS cargo boxes have three size options with different loading capacities and interior space volumes, but the 18 Cubic Feet model has been the most popular choice in recent years. 

JEGS cargo carriers in use after installation

It is another perfect choice for people who want to use a hardshell cargo box to deliver their road-needed luggage or camping supplies. If you put it on the car roof, it occupies an area of 61.25 x 29 x 12 inches or 1555.75 x 736.6 x 304.8 mm. JEGS 18 Cubic is several inches lower than Thule Pulse Medium and SportRack Vista XL, but it has the same 110 lbs loading limit as Thule Pulse Medium, which is 10 lbs higher than the SportRack Vista XL’s.

The JEGS 18 Cubic cargo box requires the distance between two crossbars to be 24 inches or 609 mm, so you better have a pair of adjustable roof bars when choosing a cargo box with required bar spreads.

JEGS uses HDPE plastic materials to build the JEGS 18 Cubic cargo boxes and make them rugged, waterproof, and anti-element to meet complex outdoor environments and different outdoor activities. Some customers complain that the lock core on the JEGS cargo boxes is fragile and easy to break, but JEGS offers replacement parts for the broken locking system. You can get two keys from the JEGS, and you should leave one in the car because you don’t want to learn the tactics of opening a locked cargo box without keys.

If you decide to try the JEGS 18 Cubic on your vehicle, you should refer to another post to find more information about it before getting one.


Thule 615 Pulse Large Cargo Box

Thule 615 Pulse Large cargo box is the No.4 of the best cargo boxes. It is the longest in the Thule Pulse family, and its dimensions are 76 x 33 x 16.5 inches or 1930 x 838 x 419 mm. The Thule Pulse 615 has the same features and designs as the Thule Pulse 614, so when comparing the 615 with the 614, you should focus on their length and width.

Thule Pulse 615 gives you 16 cubic feet of internal space for transporting sporting gear and luggage, and it is 2 cubic feet greater than the Pulse 614. When loading long gear into the Thule Pulse 615, you must ensure the maximum length allowed by Thule Pulse 615 is 181 cm.

Thule Pulse 615 in use on BMW sedan after installation

You should know that the Thule Pulse 615 can add 16.5+ inches of height to your vehicle’s roof. The 16.5 is the height of the cargo box, so what does the + mean? There is a distance between the crossbars and the car roof.

After having a rooftop cargo box on your vehicle, your car’s gravity center becomes higher to make the car not operate like usual. Therefore, you should learn how to drive with a rooftop cargo carrier, including cargo boxes, especially when fully loaded.

When comparing Thule Pulse, SportRack Vista XL, and JEGS, we prefer Thule Pulse cargo boxes because of their glossy printing, advanced aerodynamic shapes, water-resistant body, and better-quality locking mechanism.


Thule Motion XT 22 Cubic Feet XXL

Thule Motion XT 22 Cubic Feet XXL cargo box is the No.5 of the best cargo boxes. If you have enough budget (more than $1000) for a hardshell cargo carrier, the Thule Motion XT XXL is the best choice; however, when people take price as a factor when comparing different cargo boxes, the Thule Motion XT series is not price-friendly. 

When comparing the Thule Motion XT XXL with other roof-mounted cargo boxes, you should first look at their dimensions to judge which one has the most suitable measurement for your car’s roof size and luggage dimensions.

Thule Motion XT XXL in use on Black SUV in winter

We don’t recommend using a big cargo box on small sedans because of the low roof loading rate and uncertain stability. If you drive a smaller car, you better check a list of some smaller rooftop cargo carriers.

The Motion XT XXL weighs 25 kg or 55 lbs, and you can load up to 75 kg or 165 lbs of luggage in the box; however, your vehicle’s roof loading limit is always the priority to follow. Compared with the above options, the Thule Motion XT XXL has the largest loading capacity, which means it can take more luggage than the above JEGS, SportRack Vista XL, Thule Pulse Medium, and Large.

Motion XT XXL’s external measurement is 91 x 37.5 x 18 inches or 2311 x 952 x 457 mm, and you can use these dimensions to compare with other roof-mounted cargo boxes. As you can see, the Motion XT XXL’s external length is 2311 mm, and it is long enough to carry skis or snowboards that are even longer than 200 cm (adults’ skis).

Thule Motion XT XXL can open separately from both sides for loading or unloading luggage, and you can drop a rope on the upper lid if your vehicle is too high. Whether rear-opening or side-opening, these opening styles must bring convenience to those who operate the cargo box; furthermore, we prefer dual-side-opening roof boxes.

Thule educates their customers to carefully pack a cargo box by following the “heaviest things at the center” rule to minimize the effect on your vehicle’s gravity center. You better refer to another post for more information about packing a roof-mounted cargo carrier like a pro without potential risks. Moreover, controlling speed is another vital factor when driving with a rooftop cargo box. Thule said the recommended speed rate is less than 130km/h or 80mph when wheeling with a fully loaded Thule car roof box.

Thule cargo boxes have easy-to-operate mounting clamps, and compared with the JEGS and SportRack Vista XL’s assemble-needed mounting hardware, you can finish the installation of a Thule Motion XT XXL in minutes without a tool; however, JEGS or SportRack Vista XL may take a longer time for assembly and installation.

Most people don’t know where is the best position to locate a cargo box on their vehicle’s roofs, so we have advice for you about this concern.

When you compare the Thule Motion XT series with other choices, you need more information about each option to decide which is the most suitable cargo carrier for your outdoor needs, so you can use this page to find more specifications about the Thule Motion XT roof boxes.


Thule Motion XT Large

Thule Motion XT Large is the No.6 of the best cargo boxes. It is another model in the Thule Motion XT series. The Motion XT Large model has the same features, designs, loading capacity, mounting hardware, and locking system as other Motion XT models, like the 22 Cubic Feet XXL. However, it meets the outdoor requirements of smaller families.

Thule Motion XT LARGE in use on black sedan

Its measurement is 77 x 36 x 17 inches or 1955 x 914 x 431 mm, so you can compare the Large model with other options here to estimate the differences in length, width, and height. If you want to load specific gear into a Large model, you can measure their dimensions and check if they fit into the Motion XT Large.


Thule Pulse 613 Alpine

Thule Pulse 613 Alpine is the No.7 of the best cargo boxes. It is one of the most skinny cargo boxes. Why do people need low-profile cargo carriers? Outdoor enthusiasts want to carry skis, snowboards, golf clubs, hiking gear, or hunting gear on top of their vehicles, but they don’t want to add too much height on the cars because the added rooftop storage causes driving difficulty, especially on unpaved territory; consequently, some outdoor lovers use low-profile cargo carriers to minimize the effect to their cars’ overall performance.

Thule Pulse Alpine 613 in use after installation

Most manufacturers don’t recommend users to off-roading with a hardshell roof box, but roof-mounted cargo baskets are perfect for off-roading events. If you insist on mounting a cargo box and driving with it on bumpy roads, you better cut the cargo weight to half or even lower than half to ensure safe trips. When your car runs on unpaved roads, the clamps or mounting hardware on a rooftop cargo box have more pressure than usual; therefore, the unusual pressure can damage them and cause unexpected incidents, especially when the cargo box is fully loaded. Thus, decreasing the weight of your luggage can minimize the risks when using a cargo box for off-roading events.

You don’t need to compare the Thule Pulse 613 with the above higher boxes because they are for different purposes, and the Thule Pulse 613 is not a perfect choice for transporting luggage bags or camping equipment. If you want something to compare with the Thule Pulse 613, we have a post with similar low-profile cargo boxes from different brands.


Thule Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box

Thule Force XXL is the No.8 of the best cargo boxes. Most people get confused when comparing the Thule Motion XT and Thule Force XT, so we have a post with what you need to know about the differences between these two popular Thule cargo boxes.

Force XXL is another large box with 22 cubic feet of inner space to hold up to 165 pounds, and its dimensions are 90.5 x 35.5 x 18.5 inches or 2298 x 901 x 469 mm. The Force XT XXL is the best-selling model in the Thule Force XT family because of its ample storage space, premium features, water-resistant body, and easy installation.

Thule Force XT cargo carrier in use on SUV

Its internal length is enough for carrying skis or snowboards that are not longer than 215 cm. Thule Force XT cargo boxes have slidable Quick-Mount clamps to meet different bar spreads between crossbars, and you can adjust the position of the cargo box to avoid any interference with the open hatchback and the rooftop antenna. Most advanced cargo boxes have slidable mounting hardware to fit on factory, round, square, and aerodynamic roof rack systems, but some old-school cargo boxes have fixed bar-spread requirements like JEGS and SportRack Vista XL.

If your existing roof bars are fixtures on the car roof, you must choose a rooftop cargo box that has a compatible distance between bottom mounting holes; otherwise, you can upgrade the original roof rack system to modern slidable crossbars for using most rooftop cargo carriers without a compatibility issue.


Auto Dynasty 11 Cubic Feet Hardshell Cargo Carrier

Auto Dynasty 11 Cubic Feet cargo box is the No.9 of the best cargo boxes. It is another option for people who drive smaller sedans or travel alone without too much luggage. Why are smaller vehicles not recommended to use a big rooftop cargo box? Smaller cars have less roof loading limit, but big cargo boxes are heavy with higher loading rates; therefore, if your car’s roof loading limit is less than a cargo box’s loading capacity, you cannot pack the cargo box to meet its maximum loading limit, what a waste it is.

There are some small and cheap cargo boxes that you can compare with the Auto Dynasty 11 Cubic Feet to find the better ones to suit your situation.

Auto Dynasty cargo carrier for camping and hiking

Auto Dynasty 11 Cubic Feet’s measurement is 53 x 34 x 15 inches or 1346 x 863 x 381 mm (L x W x H), and you can use its dimensions to check if it fits the roof size and the items you want to put in it. It opens from the passenger side, and you can pack things into the cargo box from the 14-inch wide opening. You can use an Auto Dynasty 11 Cubic Feet cargo box to carry up to 110 pounds of luggage.

Auto Dynasty 11 has five mounting holes at the bottom, and the distance between the first and the fifth is 8 to 20 inches; therefore, you can adjust the mounting hooks’ positions to match different bar spreads from 10 inches (25.4 mm) to 30 inches (762 mm).


Goplus Waterproof Cargo Box

Goplus 14 Cubic Feet cargo box is the No.10 of the best cargo boxes. Most people use it for transporting luggage on road trips because its measurement is 63 x 31 x 15 inches or 1600 x 787 x 81 mm; therefore, the Goplus 14 Cubic Feet cannot hold gear longer than 160 cm. Kids’ skis or snowboards are fine, but adults’ skis (longer than 160cm) cannot load into a Goplus 14 Cubic Feet box.

The Goplus 14 Cubic Feet cargo box has two metal stiffeners at the bottom to enhance the structure and make the Gopluse 14 more stable during movement. Goplus 14 has three color options: black, gray, and white. White cargo boxes are rare to find on the markets.

Goplus cargo carrier on gray SUV

You must ensure the distance between two crossbars is 17 to 22.8 inches and confirm that the width of each roof bar is less than 3.1 inches and the height of bars must be between 0.7 to 1.0 inches. After a compatibility check, you can equip the Goplus 14 on the roof rack system. It is better to use slidable aftermarket crossbars because they have broad compatibility with most rooftop cargo carriers; otherwise, some car models’ OEM roof racks are fixtures on the car roof, so they cannot move on roof rails to adjust the position of two roof bars to meet the requirement from specific cargo carriers, like Goplus, JEGS, SportRack Vista, and more.

Goplus uses ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), which is a composite plastic material used to build car bodies, computer cases, and other home appliances, to construct the 14 Cubic Feet cargo box to make it sturdy, water-resistant, durable, and ultralight. Most hardshell cargo boxes are ABS-made or other high-density plastic materials, so you don’t need to compare the materials when shopping for one. Manufacturers want to make their cargo boxes as light as possible to save more loading capacity from the car roof loading limit for customers’ luggage.

Goplus 14 opens from both sides of the vehicle, so you can have convenience when loading or unloading it; however, you should not use the driver’s side to use a cargo box when parking on the highways. You can find more information about the Goplus 14 and compare it with your picks.


Yakima SkyBox 21 Cubic Feet

Yakima SkyBox Aerodynamic 21 Cubic Feet cargo box is the No.11 of the best cargo boxes for cars, sedans, trucks, vans, or SUVs. It is a big box with 21 cubic feet of inner storage room to carry almost everything you need on road trips or other outdoor journeys.

Yakima and Thule are the biggest names in the industry of cargo management systems for cars. When comparing the Thule and Yakima cargo boxes, you should focus on their designs, features, loading capacities, mounting components, locking mechanisms, materials, and price labs. Yakima cargo boxes are advanced items with premium features and developed designs, so they are not as cheap as JEGS, SportRack Vista XL, and other fair-quality options.

Yakima SkyBox 21 cargo box on black SUV after installation

Yakima SkyBox 21 requires a 24 to 42-inch distance between two roof bars, and most roof rack systems have compatible settings for Yakima SkyBox 21. If you cannot adjust the existing crossbars to meet the required bar spread, you may need to replace them with aftermarket adjustable solutions.

You can use the Yakima SkyBox 21’s dimensions (92 x 36 x 18 inches or 2336 x 914 x 457 mm) to know the actual size it can occupy on the car roof, and 215 cm is the max length to follow when loading long gear into the Yakima SkyBox 21.

Yakima SkyBox 21 weighs 62 lbs or 28 kg, and its weight consumes a part of the car roof loading limit; consequently, you should use the total roof loading rate minus the weight of crossbars and any rooftop cargo carriers you mount on the roof bars to figure out the actual weight of your luggage you can load on the roof rack system.

Although most cargo boxes are not heavy for most of us, you better invite someone else to join the installation process for better security and accuracy. You can finish the installation of a Yakima SkyBox 21 in 10 minutes without a tool. JEGS and SportRack Vista XL require assembly, but other premium options come in one piece.

You should know more details about the Yakima SkyBox 21 to compare it with other picks for the final decision.


Thule Vector Rooftop Cargo Carrier

Thule Vector is the No.12 of the best cargo boxes. It is the most expensive hardshell cargo box on the market. If price is not a factor to consider when shopping for a cargo box, we believe the Thule Vector can rank the first of the best cargo boxes. You pay what you get.

Thule Vector series has two models: Medium and Alpine. Medium is popular. The differences between Vector Medium and Alpine are in measurement, and these two models have the same features, design, and added functions.

Thule Vector Medium black cargo box on black SUV after installation

Dimensions of Vector Models (Length x width x height):

Thule Vector M: External Dimensions – 83.5 x 34.5 x 14 inches or 2120.9 x 876.3 x 355.6 mm / Internal – 73.2 x 25 x 11.6 inches or 1859.28 x 635 x 294.64 mm

Thule Vector Alpine: External – 91 x 35 x 12.5 inches or 2311 x 889 x 317.5 mm / internal – 80.5 x 25.2 x 11 inches or 2044.7 x 640.08 x 279.4 mm

You can use these numbers to check two Thule Vector models’ actual size and the size compatibility with your specific items. Thule Vector Alpine is the lowest cargo box for carrying skis, snowboards, or other long gear, and it only adds 12.5 inches of height above the crossbars.

Although Thule Vector cargo boxes don’t create too much extra height on the car roof, you better take them off when they are not on duty. Most people don’t know if an empty rooftop cargo box can affect their car’s overall performance, so we interviewed many cargo box users and concluded with some advice for people who want to know if they can drive with an empty car roof box.

Thule has a complete testing system to assess their products, including Thule Vector, in a lab with machines that can create simulated natural conditions. Thule always puts safety first and utilizes a giant vibrating machine to test Thule cargo carriers’ stability during different driving conditions. All Thule cargo carriers must stay in heat, cold, chemical, UV-light, and wetness artificial circumstances for some time in the Thule lab to ensure these products can stand with extreme weather conditions; furthermore, Thule tests their products with crashing simulations at different speeds to evaluate damage volume and find the most accurate limits for users.

Thule Vector cargo boxes are compatible with most factory, round, square, and aerodynamic crossbars. It is better to assemble the Thule Vector with Thule Wingbar EVO, Aeroblade, AeroBar, ProBar Evo, SlideBar EVO, and SqureBar Evo. If you want to use Thule Vector Medium or Alpoine, you must confirm that the distance between two roof bars is 21 7/8 to 36 3/4 inches or 557 to 932 mm for successful installation of Thule Vector series.

Thule Vector cargo carriers have an LED light on the internal lid to lighten the storage space when packing things in a dark environment. This feature makes the Thule Vector cargo boxes unique from other options.


INNO 320 9 Cubic Feet Cargo Box

INNO 320 is the No.13 of the best cargo boxes. INNO is another well-known brand that manufactures different-sized cargo boxes. INNO 320 is perfect for small sedans or compact SUVs because of its skinny and shorter body. It is the most low-profile cargo box you can find on the market. Its external dimensions are 71.25 x 32 x 10.5 inches or 1809.75 x 812.8 x 266.7 mm.

smaller INNO 320 cargo box on Gray SUV

It gives 9 cubic feet of storage room for stowing what you need for outdoor journeys. You can compare it with a list of the skinny roof boxes to find differences.


SportRack SkyLine XL Cargo Carrier

SportRack SkyLine XL is the No.14 of the best cargo boxes. It is another fair-quality and affordable cargo carrier for people who like road trips and need extra storage space for luggage, not for long gear.

SportRack SkyLine XL’s measurement is 55 x 41 x 14 inches or 1397 x 1041.4 x 355.6 mm, and you can use its dimensions to compare with the above selections’ diameters to understand the differences in sizes.

SportRack SkyLine XL for cars

It requires assembly like JEGS and SportRack Vista XL, so the installation of SkyLine XL can take longer than pre-assembled boxes.

It opens from the passenger side to protect you from coming traffic when using it on the highways. You can pack up to 150 pounds in the SportRack SkyLine XL.


Before Buying a rooftop cargo box

First, you need to observe your vehicle’s roof and generate a clear understanding of what types of car roof your car has. You can read an article to understand the relationship between roof racks, rooftop rails, and crossbars

Second, if you need to purchase a pair of crossbars for your vehicle, you better install those adjustable roof bars to work with most rooftop cargo carriers. There are three types of rooftop cargo carriers, and you can refer to an article to check on their advantages and differences.

Third, you don’t use those cheap crossbars to hold heavy cargo carriers because of the potential safety risks. Rooftop crossbars are the foundation of the entire roof rack system, so you must use those high-quality or OEM products to ensure stability and durability.

Fourth, some OEM crossbars stand on fixed points on the roof rails or the roof tracks, so you better confirm the bar spread compatibility before getting a rooftop cargo box. However, you can replace the OEM crossbars with aftermarket adjustable roof bars to make your vehicle compatible with a wide range of rooftop cargo carriers.

Fifth, it is possible to mount hardshell cargo boxes, soft cargo bags, roof-mounted cargo baskets, rooftop bike carriers, kayak carriers, ski carriers, or a rooftop tent on rooftop crossbars. Therefore, you should know how to accurately use, clean, and maintain roof racks like a pro.

Sixth, with the measurement of the distance between two roof bars, you can start to pick a compatible cargo box; however, the best cargo box for your situation should be suitable for both your vehicle’s roof size and the belongings you want to take on the roads.


When using a cargo box

After installing a cargo box on your car, you can load things into the box and hit the roads for camping holidays or family road trips. You should check the tightness between mounting hardware and crossbars to ensure safety on road trips. If you want to use a carwash station to clean your vehicle, you must remove the cargo box to prevent damage.

We find a list of actions you should not do to your cargo box, and you learn from these behaviors to prevent mistakes while operating your cargo box.


After Using a Cargo Box

Here are some tips for you:

After traveling between cities with a fully loaded cargo box, you better disassemble it from the crossbars and offer a deep clean on its surface with proper maintenance on small components and lock core. You can supply lubrication oil or powder in the lock core to increase the lifecycle of the entire locking system.

We recommend an article about storing a cargo box in the garage


Where to buy rooftop cargo boxes?

If you want to buy cargo carriers in the United States, you can find markets online or in your cities. You can find an automotive retail store that has cargo carriers for sale. You can drive your car to the store and consult with sales to get one without further issues in compatibility. Otherwise, you can visit online markets like Amazon, Ebay, Etrailer, or CARiD to compare prices; however, the compatibility check is on your own.

Moreover, you can consider getting a used cargo box from Facebook or Craigslist at lower prices. You may find a second-hand cargo carrier on the garage sale market, but you must check on its mounting hardware to ensure they are in good condition. 


Conclusion

Here is a list of the best cargo boxes for different outdoor needs. You can compare these options in dimensions, features, loading capacities, shapes, prices, and brands to find the most suitable solution for transporting belongings on the car roof.

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