Road trips and safaris are pretty cool, no doubt, but that's only if you can carry all your luggage with you. Space inside the car can easily be a pesky inconvenience, with all the people (and perhaps pets) coming along. Having said that, the best roof cargo basket offers an easy and practical solution to the problem, providing additional storage space for your luggage and gear.
What is a Roof Cargo Basket?
Rooftop baskets first emerged in the 70s as a new form of cargo carriers. For the most part, they have remained unchanged, featuring the characteristic metal profile of a shallow, broad profile mounted on the vehicle's rooftop. Rooftop baskets offer great versatility for different objects, making them ideal for carrying large luggage and equipment, which can be secured using various cords or straps.
So, what should you know about roof cargo baskets?
Advantages
- Easy installation on virtually any type of roof rails or roof racks.
- Increased load capacity owing to the metal build
- Good aerodynamics
- Extra carrying capacity for large and heavy objects, especially since they can be secured using cords and straps
- Easy loading and unloading of cargo
- Quick mounting and unmounting on most vehicles
- Less storage space is required when they're unmounted
- Suitable for even oddly shaped objects
- Brilliant, retro look
Disadvantages
But there's also a flipside:
- Cargo is practically exposed to the elements
- Poor lockdown can easily go south at high speeds
- No anti-theft protection
- Cargo nets or special straps are required
- Reduced top speed for most vehicles
- Don't always suit large sporting equipment
All things considered, roof racks are undoubtedly a solid investment for additional carrying capacity. In that case, here are our top picks for the best roof cargo basket:
1. Yakima Rooftop Cargo Basket
YAKIMA - OffGrid Roof Cargo Basket, Large
- Convenient: A simple, economical way to attach gear-specific...
- Easy installation: Quick and easy 4-step installation with no...
- Protect your gear: Dynaflex padding provides protection and grip
- Compatible: Works with most Yakima mounts (except rooftop bike...
- We’ve got your back guarantee: Covered by our Limited Lifetime...
Yakima has an outstanding reputation for the best car luggage accessories, from hitch racks and bike racks to roof rails and roof racks. So, it comes as no surprise that the brand's rooftop cargo basket comes as our favorite roof racks. For starters, it features a sleek and burly build with a well-engineered aerodynamic look, bringing efficiency and convenience right to your doorstep.
The Yakima Rooftop Cargo Basket is made of strong, durable steel, ensuring that you can use it for several years. It features an integrated wind fairing to help minimize drag and wind noise. The roof rack measures 51.8 x 31.5 x 7.5 inches with a load capacity of up to 150 pounds. On top of that, its adjustable accessory bars are devised to pin in bulky luggage.
This roof rack has a quick-release mounting system, making it super easy and time-saving to install. It also includes adjustable accessory bars that make it more convenient to transport boards, bikes or boats on top. Furthermore, it features universal mounting hardware, meaning it can easily work with JetStream, CoreBar, RoundBar and pretty much most factory crossbars.
Pros
Cons
2. Thule Canyon Roof Rack Basket Cargo Carrier
Thule Canyon XT Cargo Basket
- Wedge-shaped, low-profile design combines style and function with...
- Wind fairing is included to help air flow over your cargo
- Fits a broad range of vehicles with versatile mounting hardware,...
- Basket Extension (sold separately) extends the cargo area by 20"
- Mounts to all Thule rack systems, round bars and most factory...
Over recent years, Thule has become one of the most trustworthy brands for transporting cargo safely, easily and in style as well. The Thule basket cargo carrier is no doubt a true reflection of the brand's ethos. It comes stacked with some pretty nifty features to make the whole process of moving your luggage a breeze.
The Canyon Roof Rack Basket sports a stylish and practical low-profile design, featuring tapered sidewalls that make it totally easy to load and unload. These wedge-shaped walls also give it its impressive low-profile design, bringing out a neat combination of form and function. The design also contributes to the cargo basket's low drag coefficient, which helps to improve airflow over your luggage, thus providing optimal wind fairing.
The cargo basket measures 41 x 39 x 5 inches, with a weight capacity of up to 150 lbs. Its versatile mounting hardware also allows it to fit a broad range of vehicles. Plus, it features one of the easiest mounting setups we have seen on a roof cargo basket.
Pros
Cons
3. Rhino Cargo Basket Roof Rack
Rhino-Rack, based in Australia, is yet another equally respectable roof rack manufacturer. According to the company, this safari roof rack is particularly designed for nature lovers and sun-seekers who relish the outdoors. And it comes with all the features to back these claims up.
For starters, the roof rack sports an undeniably sleek yet rugged look, making it both stylish and functional. It's made of high-quality, heavy-duty steel with a long-lasting black powder coating to give it a sturdy and robust construction. It also has an aerodynamic wind deflector release which absolutely takes wind fairing to a whole new level.
It measures 32 x 43 x 9 inches, with a pretty high cargo capacity of 165 pounds. Nevertheless, it's still a lightweight structure that doesn't add too much strain on your vehicle's tires. Installation is quite straightforward since it only comes in two pieces. It fits both Vortex and Euro bars, making it ideal for virtually all kinds of vehicles: cars, vans and SUVs.
Pros
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4. Tyger Heavy Duty Roof Cargo Basket
Tyger Heavy Duty Roof Mounted Cargo Basket Rack | L47.25 x W36.6 x H5.9 | Roof Top Luggage Carrier |...
- Frame Dimension: L47.25" x W36.6" x H5.9"
- Stylish design makes your vehicle stand out on the road! Mounts...
- Heavy duty 1 inch steel frame tube with black E-Coating for rust...
- Easy two-piece assembly. All mounting hardware included.(Your...
- TYGER 3 years no-hassle quality warranty against factory defect....
The Tyger Heavy Duty Roof Cargo Basket is built to fit most vehicles with rooftop bars. As the name suggests, it features solid construction, a thick and sturdy frame meant for intensive hauling. More so, it achieves all this while also reducing drag and cutting down on unwanted noise.
It measures 47.25 x 36.6 x 5.9 inches, with a cargo capacity of up to 150 lbs. Assembly is quite straightforward, as it comes in only two pieces with mounting hardware. The Tyger Heavy Duty Cargo Basket also has multiple tie-down locations, which makes securing your luggage with cargo nets very easy.
It also features rubber gasket bands that slide on top of the joints to prevent water from getting into the tubing. More so, it's rust-resistant owing to e-coating. The basket also secures quite firmly on the roof, thanks to the tamper-resistant hexagonal bolts. Plus, it comes backed by a 3-year warranty.
Pros
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5. MaxxHaul Roof Rack Basket
MaxxHaul 70115 46" x 36" x 4-1/2" Roof Rack Rooftop Cargo Carrier Steel Basket, Car Top Luggage...
- Instant cargo space for vehicle with cross bars; Basket size -...
- Easy to assemble and install (assembly and mounting hardware are...
- Attaches to most cross bars with easy to use u-bolts for simple...
- Includes rubber caps to cover the U-bolts and protect the cargo
- Powder coat finish
If you're looking for a well-priced roof cargo basket that simply gets the job done, this one from MaxxHaul is well worth your consideration. This particular roof rack offers instant cargo space for practically all vehicles that crossbars, thanks to the U-Bolts. It has a universal mounting system for added convenience, making it pretty versatile across the range of vehicles it's compatible with.
The MaxxHaul Roof Rack Basket features a strong steel construction for extra durability. It measures 38.3 x 19 x 10.6 inches, and it can carry up to 150 lbs. The frame is also powder coated to prevent corrosion and improve the basket's overall lifespan. Additionally, it also comes with rubber caps that protect your cargo and the U-Bolts.
Pros
Cons
What Factors Should You Consider in the Best Roof Cargo Basket?
When you're looking for the best roof cargo basket, there are several factors that you have to consider. Here are some of the important aspects that can help you narrow down to your ideal setup:
1. Mounting
This refers to how you set up the entire hardware that makes up the cargo basket. Generally, a couple of mounting styles can be considered: front, rear and rooftop. In this particular case, you have to consider what and how long it takes to install the setup on your car's rooftop. Easy mounting means that you only spend a few minutes attaching or detaching the basket to your vehicle, which saves you plenty of time.
2. Weight Capacity
This is the actual amount of weight that the rooftop cargo carrier can accommodate. A weight limit of approximately 150lbs is typically sufficient for most cargo baskets. Generally, the more weight capacity available, the more luggage you can carry.
3. Protrusion
A protrusion, in this context, refers to any element that sticks out from the material. For instance, rust may be considered a protrusion since it tends to bugs out from the metal profile of the rooftop cargo basket. As such, the better the material used in making the hardware, the less likely the risk of rust protrusion.
4. Wind Fairing
Wind fairing entails how well the structure can deflect wind and rain. The best rooftop cargo carriers are designed with this aspect in mind to reduce unwanted noise. Therefore, a roof cargo basket with the ideal wind fairing structure ensures that you can enjoy quiet rides, where you can barely notice the change in your vehicle's aerodynamics.
5. Rust Resistance
Most rooftop cargo baskets are made of metal. On the one hand, this means rusting is a likely effect, but on the other hand, a metal profile also means corrosion can be avoided. A good rooftop cargo carrier must have proper rust resistance to give you an extended lifespan.
6. Dimensions
Vehicles are built differently, and so are cargo baskets. It goes without saying that your desired cargo basket should correspond to the dimensions of your car's rooftop. Furthermore, the dimensions of your setup also determine the depth of the fitting and the size of the cargo that can be transported. For example, a cargo basket with roughly the depth of a cargo box means it can accommodate larger luggage.
7. Price
Like any other purchase you've made before, you'll also need to look at the price when getting the best roof cargo basket. This also extends to looking at options that come backed with decent warranties. Whatever the case may be, it's important to make a quality investment that guarantees a lengthy lifespan.
Tips on Buying the Best Roof Rack
1. Ensure that you choose a sturdy cargo basket that attaches to the car securely. Although you can use ropes and cords, reliable securing hardware is quite important.
2. Steel roof racks are practically the most sturdy, stable and well-built.
3. Remember that cargo baskets are heavy, meaning extra weight strain on your vehicle's tires. If you prefer a lighter basket, then choose a smaller one or one made out of aluminum.
4. Ensure that you get a coated cargo basket to avoid rust, especially for steel builds.
5. Read the installation guide carefully before mounting the roof rack.
6. Make sure the screws are firmly tightened before you set out on your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Roof Cargo Baskets
1. Is there anything that can help prevent rust in my cargo carrier?
A thin coat of paint should be enough to keep off rust on your cargo carrier, although it also depends on how often you use the setup. Additionally, you can also add some silicone in the holes to ensure that your cargo basket remains completely rust-free.
2. How easily can water get into the internal tubing?
It depends on how well the internal tubing is sealed. That said, quality roof racks come with proper sealing to ensure that rain, snow or washing water cannot penetrate into the internals.
3. Is there any way to lock the roof rack to avoid theft?
Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to lock a cargo basket to the car. Nevertheless, most roof racks require a special hexagonal tool to unscrew the bolts from the rooftop. That means even a seasoned thief won't be able to steal your cargo basket easily.