We’ve all seen rooftop cargo carriers on cars. You glance out the window, and the neighboring car is obviously on its way to something fun. Their kids are hollering in the back, and you can hear them blasting tunes on the stereo. “Vacationers,” you think.
Yes, rooftop carriers are a favorite among people who love doing long road trips. However, their benefits aren’t enjoyed only by vacationers. There will come a time when you desperately wish you had more storage space and are tempted to get one.
Well, allow us to tell you three great reasons why a rooftop carrier is a worthy investment for your car.
1. Extra Storage Space is an Addictive Luxury
Any major upgrade to your car tends to be quite heavy on the wallet, and you need to spend a good amount to feel like you’ve gotten anything of value. A roof-top cargo carrier is something of an anomaly in that regard. There is something extremely addictive about having more storage space than you need.
It’s the same feeling computer hobbyists get addicted to when upgrading their SSDs and hard disks. Looking at terabytes of free storage space makes you feel powerful for some reason. With cars, having that extra storage gives you peace of mind that you will fall in love with.
No longer do you need to start fiddling around, adjusting car seats, and rearranging stuff in the trunk.
Does your daughter need to take a particularly large science project to school? No issue. You can free up space by stuffing your rooftop storage with clutter. Are you at a supermarket urgently stocking up on groceries because of a tornado or a hurricane warning? Well, you can load up your car so full that you’re likely to be pulled over because your suspension is hanging so low.
2. It’s a Simple Upgrade That Anyone Can Do
A key selling point of rooftop carriers is that you really don’t need a mechanic to help you with the installation. This isn’t an aftermarket turbocharger or a transmission upgrade that requires an experienced set of hands.
No, with something like a universal car top carrier, installation is extremely easy, and you can probably set it up in under ten minutes. The most effort that you might have to make is to watch a YouTube video or flip through a three-page instruction manual.
According to RoofPax, universal roof bags can be installed even without a roof rack. This means you don’t even need to worry about having the necessary rail mounts or anything like that.
If you are investing in one, it’s a good idea to choose options that are waterproof (most of them are) and have a reasonably long warranty. The best ones tend to have lifetime warranties, so keep an eye out for those.
3. You Have a Wide Range of Options
If you feel like a roof cargo carrier would ruin the aesthetic of your car, you don’t have to worry. There are several types of cargo carrier options that you can choose from. Some are large and sturdy, others are small and discreet.
Roof bags tend to be a great option if you want the flexibility of being able to quickly install and uninstall them. Some of them also come with straps that allow you to carry them with you once you reach your destination.
Roof boxes are another type that tends to be quite popular among people who prefer durability. These are hard shell carriers that are typically made from ABS plastic or fiberglass. You might notice that they have a tapered front. This is to make them more aerodynamic so as to not wreck your mileage.
You can also find roof trays, which are flat racks that are directly attached to the roof of your car. These don’t shelter your contents like the other two options, but they give you more freedom in how you want to store items. They are ideal for carrying large objects that won’t fit into roof boxes or bags.
These are just a few options, but there are several more depending on your needs. If you want to mount a kayak, a bike, or skis, there are options for each of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Roof Top Carriers Safe?
Yes, they are perfectly safe as long as you obey any instructions that come with the carrier. If you choose to overload your carrier or fail to properly install it before use, that is more of a user error than a fault of the product. Millions of Americans use roof-top carriers every day with no issues.
2. Can Roof Racks Weaken My Car?
All cars have to follow strict guidelines when it comes to structural integrity. As such, roof racks are not going to damage your vehicle in any way. That said, if you are carrying a large, vertically high load, you do increase the chance of a rollover. However, even this issue is easily mitigated by common sense.
3. Do Roof Racks Use More Fuel?
When you add a structure to your car, there is naturally going to be some impact on your mileage. However, it’s a small price to pay for the luxury of extra free space. One study showed that with a loaded ski box, there was a 10% increase in fuel consumption at a speed of 43.5 mph.
In conclusion, getting a rooftop cargo carrier is an easy choice to make. The benefits of extra storage far outweigh any concerns that come with them. Besides the slightly higher fuel consumption that occurs with a large carrier box, the only reasonable downside is aesthetics, which, of course, depends on personal preference.
Remember, this isn’t one of those upgrades that requires frequent maintenance or repairs like other performance enhancing components. The peace of mind when you don’t have to hire an extra vehicle or make two trips is extremely worth the relatively small investment.
