Rooftop cargo carrier

[Slick 55]

I'm looking to purchase a rooftop carrier for my 2008 Sienna. Anyone have a model/brand they would recommend?

 

[svhanc]

We have one of the Sears toppers we used on my old Jeep Cherokee, 2002 Sienna, and now 2011 Sienna. We rarely use it due to the drastically reduced gas mileage.

I put a class 3 hitch on both of the Siennas and use one of the hitch haul baskets behind and don't lose any mpg at all from aerodynamics. It is also easier to load.

Consider the profile if you do get one. The Thule are pretty slick but you had better pack soft luggage.

 

[greenjp]

A little late on this reply, but I just finished a trip with my new Yakima Skybox 16. I had previously borrowed a friend's Thule Ascent 1600, which is their comparable product. I bought the Yakima because it was a little bit cheaper than the Thule, and seems to have a bit nicer construction. $390 delivered from Amazon.

The main thing you get when buying a Thule or Yakima over the Sears or other off brands seems to be the fastening system. On the cheaper products it's basically a u-bolt with nuts connection to the roof rails. The Thule and Yakima boxes (at least the mid level and up models) have no-tool required connections. You can install and remove them in a couple of minutes.

There is a mpg hit. On this trip to the Outer Banks and back my Saab 9-5 Aero has gotten 31-32 mpg without the box, and ~28 with it. Considering how easy it is to take the thing on and off (ie I never drive around with it if I don't need it) a 10% mileage hit for almost double the cargo space is a pretty good tradeoff. Certainly a better option than a bigger vehicle.

jeff

 

[wander2039]

With the Escape and a Sear X-Cargo carrier and good head wind we've gotten as low as 15mpg. Granted this was in Kansas and I had to have in drive the entire time. Normally we get 2-3mpg less with it on, 20ish. Can't say I recommend this carrier. It is a pain to fastened down and usually I just leave it on the cross bars and take the whole thing off. About as aerodynamic as brick. But you hold a ton of stuff I'd say about as much as the trunk.

 

[Slick 55]

Originally Posted By: greenjp
A little late on this reply, but I just finished a trip with my new Yakima Skybox 16. I had previously borrowed a friend's Thule Ascent 1600, which is their comparable product. I bought the Yakima because it was a little bit cheaper than the Thule, and seems to have a bit nicer construction. $390 delivered from Amazon.

The main thing you get when buying a Thule or Yakima over the Sears or other off brands seems to be the fastening system. On the cheaper products it's basically a u-bolt with nuts connection to the roof rails. The Thule and Yakima boxes (at least the mid level and up models) have no-tool required connections. You can install and remove them in a couple of minutes.

There is a mpg hit. On this trip to the Outer Banks and back my Saab 9-5 Aero has gotten 31-32 mpg without the box, and ~28 with it. Considering how easy it is to take the thing on and off (ie I never drive around with it if I don't need it) a 10% mileage hit for almost double the cargo space is a pretty good tradeoff. Certainly a better option than a bigger vehicle.

jeff



Thanks, the Yakima Skybox 15 is on my short list.