Hitch/Roof Boxes

[independent70]

Well im in CT now and am pplanning on starting my flyfishing backpacking road trip to WY then CA in the end of july. My friend and I are trying to figure out the best ways of getting all our stuff into my 4runner and still have enough room to sleep in it. I have been looking at roof and hitch type boxes and am wondering what you all would recomend. We went on a roadtrip last summer to MT from CA and used a soft style pack and overloaded it and bent up the whole roof of his car. (2001 Expedition) So... i am a little scared of the soft packs and I am also not too fond of loading and unloading them and think the hard style would be better. But I also like my sunroof, and am wondering if the gas milleage is better with a hitch style box. Any advice would be great! Thansk alot, joe p.

 

[AlexJet]

Well im in CT now and am pplanning on starting my flyfishing backpacking road trip to WY then CA in the end of july. My friend and I are trying to figure out the best ways of getting all our stuff into my 4runner and still have enough room to sleep in it. I have been looking at roof and hitch type boxes and am wondering what you all would recomend. We went on a roadtrip last summer to MT from CA and used a soft style pack and overloaded it and bent up the whole roof of his car. (2001 Expedition) So... i am a little scared of the soft packs and I am also not too fond of loading and unloading them and think the hard style would be better. But I also like my sunroof, and am wondering if the gas milleage is better with a hitch style box. Any advice would be great! Thansk alot, joe p.

Thule 673B - Evolution 1800 Black
CAPACITY:18 Cubic Feet
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=11&sku=673B

 

[AlexJet]

Thule 675B - Evolution 2100 Black
CAPACITY:21 Cubic Feet
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=11&sku=675B

 

[AlexJet]

Thule 684 - Terrapin
CAPACITY:13 Cubic Feet
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=11&sku=684

 

[peter78]

I have a hitch packer and I use some rubbermaid plastic boxes that I have attached. It really helps. Oh yes, I have that cheesy cloth roof carrier. It is OK.

 

[gonzo]

i just put one of those behemoth sears sport 20-SV, 20 cubic foot roof-top carriers on last night. it isn't recommended for the 4runner, but i have seen others do it. it does not block the sunroof and you can still lift the hatch all the way. i have not driven with it yet, but i take off tonight so i will let you know how it goes.

 

[Koz]

Thule sells a roof rack adapter kit that allows you to mount a box to the stock roof rack. This kit can be used for other boxes. You will have to drill a couple more holes in the box. The kit come with special plastic strips that cover all the other holes that are not used.

Koz

 

[HuntRunner]

I don't know how the roof boxes do but I have the Yakima Mega Warrior and it hurts my gas mileage. At highway speeds, especially if it is a windy day, it really drinks the gas and very noisy (wind).
For example, driving across Texas without it, my trip computer was averaging about 20-25 MPG. Driving across the Dakotas with it on, my trip computer was reading 13 - 15 MPG, but there was also a stiff cross wind. This is the most extreme example but it will generally cut 3-5 MPG at interstate speeds.
That said, I wish I would have spent the money on one of those swing away hitch boxes. Easy to get to and you can still have complete access to the cargo area.

 

[AlexJet]

I don't know how the roof boxes do but I have the Yakima Mega Warrior and it hurts my gas mileage. At highway speeds, especially if it is a windy day, it really drinks the gas and very noisy (wind).
For example, driving across Texas without it, my trip computer was averaging about 20-25 MPG. Driving across the Dakotas with it on, my trip computer was reading 13 - 15 MPG, but there was also a stiff cross wind. This is the most extreme example but it will generally cut 3-5 MPG at interstate speeds.
That said, I wish I would have spent the money on one of those swing away hitch boxes. Easy to get to and you can still have complete access to the cargo area.

Mega Warrior actually is not a box, it's a basket. Aerodynamically it has worth shape then cargo boxes. Thule Evolution series has one of the best aerodynamics shapes on the market. Regarding gas mileage - yes, the box will increase your consumption. I used to have Thule one, my consumption was increased by 2mpg. But this all depend on how and where you driving. Regional roads with speed 50mph - 1-2mpg, Highway with 60mph - 2-3mpg, Highway with 80mph - 5-6mpg.

 

[peter78]

I don't know how the roof boxes do but I have the Yakima Mega Warrior and it hurts my gas mileage. At highway speeds, especially if it is a windy day, it really drinks the gas and very noisy (wind).

Apart from being somewhat ugly, the hitch packer (see my pic) does not seem to affect mileage and there is no noise. One of my best mileages I got was with the hicth packer coming back from FL. The bad part of a hitch packer is that you cannot open the trunk without removing the items on the hitch packer. Of course you can open the back window and grab something inside.

 

[gonzo]

just returned from my weekend trip with the sears sport sv-20 (which, incedentaly, is made by thule). it worked great. i was able to use the sunroof and open the gate. there was no noise at all and it held a boat-load of stuff. i would definitely reccomend this over the highly inflated prices of a thule or yakima.

 

[HuntRunner]

just returned from my weekend trip with the sears sport sv-20 (which, incedentaly, is made by thule). it worked great. i was able to use the sunroof and open the gate. there was no noise at all and it held a boat-load of stuff. i would definitely reccomend this over the highly inflated prices of a thule or yakima.

How was your fuel mileage with the box?

 

[gonzo]

How was your fuel mileage with the box?

trip computer said that it was 18.1., so i figure that it was probably about 16 mpg. not too shabby considering the way i drive.

 

[greasefingers]

I just took a long trip to the Outer Banks. I drove with this carrier, the A/C set 72, cruse control set to 65, and went 330 miles before re-fueling and then calculating the gas mileage. I got 17.8 mpg (hand calculated). The computer read 20.1 mpg. It is always off. Of course I de-badged my carrier as well

 

[momo.75]

I have the Yakima Blacktop Pro 18. i like it because it will open from either side. Here are some pics.
http://toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3022&highlight=yakima

 

[AlexJet]

I just took a long trip to the Outer Banks. I drove with this carrier, the A/C set 72, cruse control set to 65, and went 330 miles before re-fueling and then calculating the gas mileage. I got 17.8 mpg (hand calculated). The computer read 20.1 mpg. It is always off. Of course I de-badged my carrier as well

Why you used Thule crossbars? Wasn't you box fitting to Toyota crossbars?

 

[greasefingers]

The Toy crossbars are not stainless steel and with the additional crossbars connected to the roof rack sidebars, I can carry more weight. I forget exactly how much weight. I went to the Thule website and researched it. I have two kids and lots of junk to haul to the beach. I

 

[greasefingers]

O yea, another reason is that I also use this Thule system with my Jeep. I just switch out the feet. That way the U-bolts match the carrier box and the crossbars, since they are one-in-the-same.

 

[tmacleod]

Thule Cargo Box

I have a Thule Cargo Box on my new 05 4Runner. If find with the current stock rail system the box bounces around a lot. I had Thule feet and rails on my old 96 4Runner with no problems. Thule said that I have to buy new feet and rails to go on top of the stock rack. This seems redundant. Does anyone know how to better support the Thule Cargo Box and/or the 4Runner stock rail system?

Thanks

 

[Whoknows]

I have the Thule Evolution 1600 and love it. It hold quite a lot and is aerodynamic. It attaches to the existing rack without issue. Moonroof and rear cargo both have room. Looks nice as well.