Photos of Rooftop Cargo Boxes

[Hadley22]

Got a bigger box recently. Thule Sonic XXL.

Fits and clears the hatch when it is on Thule Rapid Aero bars pushed as far forward as possible.

I have a similar setup from my last SUV. I have not tried it out yet on the 4Runner. Does the box mess with your XM signal? It looks like the box is on top of the antennae.

 

[inv1GRated]

I have a similar setup from my last SUV. I have not tried it out yet on the 4Runner. Does the box mess with your XM signal? It looks like the box is on top of the antennae.

Nothing that I have noticed since mounting it up. No issues on my last 700mi trip loaded with all the luggage and gear for 3 adults and 3 kids since interior storage is practically nonexistent with the 3rd row in use!

 

[natkidder]

Yakima Skybox

I've had this one for 5 or 6 years... think it's the Skybox 16. There's no way our family of 4 could pull off road trip camping adventures without one. Plus it also fits my longest skis (195cm) and our Oz Tent RV5 (just barely).

 

[STX4Runner]

I've had this one for 5 or 6 years... think it's the Skybox 16. There's no way our family of 4 could pull off road trip camping adventures without one. Plus it also fits my longest skis (195cm) and our Oz Tent RV5 (just barely).

Nice. What trail are you on in those pictures?

 

[natkidder]

Nice. What trail are you on in those pictures?

Thanks, it's Elephant Hill in Canyonlands, UT. We spent a couple nights in the Needles backcountry (Devils Kitchen) this past April. What an amazing place.

 

[STX4Runner]

Thanks, it's Elephant Hill in Canyonlands, UT. We spent a couple nights in the Needles backcountry (Devils Kitchen) this past April. What an amazing place.

Cool. That was going to be my guess based on the needle formations in the pictures.

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

INNO Shadow roof cargo box 15 cu. ft. It's made in Japan, just like my 4Runner

 

[bsprelude]

INNO Shadow roof cargo box 15 cu. ft. It's made in Japan, just like my 4Runner

I like the INNO shadow Cargo Box!! How was it to install and how do you like it? It looks great on your rig

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

I like the INNO shadow Cargo Box!! How was it to install and how do you like it? It looks great on your rig

Super easy install! I can throw it up and take it off myself in a couple of minutes. I got it for a steal from Auto Anything.

 

[jwkilgore]

I've had this one for 5 or 6 years... think it's the Skybox 16. There's no way our family of 4 could pull off road trip camping adventures without one. Plus it also fits my longest skis (195cm) and our Oz Tent RV5 (just barely).

Which bike rack is that, and how do you open the hatch? I've got a good fold-down model (forget the make), but it's got a single horizontal arm that you must thread through all the bike frames. It's a real pain to load/unload kid-sized bikes, and my wife's "girl" framed bike requires an add-on horizontal brace to fit. But that vertical layout looks useful.

 

[Cymon]

Which bike rack is that, and how do you open the hatch? I've got a good fold-down model (forget the make), but it's got a single horizontal arm that you must thread through all the bike frames. It's a real pain to load/unload kid-sized bikes, and my wife's "girl" framed bike requires an add-on horizontal brace to fit. But that vertical layout looks useful.

I believe its a North Shore Rack, or something similar...they are awesome!

north shore racks nsr 4

 

[Heckcat]

I've had this one for 5 or 6 years... think it's the Skybox 16. There's no way our family of 4 could pull off road trip camping adventures without one. Plus it also fits my longest skis (195cm) and our Oz Tent RV5 (just barely).

I was hoping to get a rooftop box for my Oztent JV. How well does the Skybox 16 hold up offroad? I go camping in a remote area with small narrow 2 track trails with low hanging trees

 

[smakdatt]

Very nice!

Here's mine. Old Thule Summit box riding on Thule Crossroad rack. I'm very happy with it. I prefer to have the box outwards more than the factory rack allows, and the curve of the factory cross bars doesn't let the box sit flat unless you have it centred.

 

[jwkilgore]

I believe its a North Shore Rack, or something similar...they are awesome!

north shore racks nsr 4

Looks like it: North Shore Bike Racks

Man, those are spendy... $600 + $55 shipping for a 4-bike model. :fear:

But really impressive. Gonna go on the list of things to get, but it'll be way down toward the bottom and only if we really start riding more often.

 

[Cymon]

Looks like it: North Shore Bike Racks

Man, those are spendy... $600 + $55 shipping for a 4-bike model. :fear:

But really impressive. Gonna go on the list of things to get, but it'll be way down toward the bottom and only if we really start riding more often.

This new rack also intrigues me...

RockyMounts SplitRail two bike platform hitch rack

Just came out in May. I have the rocky mount roof top racks and they have been awesome quality and design.
[MENTION=142035]jbregar[/MENTION] just installed it on his rig (posted on the "What you did in 5th gen today thread" and it looks pretty nice from the pictures...hopefully he's willing to give us more insight :snacker:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/107166-what-did-you-do-your-5th-gen-today-1133.html

 

[jbregar]

I did indeed just install a SplitRail and I have to say my first impressions are excellent. I've had RockyMounts stuff since they were a budget alternative for just the bike mount portion of a roof rack and I've never been disappointed.

The SplitRail is insanely well built. It looks like it could carry far more weight than they rate it at (not that there are a lot of 60+ lb. bikes). The assembly was really easy and the integrated cable locks are handy (though I'd still loop a thicker cable through everything if I was going to leave it for any amount of time). Bikes mount securely.

Their anti-wobble thing is really nice and works really well. That's one of my main complaints about hitch bike racks (the slop in the hitch that results in a wobbly rack).

Lastly, it looks really nice which is important when it's on your truck.

RockyMounts is also right up the highway from me in Boulder, so things arrive really quickly even with Ground shipping.

If you have any questions about it, I'd be happy to try to answer them and I can report back after using it for the first time. Overall, two thumbs up from me.

It's kind of spendy at normal price, but RockyMounts runs sales pretty frequently. I got mine for a steal because I'd ordered a pair of roof rack bike holders that we perpetually back-ordered... so they let me use my discount code on anything (the code was only good for red, white or blue roof bike holders initially). I wasn't sold on lifting a bike onto the roof of the 4R anyway, so I guess it was meant to be.

 

[natkidder]

Which bike rack is that, and how do you open the hatch? I've got a good fold-down model (forget the make), but it's got a single horizontal arm that you must thread through all the bike frames. It's a real pain to load/unload kid-sized bikes, and my wife's "girl" framed bike requires an add-on horizontal brace to fit. But that vertical layout looks useful.

Yes, North Shore and it folds down and away from the rear hatch by removing a pin. It's easy to load and the bikes and since they are held vertically, they don't hang way out the back like a 4 bike Thule does. The only drawback is that it isn't meant to work with road bikes... actually only with suspension forks due to the way the bike hangs. Wont work well on a fork without a crown.

Here's a pic of it folded down.

 

[natkidder]

I was hoping to get a rooftop box for my Oztent JV. How well does the Skybox 16 hold up offroad? I go camping in a remote area with small narrow 2 track trails with low hanging trees

So far it's been fine, a little squeaky bouncing down the trail but durability doesn't seem to be an issue. I've crammed a lot of stuff in there and the latches and locks are still going strong.

Now, if you hooked hooked it on low branches I could see that potentially might do some damage to the box or the rack but I suppose that would be an issue with any roof top box.

 

[natkidder]

Looks like it: North Shore Bike Racks

Man, those are spendy... $600 + $55 shipping for a 4-bike model. :fear:

But really impressive. Gonna go on the list of things to get, but it'll be way down toward the bottom and only if we really start riding more often.

They aren't cheap but for comparison I used to have a Thule T2 which holds 2 bikes and retails for $450 (granted you can get them for more like $350) and then the 2 bike extension is another $300 so it's in the same ballpark anyway to hold 4 bikes and you don't have the rack and bikes extending 4-5 feet off the back of your truck. I would never have attempted Elephant Hill with a 4-bike Thule setup.

You can also get a 6-bike North Shore... that's got to be the best bang for your buck.

 

[Monkeymenno]

I went with the Ikea Ruffenbocs. Only $400. Holds a ton but isn't watertight. Will be returning.