Photos of Rooftop Cargo Boxes
- Thread starter cbielat
- Start date
Has anyone tried the Yakima Showcase 20 yet? I am planning on getting a full length Prisnu Roof Rack this year and wanted to know if there might be any issues.
Im looking for something as sturdy as possible (not sure if the showcase 20 has better build quality than the skybox 18) that can hold a good amount. I'm going to be taking up wife, 3 kids, and a husky camping so I need something that can hold a lot.
Im looking for something as sturdy as possible (not sure if the showcase 20 has better build quality than the skybox 18) that can hold a good amount. I'm going to be taking up wife, 3 kids, and a husky camping so I need something that can hold a lot.
ToyoT4R
Member
I've been researching various roof boxes and finally decided on the Thule Motion XT XL. This is 18 cu ft and is shorter than Yakima's 18 cu ft. Thule also has a higher front lip to help keep rain out and the lid opens and closes much easier than the Yakima. Overall a better quality box but it is about $200 more. REI has 20% off now plus I had more in REI point dollars so it ended up being cheaper than the Yakima Skybox 16
The box has a relief at the back to clear the shark fin however, I still needed about a 1/4" to clear it. I placed some shims over the rear factory crossbar under the rear clamps and one under the center, got some cheap putty spreaders from car quest (yellow shims in the photo), and it raised it enough. Shaking the box, I couldn't get it to touch the antenna. The clamps clear the roof by about 1/2". On the front, it stops about 14" behind the windshield. Box clears the tailgate spoiler by almost an inch. Haven't road tested it yet but I like it a lot. Very solid. If it ends up touching the shark fin or the roof I'll get some Thule crossbars.
The box has a relief at the back to clear the shark fin however, I still needed about a 1/4" to clear it. I placed some shims over the rear factory crossbar under the rear clamps and one under the center, got some cheap putty spreaders from car quest (yellow shims in the photo), and it raised it enough. Shaking the box, I couldn't get it to touch the antenna. The clamps clear the roof by about 1/2". On the front, it stops about 14" behind the windshield. Box clears the tailgate spoiler by almost an inch. Haven't road tested it yet but I like it a lot. Very solid. If it ends up touching the shark fin or the roof I'll get some Thule crossbars.
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ddurrett896
New member
I’ve got a skybox on a 12’ SR5 and it doesn’t hit the fin or the tailgate.
Does anyone have experience with an Oztent RV-5 in a rooftop box?
I’m taking a trip to Colorado this summer in my 2016 TRD Pro. With a growing family we need more room and I want to wait a few years before I put a Baja rack on it. Figure the cargo box is the way to go.
Looking at the Thule XXL and the Yakima 21. The dimensions fit, but it would be nice to hear from someone with experience and possibly see some photos to judge how much room I’ll have for other gear.
Thanks.
I’m taking a trip to Colorado this summer in my 2016 TRD Pro. With a growing family we need more room and I want to wait a few years before I put a Baja rack on it. Figure the cargo box is the way to go.
Looking at the Thule XXL and the Yakima 21. The dimensions fit, but it would be nice to hear from someone with experience and possibly see some photos to judge how much room I’ll have for other gear.
Thanks.
Inno Shadow Box Question
I just bought a 2018 TRD Off Road. Do you happen to know if this box will fit on the factory roof rack/cross bars? Looks like yours might be mounted to the factory crossbars. Thanks
INNO Shadow roof cargo box 15 cu. ft. It's made in Japan, just like my 4Runner
I just bought a 2018 TRD Off Road. Do you happen to know if this box will fit on the factory roof rack/cross bars? Looks like yours might be mounted to the factory crossbars. Thanks
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quicksandTRDPRO
New member
It definitely will! It is pretty versatile, it even mounts to my Ecotechne roof rack.
codyHTX
Member
Yakima SkyBox 18
Yakima SkyBox 18 + Gobi Rack with removable crossbars makes for a very good fit atop the 5th gen.
- cross bars can be positioned so that the rear a the box clears the open lift-gate while also resting the nose on a sup pad across the front raised bar. the mounting feet themselves sit approx 1/4" to 1/2" above the mesh floor of the rack.
- test drive from Austin to Houston yesterday with some gear loaded in. looking up thru the sunroof, i could see the cushioned support under the bow of the box made for very little wobbling doing 80 down the hwy and had no extra noise (although with the other bolt-ons my 4R is already fairly noisy).
spent a while at REI going back and forth between Yakima SkyBox 18 and Thule Force XT XXL as they are comparable in price and size, here's what i personally noted as pro/cons
- SkyBox interior floor is a flatter design that Thule, which had more undulations across the bottom
- SkyBox has a keyed metal lever. must unlock then rotate lever to release the lid. the Thule had a plastic knob that rotates as you unlock. once unlocked the lid is basically open. there is no lever system to release the lid. when closing, the Yakima is makes a distinct *click* when properly closed. i like the action on the Yakima much more than Thule
- Thule has 6 sturdy metal hooks for interior tie-downs while the Yakima has 4 plastic hooks for tie-downs. Thule wins the tie-down game on this one
- Thule aesthetically is very cool looking, no doubt. however, the front of the Thule lid continuously was getting caught on the front corner of the base. this seemed to be due to the more angular shape on the Thule front end.
- Yakima mounting feet wrap under the crossbar from front to back. the Thule feet pinch the front and back of the crossbar. in the hypothetical instance of failure i much prefer the Yakima system, which even if it were to somehow fail, would be more difficult to actually come fully off the crossbars.
- Yakima mounting feet are adjustable fore and aft, while the Thule mounting feet are in set locations (I'm 99% sure this comment is accurate regarding the Thule Force)
happy to take any questions about the setup, fitment, clearance, etc.
Yakima SkyBox 18 + Gobi Rack with removable crossbars makes for a very good fit atop the 5th gen.
- cross bars can be positioned so that the rear a the box clears the open lift-gate while also resting the nose on a sup pad across the front raised bar. the mounting feet themselves sit approx 1/4" to 1/2" above the mesh floor of the rack.
- test drive from Austin to Houston yesterday with some gear loaded in. looking up thru the sunroof, i could see the cushioned support under the bow of the box made for very little wobbling doing 80 down the hwy and had no extra noise (although with the other bolt-ons my 4R is already fairly noisy).
spent a while at REI going back and forth between Yakima SkyBox 18 and Thule Force XT XXL as they are comparable in price and size, here's what i personally noted as pro/cons
- SkyBox interior floor is a flatter design that Thule, which had more undulations across the bottom
- SkyBox has a keyed metal lever. must unlock then rotate lever to release the lid. the Thule had a plastic knob that rotates as you unlock. once unlocked the lid is basically open. there is no lever system to release the lid. when closing, the Yakima is makes a distinct *click* when properly closed. i like the action on the Yakima much more than Thule
- Thule has 6 sturdy metal hooks for interior tie-downs while the Yakima has 4 plastic hooks for tie-downs. Thule wins the tie-down game on this one
- Thule aesthetically is very cool looking, no doubt. however, the front of the Thule lid continuously was getting caught on the front corner of the base. this seemed to be due to the more angular shape on the Thule front end.
- Yakima mounting feet wrap under the crossbar from front to back. the Thule feet pinch the front and back of the crossbar. in the hypothetical instance of failure i much prefer the Yakima system, which even if it were to somehow fail, would be more difficult to actually come fully off the crossbars.
- Yakima mounting feet are adjustable fore and aft, while the Thule mounting feet are in set locations (I'm 99% sure this comment is accurate regarding the Thule Force)
happy to take any questions about the setup, fitment, clearance, etc.
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INNO Shadow roof cargo box 15 cu. ft. It's made in Japan, just like my 4Runner
Hey [MENTION=129592]quicksandTRDPRO[/MENTION]
I know this was an old post, but was curious if your spoiler hit that Inno box with the back raised open?
Toffees
Member
How long is that drive? Makes me feel better about our commute to CO, which isn't terrible, but kids slow the drive.
Irish Mike
New member
I have a Thule box that fits perfect, it is about 5 years old but may be the Pulse? Im not 100% sure on that. It allows sunroof to open and rear hatch to open. It also does not interfere with the shark fin. I had 2 sets of golf clubs, 2 sleeping pads, an air mattress, 8 beach towels and 3 life jackets in it last week. It mounts great on the factory roof bars. I also put it on Thule roof bars when I have to haul bikes. It is very versatile and functional.
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Cymon
New member
About 24 hours total drive time. All of our family still lives in Maryland so we usually drive to Maryland (16 hours), hang with family for a day or two, drive up to Vermont (8 hours), ski/snowboard, then reverse it on the way back to the swamp.
I get out of this state whenever I can. We just finished a 3 week trip (2 kids and Dog) driving out to Placitas, New Mexico to meet my parents (my Dad qualified for the Senior Olympics in cycling, which was held out there this year) for a week, followed them back to Maryland to hang out for two weeks and then back to Florida. 6,200 miles total all with the cargo box on the Frontrunner rack in the last three weeks on and off-road with no issues.
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I opted to go with Pelican 1650's instead. They carry as mush as one dedicated rooftop cargo box and they are easily removed to double as luggage or to transport contained gear to another vehicle or when at camp.
When running the 4gal Rotopax up top along with the Maxtrax I can only run two of them, but without the Rotopax I can squeeze four of them up there in pairs. It'll be even easier to run four when I can get both the Maxtrax and the Rotopax off of the roof and on the rear bumper/tire carrier.
When running the 4gal Rotopax up top along with the Maxtrax I can only run two of them, but without the Rotopax I can squeeze four of them up there in pairs. It'll be even easier to run four when I can get both the Maxtrax and the Rotopax off of the roof and on the rear bumper/tire carrier.
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