Initial set up of the Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite is about as easy as it gets with no tools required. This is also where its worth considering if you need a low-profile design (for low-clearance areas) or half-width box (to make room for a bike or kayak, for example). . For $150 less than the Motion above, the Force retains a lot of premium features, including easy-to-install PowerClick mounts, dual-sided opening, six tie-down points, and built-in stiffeners for added load bearing (up to 165 lbs.). As we mentioned above, Yakima also makes the SkyBox in a Lo Carbonite version, which is shorter and longer than the model tested here and ideal for those concerned about aerodynamics. And whether you opt for a standard-height or low-profile box, its a good idea to confirm the final dimensions of your vehicle to mitigate any potential disasters in confined areas. And the inside gets style points as well: the mounting system uses a removable knob to tighten each clamp and then stores it to the side, creating a sleek, flat base and more room for your gear. And in terms of interior features, the Vector has no equal. Share | Add to Watchlist. 4.7 out of 5 stars. Yakima GrandTour 16 car top box $485 (Playa Del Rey) Pic ocultar anncio rest. But details matter, and here the Yakima lags a bit behind. On particularly windy trips, it will be 1 to 3 miles per gallon lower, while in milder conditions its close enough to not see a difference. ft.Access: Dual sideSkis: Up to 170cmWhat we like: Premium feature set at a good value.What we dont: Too short for most skis and pricier than true budget options. It used to come in a trio of capacities, but the 14-cubic-foot option is the last man standing in 2023 and a nice all-rounder size for individuals or small families. If you plan to haul additional gear on your roof rackpopular items include a kayak or bikeyou may want to consider a narrow or half-width design. It has style. Because rooftop cargo boxes are so popular for toting snow gear, most manufacturers specify the length of ski (and sometimes number of pairs) that each model is able to fit. But it's hard to be overly critical at this price point, and for budget shoppers who are willing to sacrifice a bit on quality, the Jegs is a good place to start.See the Jegs Rooftop Cargo Carrier. The GrandTour is slightly taller, but has "cutaways" which allow it to sit lower, making them effectively the same height on a car. And for winter-time use, the box easily swallows snowboards and skis. TESTED. Yakima GrandTour 16 Cargo Box Product # 8007394 By Yakima Yakima GrandTour Cargo Box $878.95 $879.00 Price Match New In-Box In-Store Only (Call to Confirm) Size 16 18 Lo Expert Fit Price Match Product Details Specifications Installation & Documents Q & A (4) Product Description: One of the features that stands out in this product is its dual-side opening. Compared to the top-ranked Motion XT, performance drops slightly with a less robust nose design, but the Yakima costs around $70 less ($829 vs. $900 for the 16-cu.-ft. versions) and has a more polished aesthetic. You can wrap your front bar with a towel (and duct tape) or a bungee cord, swap in aerodynamic crossbars (Yakimas JetStream is a popular option), or add a fairing (like the Thule AirScreen XT). shorter than the Yakima). First off, the box is made of 80% recycled ABS plastic which protects both the environment and the gear. Expert Reply: Both the Yakima SkyBox 16 # Y07335 and the Thule Motion XT L # TH629706 are excellent options that look great, feature dual side access, and give you 16 cu ft of extra cargo space. Second, its a good idea to be strategic about what you put in your cargo box. There are important considerations when making a purchase: What is your skill level? And if you have other Yakima or Thule products mounted on your vehicle(s), you might especially like Yakimas SKS (same key system) and Thules One-Key system, which allow you to swap out the cores with an identical set so that you can open all of your accessories (including ski/snowboard racks and bike racks) with the same key. The GrandTour would have to be shipped to my local REI, while the Skybox is already in stock there. Yakima GrandTour Rooftop Cargo Box - 16 Cubic Ft - Gloss Black 20 Reviews Code: YA74FR In Stock Our Price: $878.95 Add To Cart 79" x 35" x 18". We like to start with lightweight and bulky gear like sleeping bags, tents, and backpacks, which frees up room in the trunk for heavier items like food, a climbing rack, or a camping stove. Sliding in just below the Motion XT in Thules lineup, the Force is a quality all-rounder with a versatile shape that's great for toting skis, camping gear, suitcases, and more. Dimensions: 62.5 x 30 x 15 in.Capacity: 14 cu. The CBX 16 is one of the roomiest and longest cargo boxes here, with dimensions similar to many 18-cubic-foot designs (despite its 16-cu.-ft. spec). Its always best to use the fit guide prior to buying, and we highly recommend going through the process of measuring if there will be any potential hatch interference. There Rooftop tents have never been more popular, and its easy to see why. Yakima has one that's 58" long. And the list goes on: perhaps youre toting golf clubs, a stroller or baby carrier, or even construction and gardening tools. The GrandTour above is one of our favorite designs for luxury cars, but some might want a more rugged look to match their adventure rig. On the flip side, the interior understandably can get quite warm in direct heat. See the Thule Sidekick. With 18 cubic feet of capacity, you get significantly more storage than boxes like the 14-cubic-foot Thule Pulse M above, and the 19-inch height is great for accommodating bulky items such as golf clubs or strollers (many sleeker boxes are 15 in. more than the Wedge 660) and only opens on the passenger side, but its a bit cheaper at $650. This box requires no assembly. But overall, this is a fairly minor complaint, and I'm happy with the all-around protection. Our favorite models feature clamps that slide on tracks to accommodate various crossbar spreads, tighten via a thumbwheel, and secure with an audible click or by way of an integrated lever. wide). One-sided and rear access is more common on budget designsThules Pulse opens on the passenger side, while the SportRack Vista XL is accessed at the rear. Yakima SkyBox 16 16 Cu. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. But in most casesand this is important to rememberthe true limiting factor will be your vehicles dynamic load limit. The Thule Pulse Alpine (also 11 cu. At just $300, this box costs $150 less than the next-cheapest model here (Thules Sidekick below) while offering options for dual-side or rear access (the Sidekick only opens from the passenger side) and more than twice the storage capacity. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. If its gusty outside, there is an occasional whooshing sound as wind hits (particularly cross winds), but again, its faint enough that I frequently forget the box is up there. For most, these versatile carriers offer a great storage solution for bulky outdoor equipment, including skis and poles, fishing rods, and camping and backpacking supplies. The Yakima GrandTour is one of our favorite roof boxes that we have tested to date. If youre searching for the best way to transport bikes, hitch-mounted bike racks are the way to go. And the same can be said for your cars gas mileage: If there isnt much wind, the impact is very minimal. Yakima has been a leader in the cargo roof box game for some time, and their core and arguably most versatile product is the SkyBox Carbonite. For around $20 less, we prefer the Yakima for its similar capacity at a lower weight. In the case of the SkyBox, Yakima claims its open clamps will work with any of their rack systems (round or aerodynamic), factory bars that come from the vehicle manufacturer, and square bars (commonly found with entry-level Thule sets). In the end, some of the best boxes clock in around 40 to 50 pounds (for roughly 14-18 cu. While my tests havent been exactly scientific, Ive repeated similar two- to four-hour routes along two-lane and major highways throughout Washington stateincluding over mountain passesand Ive seen only minor dips in average mileage. For 2023, most of the top models are built by roof-rack giants Thule and Yakima, but brands like INNO and SportRack also have some solid contributions. The majority of rooftop boxes are highly water-resistant, with waterproof plastic shells, weather sealing around the edges, and large lips that close the gap between the base and lid. And we touched on the height above, but at 15 inches (interior dimensions are about 1 inch less), it does come with some limitations on what squeezes inside. But the difference in rigidity is palpable (thats saying something, as the Motion is one of the stiffer designs here). Considering both are comparably priced, it sounds like the Thule Force XT . ft. cargo capacity Tool-free installation and removal from vehicle For most users, we recommend a box in the 16- to 18-cubic-foot range, which should accommodate overnight camping gear for three to four people. Below we break down our experiences with the SkyBox 16. Most boxes come already built and ready to mount, but some budget designs require more in-depth assembly (which can be arduous if DIY isnt your thing). It features internal lid stiffeners for durability and SuperLatch security system to keep your gear safe and sound. SkyBox 16 fits perfectly on the factory crossbars though. Its also worth noting that wind noise is not simply a result of the bulk of the box. So why, you might be wondering, do we have this top-of-the-line model at the bottom of our list? Rooftop cargo boxes range from 20 pounds for the Thule Sidekick to around 65 pounds for the Thule Vector Alpineand Yakima CBX 18. Dimensions: 54 x 25 x 15.5 in.Capacity: 8 cu. Dimensions: 92 x 24 x 16 in.Capacities: 12, 16, 18, 21 cu. Free shipping. However, if you plan to routinely remove your box, you might want to opt for a more premium design. If I had a wider box, I couldn't keep the ski racks, and would have to put skis in the car (They wouldn't fit in a 58" box). From: $819.00. The Yakima Skybox 16 offers ample space within a compact footprint while still offering a sleek, aerodynamic shape to reduce drag and wind noise. One of the key advantages to opting for a cargo box over a rooftop bag or basket is the ability to keep your gear protected from the elements. Finally, the nose design is top-notch, including an extra-solid base and generous overlap that resists gaping and provides better wind resistance than most. Best Seller in Vehicle Hard-Shell Carriers. Brian My Journal My Fuelly Save S In terms of the Pulses design, Thule kept things simple with a single opening (on the passenger side) and combined lock/latch mechanism, although you still get the ease of tool-free installation with FastGrip quick mounts. The options on our list start around 8 cubic feet (the Thule Sidekick) and max out around 22 cubic feet for some of Thules XXL designs (the Motion XT and Force XT). For example, the Yakima SkyBox 12 Carbonite accommodates skis up to 215 centimeters in length, while the Thule Motion XT L fits 3 to 5 snowboards and 5 to 7 pairs of skis up to 175 centimeters. ft.Access: Dual sideSkis: Up to 215cmWhat we like: Narrow profile leaves room for other rooftop gear.What we dont: Limited capacity compared to most full-size models. I recommend going with the Motion XT L though because it allows you to install it on your 2016 Audi Q5, a 2019 Subaru Forester, or a 2019 Mazda CX-5 no . And for the ultimate in premium, sophisticated designs, check out Thule's Vector below.See the Yakima GrandTour 16. Dimensions: 91 x 35 x 12.5 in.Capacity: 13 (M/Alpine) cu. And secondand particularly applicable if you drive an SUV, wagon, hatchback, or vanyoull want to make sure that the backend of your box doesnt get in the way of your rear hatch opening or antenna. Dimensions: 67 x 35 x 16 in.Capacities: 11 (Alpine), 14, 16 cu. with the CBX 18), and you get a highly functional hauler that can handle tricker items like skis (up to 185cm) and more. Stacked up against the SkyBox 16, the Wedge 665 is slightly taller at 15.7 inches but weighs more at 51 pounds 12.9 ounces and is shorter lengthwise at 6 feet 8 inches. But its hard to beat Thules fantastic tool-free installation and reliable build quality, and the Force XT is undeniably a well-made box.See the Thule Force XT L. Dimensions: 74 x 33 x 16 in.Capacity: 14 cu. Free shipping for many products! That said, the Horizons svelte 21-inch width could make it the more attractive option for some. *SkyBox Size: Find Dealer Add to Wish List Details Specification Features Sleek aerodynamic Carbonite textured lid No assembly required If you dont need the added length for fitting items like snowboards, the SportRack Vista XL below could be a better option for $120 less.See the Thule Pulse M. Dimensions: 83 x 38 x 15 in.Capacities: 16 (Solar), 16, 18 cu. The good news with buying a quality product like the SkyBox is that these effects are fairly negligible. The Yakima Roof Carrier is a great and smart way to add storage to your vehicle. The Goplus used to be one of our favorite budget models, but with a recent jump to $540, its lost some of its appeal and fallen lower in our rankings as a result. If youre thinking about buying gear that weve reviewed on Switchback Travel, you can help support us in the process. Yakima SkyBox 16. In about three years of use, my Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite has seen everything from 100+ degree heat to driving rain and snowstorms and has yet to leak or fail. GrandTour 16 Just asking, but I see the price differential between the skybox 16 and grand tour 16 as $100, the grand tour seems to be . GrandTour 16 Product Details 16 cubic feet of cargo space Removable torque limiting knob ensures a safe and secure installation Market-leading internal usable space with an unobstructed flattened floor provides more space for your gear Optimized hatch clearance for better vehicle fit Internal lid stiffeners for durability and easy open and close Then, with a second person, you simply lift the box, approach the vehicle from the front (the open clamps will make this positioning obvious), and set the box immediately in front of the bars. However, it's a great match for skisits rated to handle six to eight pairs (or four to six snowboards)and its incredibly well made throughout. For instance, the Thule Vector($2,000) adds a removable felt-lined base to protect your gear, motion-sensing interior LED light, and white-colored lid to make it easier to see your gear. ft. yakima rooftop box. On the other hand, the Forces combined set-up puts more strain on the lockit should come as no surprise that there have been issues over the years with broken keys. Available with 14, 15 or 16 cubic feet capacityideal for skis, surboards or camping equipment. Interior Length Finally, the Pulses rudimentary lock/latch mechanism is middling at best, and (similar to the Force above) it has a tendency to put undue strain on the key. . Make room for friends with the next evolution of the SkyBox series. In terms of weight, the SkyBox 16 clocks in at 47 pounds. Most manufacturers recommend that you dont drive with an empty cargo box on your roof, for reasons much more practical than safety-oriented. The CBX and its more uniform height simply made it easier. 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