The 8 Best Car Roof Carriers for Every Road Trip in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Thule Motion 3

View on Thule.com

Thule is the best in the business when it comes to car roof carriers, so we jumped on the chance to test their newest cargo box for several months before it launched. We tried the large size to fit on a mid-size SUV and had no issues with compatibility thanks to Thule's thorough size and features guide. The carrier boasts a quick-lock mounting system that makes it easier than ever to line up the clamps to the crossbars and tighten the legs. Weighing 43.6 pounds — quite a bit less than the standard — we found that it didn't require much effort to lift the carrier and one person could do it comfortably.

With 16 cubic feet of space and a 165-pound capacity, we fit all types of gear in the carrier from ski bags to luggage. The carrier comes with a sturdy lock to keep the contents of the carrier secure and we never questioned the security of the lock or the carrier when mounted on the car. It's also very sleek and aerodynamic, which meant we never once heard it jostling around while driving on highways or around town. While we weren't able to fit long skis (180-plus centimeters length-wise) in the carrier, there are XL and XXL length options for those that need more space.

The Details: 76.9 x 35 x 16.7 inches | 43.6 pounds | 165-pound load capacity | 16 cubic feet

Most Versatile

Yakima SkyBox NX 18 Roof Box

$799 at REI

For travelers with multiple cars, a cargo box with broad compatibility like this Yakima is the route to go. We were able to mount it on an SUV and mid-size truck with the carrier fitting comfortably and securely on both vehicles thanks to the brand's easy-to-use mounting hardware. With an 18-cubic-foot capacity, this is a seriously large cargo box, which means the packing space feels nearly limitless. Camping gear, multiple pairs of skis, luggage, and coolers fit inside the box so it's built for long road trips and camping with big groups or families in mind.

Our favorite part of the roof carrier is the option to open it from either side, which was particularly helpful when we only needed to grab one specific item from the carrier after packing. Although this cargo box is on the heavier and wider side, it only took one person (maybe two, depending on strength ability) to lift and mount the box. We took it on multiple road trips on highways going over 60 miles per hour, and we didn't even notice the car roof carrier on top — a testament to the aerodynamic and slim design of Yakima's newest roof carrier.

The Details: 84 x 36 x 16.5 inches | 53 pounds | 18 cubic

Best Budget

SportRack Vista XL Cargo Box

$400 at Amazon $480 at Dick's View on Campsaver.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Stability
  4.5/5
• Security
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

We’re big fans of the taller capacity of the SportRack Vista XL Rear Opening Cargo Box for packing tall items like luggage that might not fit in sportier cargo boxes. Despite the high design, the light weight of the box made it easy to load it onto a roof. We had slight issues with getting the brackets onto the roof rails, but we’re confident the installation will only become easier with time. We were able to fit oversized luggage, coolers, and golf clubs into the box with ease, and we found that the UV-resistant plastic material has a bit of give for fitting bigger items.

The SportRack Vista XL was surprisingly very aerodynamic and fit a variety of travel gear. After using the box for several day trips to state parks and cities over three months, we especially like that it is hard-sided to protect the contents from rain. While it’s not long enough to fit skis, we’re content with the number of items it’s able to store for road trips.

The Details: 63 x 38 x 19 inches | 28 pounds | 100-pound load capacity | 18 cubic feet

Best Security

Yakima CBX 16 Roof Box

$999 at REI View on Yakima.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Stability
  4/5
• Security
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5

Whether you’re heading out on a hike or making a pit stop at a gas station, the Yakima CBX 16 Premium Cargo Box has a sturdy key-locking system to protect your items. We love that the clamshell box won’t close without being locked by the key, meaning you’ll never wonder whether or not you locked the cargo box. The high-quality materials and easy setup equally impressed us: the cargo box came assembled, and its lightweight design made it hassle-free to install on the car roof. After three months of use, the only downside to this box is that it rattled quite a bit during a road trip, but it worked well during several thunderstorms, keeping camping gear and luggage dry.

The Details: 83 x 38 x 15 inches | 57 pounds | 16 cubic feet

Easiest Setup

Thule Force Rooftop Cargo Box

$750 at Amazon $700 at REI View on Thule.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Stability
  4.5/5
• Security
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Loading a carrier onto a car can be relatively difficult, but the Thule Force XT Rooftop Cargo Box won us over for its simple assembly and installation process. There are no tools required to put the box on the roof, as there are knobs that cramp onto roof rails and tighten with ease. The quick-connect system is very simple to install and affix to the roof rails of the vehicle. The box opens from either side of the vehicle, so again, accessing the installation hardware and loading the box with gear is easy. We noticed that because of the lightweight design of the box, the sides feel a little wobbly when the top is open for loading, but we don’t think that’s a deal breaker by any means. We loaded skis, golf clubs, and camping gear into the compartment with no issues, making it one of the best we tested.

The Details: 74.75 x 33 x 18 inches (large size) | 41 pounds | 165-pound load capacity | 16 cubic feet

Best Splurge

Thule Vector Alpine Roof Box

$2,400 at Amazon $1,280 at REI $2,400 at thule.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Security
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Road trippers with higher budgets looking to invest in a spacious, sporty cargo carrier should consider Thule’s Vector Alpine model. Earning perfect scores in all of our testing categories over three months, the cargo box’s special features like LED lights for loading gear at night, a felt-lined interior, and dual access from either side of the box impressed us. The installation process is easiest with two people, but we do think one person could tackle it since it was fairly simple (although, the box does weigh almost 66 pounds). We were able to fit sports gear like several pairs of skis, and we appreciated the straps on the interior to tie down gear if needed. The box doesn’t rattle or shake at high speeds, and it feels very sturdy and protective in all types of weather conditions thanks to the SlideLock system and thick plastic material.

The Details: 91 x 35 x 12.5 inches | 65.9 pounds | 165-pound load capacity | 13 cubic feet

Best Mid-size

Goplus Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Carrier

$450 at Amazon $410 at Walmart $500 at goplusus.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Security
  4.5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

For travelers looking to purchase a medium-sized cargo box, we love the lightweight and aerodynamic Goplus Rooftop Carrier. It’s not quite long enough for a pair of skis, but we had no issues fitting items like golf clubs, folding chairs, and other camping gear for short and long road trips. At first, the instructions were slightly unclear, so we did have to do some Googling to put together the cargo box. But once it was on, the box felt very sturdy without shifting of the box after driving in all sorts of conditions. The clamps really grab onto the crossbars well, and even when we tried to wiggle it ourselves it didn't budge. After using the box for three months, we found that there are no sounds of anything shifting or rattling when driving, even at high speeds. The cargo box is super lightweight at only 25 pounds, making it easy for one person to load it onto the car, but the polycarbonate materials (what most suitcases are made of) felt a little flimsy. However, our gear remained in perfect condition after plenty of car rides, so we’re confident the mid-sized cargo box is worth the investment.

The Details: 63 x 31 x 15 inches | 25 pounds | 165-pound load capacity | 14 cubic feet

Best Cargo Bag

RoofBag Rooftop Cargo Carrier

$100 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Stability
  4.5/5
• Security
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

The RoofBag Rooftop Cargo Carrier is the perfect storage solution for your annual camping or road trip. Typically, rooftop carriers have a plastic, clamshell design, but this handy bag is budget-friendly and much easier to store since it folds up. Plus, you don’t need to have a roof rack on your car since the bag has straps that are fastened by going under the doors to the interior part of the car — a process that we found to be very easy and simple. We used the bag during a 700-mile California road trip, and although it didn’t rain, the waterproof material is heavy-duty, keeping the packed camping gear safe and secure from high speeds. This cargo carrier is an excellent option for the budget traveler or someone who wants extra storage for their vehicle but won't be using that extra storage often.

The Details: 48 x 38 x 12 inches | 8 pounds | 100-pound load capacity | 17 cubic feet