Not everyone wants to drive a mini van or suv even they take the car for a family trip. Only in America it’s almost a rule that if you have one baby people need an SUV or mini van.. in europe it’s normal if you have 2 kids that you still drive your sedan or hatchback
@@jdnrotterdam2150 You've got that right. As a person from the U. S. (from a 17th century New England family) I witness so much waste that I want to vomit. But if a country contains about 0.04% of the world's population and yet consumes, conservatively, at least 25% of the world's natural resources, its population too, can be wasteful, wanton, uncaring, and just plain greedy.
@@lanalorenzen - Your post reminded me of a day when some friends visited with their newly-adopted two year old son. The new father had been easy to spot on the roads because of his green convertible. It was gone, replaced by a minivan, a horrible one at that. When I asked, "Why a minivan?", he said "because of him." He pointed to his tiny son, sitting alone in the back of that cavernous van. It was the funniest excuse for driving a minivan I had ever seen. That boy remained an only child; so, it's not as if they needed the extra seating. ;-)
@@StealthGTI I agree. I’ve ordered racks and a box from a store and am awaiting to pick them up. We only need the extra space once per year, maximum twice per year.
HAHA! Another way to put it was "I wanted everyone to be outta my face." HAHA! The turtle needed heat and proper lighting so that she didn't get sick during the 30-day trip. She's 35 years old this year. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks, Jon! Check out the setup that I used when I moved my late mother's three cats from CA to VA in this video, th-cam.com/video/3WSPJQyGOZ4/w-d-xo.html, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for sharing that. I tend to over-analyze things. I'm glad to know there are other rationals out there who appreciate the extra info. Thanks for visiting.
HAHA! I've seen some cool supercar cargo boxes on an IG called "I_Like_Your_Box." The newer series of cargo boxes look sweet because they're made to sit lower on the crossbar and hug closer to the roof. Thanks for visiting.
The guitar riffs add a new dimension to mundane insanity. You did a great job editing and I enjoyed the video. I just wish there were more pyrotechnics.
HAHA! Thanks! I used to experiment with different music, but never really liked it if it was too loud. My goal is to have sound other than my voice, but without being overwhelming. Sometimes I get a good mix; sometimes I don't. These days, I taper the music after the intro and bring it back for the closing. It makes for consistent videos, but not necessarily an exciting viewing experience. ;-)
Thanks! Both of those cats are gone now. Both lived long enough to reach legal drinking age. The turtle is still with us. She's 35 years old now and has been from VA to MA to NM to CA and back to VA. Thanks for visiting.
Just wanted to let you know that to help protect your paint you could buy some racer's/helicopter tape which is translucent, put this down on/around your mounting points so your paint doesn't get scratched up. That tape works well to protect your bikes too, lots of people use it on gravel bikes especially.
One other disadvantage of the roof rack box is the height of the vehicle. Depending on the original height of the vehicle plus the box , it is something to consider when going into low parking garages. Also where I live on an island, taking the ferry to main land is an extra cost due to the height of the vehicle being considered a Large truck.
Agreed on the height of the box, depending on the vehicle. My combination is around 6'3"; so, I probably wouldn't enter any structure that's not at least 6'6". In my opinion, your ferry is gouging their customers. I think the idea of charging "large truck" costs is to recover the revenue lost when vehicles with a large footprint reduce the space available for more smaller vehicles. Charging a large truck fee for a compact car that weighs less than 4000 lbs (loaded) is ridiculous. BUT, when you live on an island, I guess you put up with any BS associated with getting to and from... Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for this, I have been looking at a roof rack for a while and this gave me some food for thought. I'd still rather have a roof box than a bumper rack but I don't think I can ignore the fact that a 5'x8' utility trailer would probably haul anything I could even need to. Anything bigger and I'd be better off renting a u-haul van for the $50 it'd cost me.
Every now and then I wish I had just a little more floor space over my 3.5x5-ft "baby trailer." A 5x8 is a great size and very versatile. I rented a 6x10 on two separate occasions to transport my baby trailer for work. It was like "nesting dolls" for trailers. ;-) For the most part, the baby does great for my regular needs. In fact, routine use of a trailer was the driving factor behind me buying my first trailer or $200 over 20 years ago. Once I rented, I could see a trailer being useful enough that buying would be cheaper than renting over the long run. Thanks for visiting!
Random find on your video and love it! Your GTI is sick! I have an 09 maZda 3 hatchback. Have my rack set up really strong. Going to install a hitch in hopes of carrying my bicycles a lot easier. Love the content!
Good point! It would be faster for me, too, if I just left my rack mounted. ;-) My paint is marred; so, it's a temptation to just leave it mounted. Thanks for visiting!
Glad you like them! And thanks for taking the time to tell me that. I hope my presentation skills are getting better, even since then. Editing those long videos was a real chore. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for your comment! Oddly enough, I had some marring on my roof from long-term rooftop cargo box mounting during a recent 7400-mile road trip. I'm getting the paint reconditioned by a pro soon. I'm also going to test a truck box on a hitch basket. Sure, it carries just half as much as a rooftop cargo box. But the truck box will ride in the car's draft (better fuel economy) and not touch the paint. I'll share a video in the coming months. Thanks for visiting!
Glad you like it! Ironically, some others have commented that they don't like the background story and that I should get to the point. HAHA! Today, "Chapters" make it easier for viewers to skip around. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI it’s was really helpful and nice of you to put the time in to help strangers like me here in the UK. Don’t listen too much to the negative nellys
Thanks, Dok! I haven't been a frequent poster; nor do I do enough ongoing mods to keep the videos flowing. But I'm making long-term plans to resume what I had loved most about my VWs: TRAVELING. I may do a small series during some road trips. I'm brainstorming some ideas. ;-) Thanks for visiting! -Scott
I don't recall who brought mine since it was so long ago. I think it was DHL. If not, it was certainly a freight company and not one of the carriers that you see in your neighborhood every day. BTW, if you're buying new, the cost of shipping is usually included in the price of the box. If it's not, price compare with Amazon. Good luck and thanks for visiting!
If I told you what I paid you crap your pants Lol I have three of them all Thule and I will always have them just food for thought I found two of mine at the flea market and the other one from a customer who saw mine I've been extremely lucky I didn't go over the $100 mark for all together thanks for the video
Thanks for the comments, William! Yeah, I was looking for a deal for a little while, nothing too serious. When it came to crunch time, I decided I wanted what was (at the time) Yakima's newest release, with the assumption that it would be their best yet in terms of strength and aerodynamics. Had I known it would be a disappointment, I might have looked for a used Skybox instead. But I'm made the best of the leaky box I wound up with. The wrap still looks great. Take Care! -Scott
HAHA! That trip was over 22 years ago. At the time, it was two cats and a box turtle. We added a ball python and another cat when we left NM for CA. Then everyone traveled from CA to VA. The cats have since passed away and new ones are in their place. The python and turtle are still with us. The python is 22 years old and the turtle is ~36 years old. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks! I appreciate that. My older videos make me cringe a bit. I'm not necessarily a pro today, but time and experience in front of the camera has made me capable of creating better videos than this one. ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Yes! Total roof load is total roof load, right? I guess the size of box to choose is based on what will be carried. A set of long skis may require a long box. Thanks for commenting. -Scott
Funny, just yesterday I was thinking about how I wanted a cargo box but don't want it on my mk7 all the time either. I would also be that guy washing the car before as well.
Thanks for the tip. I've considered that, but I think the vinyl would simply relocate the problem. I recently returned from a trip that had the rack on the car for over a month. The paint looks marred. However, I'm fairly certain that what I'm seeing is actually mineral deposits from rain water. I think they'll come up with polishing. My point is that the edges of the vinyl wrap are just as visible as the mineral deposits. The visible mineral deposits will be gone as soon as I have the weather I need to polish them away. Thanks for visiting.
Wow.......bravo.....from the heart. Finally someone who understands the meaning of "Thorough" ....thank you sir and i salute you for your integrity and honesty. God bless you and be safe.
Haha! I suspect many viewers scanned past that so they could get to the "meat" of the video. I have a write-up about that trip at wp.me/P7YnQB-17s, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting.
@@thrashpilot - They were good travelers, especially if "Mama's" lap was available. Today's cats would be whiny hassles. HAHA! The turtle is no problem. She doesn't say much. ;-)
I just bought a used Vintage 1980’s Sears X-Cargo Rooftop Carrier (13-15 cu-ft) for $40 and used Toyota Manufactured cross bars for $50, all from Facebook market place, cost me about $90 and some gas
I could tell right from the outset that you were a detail-orientrd person. And sure enough, you made a super great, super well-analyzed video. Thanks for putting this together! I learned some things for sure.
Thanks for that! I'm detailed-oriented, for sure. Sometimes, that leads to WAY too much talking. HAHA! I quickly find myself looking at the original video and then "cut, cut, cut, and cut some more." ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Most Americans have no respect for small cars and it’s a shame. I’d rather have $1.5k in equipment I use 2-3 times a year and keep my high mpg and parkability all year. Just that simple. 99% of Americans don’t need big ass cars and they’ve been sold a lie from decades of marketing.
Thanks for sharing! The marketing lies are starting to catch up in the form of outrageously-high window stickers. I just watched a video that shows Jeep and RAM still having new 2022/2023 models on their lots, even while RAM is producing 2025s. They're just not selling. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
Good informative video. Really thought out. P.S. you look like Matt Damon, so it’s sorta like Jason Bourne is giving me a heads up on the pros and cons of putting a cargo carrier on the roof of my vehicle, so that’s cool lol.
No, sorry. It's just a couple of pickup truck bed mounts screwed into the sides of the carrier. I don't use it often; so, I didn't find it worth an entire video. Maybe someday if I take it on a road trip or camping trip. Thanks for visiting.
No! RF signals can pass through plastic boxes. So, the antennas still work fine so long as I do not have metal cargo in the back of the box. Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI …….Took my Thule box home empty today for first time and had full XM signal but I didn’t try all directions. XM antenna was fully covered from the top by the Thule cargo box. When I go under heavy tree cover or under certain car canopies I lose signal. Thanks stealth GTI
Hi there. Thank you for the video. You are inspiring…we may eventually be able to downsize to a smaller vehicle someday. Anyway, my question is actually on your utility trailer. I can’t seem to find one quite like it. Do you have brand/model…link? Thanks regardless!!
See a video at th-cam.com/video/gDvo3jwrZno/w-d-xo.html for full details on that trailer. There's also links to the products I used and to an article that I wrote about the setup. Thanks for visiting!
Great, well thought out video. Thanks for effort and being so clear. And sorry people like you that make great videos have to endure stupid comments like the one I see below "buy a new car". That obviously came from a real intellectual.
I appreciate that! Yes, dealing with "intellectuals" is always fun. Still, all interaction, good or bad, counts toward advancing my videos in the algorithm. :-) Thanks for visiting!
I have Thule Force XT Sport and my Enduro MTB right beside. So the roof rack I have is special size for fitting your bike. I had 3.8-3.9 liter per 100km and after my roof rack and bike it became 4.1-4.2 I mean its not end of the world
It's not a terrible fuel burden to have the box mounted unless you measure over the long haul. Some people leave them mounted full-time, which will get expensive. I enjoy having the flexibility to use mine when I need it and then store it when I don't. Thanks for visiting!
great video...thanks. Can you keep this on the roof rack and drive with it without it being fully loaded. I am going to pick someone at the airport. I want to have it installed but it will be empty on my ride to airport. Do you think that would be an issues?
No issue at all! I've gone weeks with an empty box just so that I'd have the space available for an impulse transport of some object. Thanks for visiting!
To solve your problem with bumper luggage all you to do is make another car license plate and atach to back of the trailer.Some european countries you have to do that by law or you get a ticket.
Very good. You do not mention height? I am worried what height limitations in parking garages etc would bring. Been looking at boxes below 40cm height, or lower mounted bars, to keep total height below 2 meters. But found nothing yet. Ps. I am curious about roof baskets as alternative. Would love to see you test and compare with a roof baskets.
I intentionally omitted height discussions since nearly every viewer's car is different from mine. Plus, some crossbars have more roof clearance than others. Also, some boxes ride lower than others due to the way their floors are designed. Regarding rooftop baskets, I've shared a video at th-cam.com/video/3B4WySXPLJw/w-d-xo.html that compares baskets to boxes. Have a look and see if you find it to be helpful. Thanks for visiting!
My Thule 21 cf roof box was 500 bucks 15 years ago. Been awesome! Stores in roof in garage. Used it on Mazda MPV, Saab 900 T and VW GSW currently on factory rack with old Yakima bars and new towers where the sunroof barely clears.. yikes The Yakima towers on the Mazda did mark the paint. Cheers and great info as usual.
Is that 165 lb total weight... Or per square foot sort of thing... Your roof rack is going to distribute the weight 165 lb sounds very low for a whole roof with a roof rack distributing the weight...hmmm... I'm going to have to look into this before I waste my time on a roof carrier... Great video though...
Thanks for the compliment on the video! The 165 lbs is total weight, including the weight of the rack itself. You'll find that's a fairly standard weight limit for passenger cars. Even many SUVs are limited to 165 lbs. Check your owner's manual. More robust (and expensive) racks, particularly those that bolt to the roof and are designed with endurance and overlanding mind, have higher capacities. But the vehicle's owner's manual will still show a limit that may surprise you. I think some racks that attach to pickup truck bed rails go to 500 lbs. Thanks for visiting!
Good overview although evidently over the head of Ali Salem. With a SUV everything inside is in sight and tempting thieves. Even if nothing of value is stolen a broken car window takes time to replace and is a major problem in the middle of a trip. The cargo box is the least bad solution for people with an SUV or hatchback.
Yup, you're right! I had a window busted and stereo stolen in San Antonio when my wife and I visited for our 10th anniversary. Thankfully, our drive to my parent's place was only 100 miles and the weather was nice enough to travel without a window. LOL! I did manage to get the glass replaced before our 700-mile drive home, though. The retint never matched the original. Thankfully, the thief looked no further than the stereo. Just as in my current car, he was sitting on a gold mine and never knew it since I hide my stuff. Thanks for visiting!
W S - I'm not sure what kind of car you load, nor what's on your rack. I used to load my complete package when all I had on the rack was four bicycle mounts. However, working alone, it's very difficult for me to imagine how I'd be able to lift away or (especially) put in place a rack that's pre-loaded to 65 lbs without the foot pads or clips damaging my roof or paint. With help, I still would not want to risk damaging the roof or paint if a foot pad clip is misaligned. I suspect I'd remove the clips to reduce the risks, which is time-consuming. Even if we were to get the rack with box on the roof, there would still be minor adjustments needed. I'd rather make those adjustments with no weight on the rack. In short, I think loading the way I have demonstrated is the safest way to do it without risking paint damage. Of course, if I was loading onto a beater that doesn't matter, then I guess I'd be all for doing it your way. ;-) I'm curious to know more specifics about what's on your rack and what you load your rack onto. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
@@StealthGTI I have an SUV with roof rails and box is Yakima showcase 15 like yours. My rack is the crossbar style which has plastic feet with rubber lining on the attachment point so when I set the crossbar on top of the rails, it doesn't scratch anything. The box is pretty heavy but manageable.
Thank you! Sometimes I go into TOO MUCH detail and then make a video that's longer than people want to endure. It was tough to decide how much was "too much" on this one. I left a lot on the chopping block. ;-) Thanks for visiting! -Scott
ya know they figure the weight carrying capacity of a roof rack. yeh. that's minus the box u put on it. I don't math much but I can make a 90 minute video about paying alot for a roof suitcase:)
Intro too long, I don't really care about all that. I don't see how the rooftop cargo box effects the paint in any way seeing as how it doesn't even touch it, but if you're so anal about the paint, use a sealant instead of wax or better yet, some PPF. Clear visual text for pro versus con sections and what number of pro or con would go a long way.
your fuel economy suffered because you bought a cargo box too big for your car and the front of the box goes out from the front end of your windshield so your aerodynamic was compromised. change your car or buy smaller box
By the math in the graphic that I shared in the video, I'm still getting 85-90% of the fuel economy compared to without a box. At over 30 mpg with the box, I'm still outperforming a larger vehicle. I'll stick with what I have. Thanks for visiting.
I find the point about obscuring you licence plate interesting. In the UK and I all the EU if you cover your licence plate you need to get a second plate and attach it to the trailer or bumper mounted bag. It is illegal to drive with your licence plate obscured. in fact you can get fined and points on your licence even if you licence plate is obscured by mud.
I suspect the same is true here in the US. An officer may or may not initiate a stop based on that alone; it depends on how they feel, I think. But if you're speeding or doing something else to warrant a stop, you can bet that the obscured plate will be added to the summons. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
Have fun on the trip! If you haven't solidified your dog transport plan, have a look at my most recent trip involving three large pet carriers at th-cam.com/video/3WSPJQyGOZ4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RxlsaAWZ3RroxSdr. Thanks for visiting!
Informative video. I’ve been searching for info on the maximum size bars these carriers can attach to. I’ve been planning to put one on the ladder rack over the bed of my truck. Any info appreciated.
Research is important. For example, the Promaster City has fixed mounting points that provide a 36" crossbar spread. My cargo box will not work on that van; I would need something else. Some other vehicle have fixe crossbar spreads, too. I've found etrailer.com to be a great place for researching specifications all in one place. Some boxes can accommodate very wide crossbar spreads. That's what I would want in my next box so that I will have maximum flexibility in whatever car I buy next. Thanks for visiting!
Nothing against you( your video is good), but i tell you a story, i found a good older style sears brand roof top on the side of the road, took it home ,clean it, done a little work on it, needs weather stripping change in it, and i already have cross bar on my mini van, so i am going to install the roof top on it, cost me nothing, just some work.
Buy a new car
No need for a full-time "solution" to a part-time problem, especially if it creates a new problem (too much car). Thanks for visiting. -Scott
Not everyone wants to drive a mini van or suv even they take the car for a family trip. Only in America it’s almost a rule that if you have one baby people need an SUV or mini van.. in europe it’s normal if you have 2 kids that you still drive your sedan or hatchback
@@jdnrotterdam2150 You've got that right. As a person from the U. S. (from a 17th century New England family) I witness so much waste that I want to vomit. But if a country contains about 0.04% of the world's population and yet consumes, conservatively, at least 25% of the world's natural resources, its population too, can be wasteful, wanton, uncaring, and just plain greedy.
@@lanalorenzen - Your post reminded me of a day when some friends visited with their newly-adopted two year old son. The new father had been easy to spot on the roads because of his green convertible. It was gone, replaced by a minivan, a horrible one at that. When I asked, "Why a minivan?", he said "because of him." He pointed to his tiny son, sitting alone in the back of that cavernous van. It was the funniest excuse for driving a minivan I had ever seen. That boy remained an only child; so, it's not as if they needed the extra seating. ;-)
@@StealthGTI I agree. I’ve ordered racks and a box from a store and am awaiting to pick them up. We only need the extra space once per year, maximum twice per year.
Buddy said he was traveling with two cats and a turtle and he wanted everybody to be comfortable so he needed more space😑😑😑🤣🤣🤣🤣💀
HAHA! Another way to put it was "I wanted everyone to be outta my face." HAHA! The turtle needed heat and proper lighting so that she didn't get sick during the 30-day trip. She's 35 years old this year. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI lol I get u 👍
😂🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂
Anyone who plans their trips around their pets to ensure their comfort is a good person.. from an old, ancient Chinese proverb 😻
Thanks, Jon! Check out the setup that I used when I moved my late mother's three cats from CA to VA in this video, th-cam.com/video/3WSPJQyGOZ4/w-d-xo.html, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting.
Loved the mpg and db tables. Thanks for the effort.
Thanks for sharing that. I tend to over-analyze things. I'm glad to know there are other rationals out there who appreciate the extra info. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI I'm the same way, I appreciate this level of detail!
I like the looks of a roof cargo box actually. Stradman put a cargo box on his Lamborghini lol.
HAHA! I've seen some cool supercar cargo boxes on an IG called "I_Like_Your_Box." The newer series of cargo boxes look sweet because they're made to sit lower on the crossbar and hug closer to the roof. Thanks for visiting.
I have one on my 65 Cobra i dont here shit i even put a small TV on it when i drive couple of beers McD burger with fries at 75 mph
The guitar riffs add a new dimension to mundane insanity. You did a great job editing and I enjoyed the video. I just wish there were more pyrotechnics.
HAHA! Thanks! I used to experiment with different music, but never really liked it if it was too loud. My goal is to have sound other than my voice, but without being overwhelming. Sometimes I get a good mix; sometimes I don't. These days, I taper the music after the intro and bring it back for the closing. It makes for consistent videos, but not necessarily an exciting viewing experience. ;-)
I have a cargo box and the main benefit as was mentioned is to store bulky but light stuff like towels, sleeping bags, air beds, camping chairs etc.
Excellent. Thanks for sharing.
I appreciate your level of detail! Definitely helpful for trying to decide which is the most appropriate route for our trip to Disney. Thanks!
Glad to be helpful! Thanks for visiting! -Scott
That’s the exact same reason I’m getting one!
I love his concern for the two cats and a turtle 😂🤘🏽 great video dude rock on
Thanks! Both of those cats are gone now. Both lived long enough to reach legal drinking age. The turtle is still with us. She's 35 years old now and has been from VA to MA to NM to CA and back to VA. Thanks for visiting.
This man needs more subscribers!! Very detailed
I appreciate that! I hope to keep creating good content. Take Care.
The editing was great.
You are like a dad, explaining good stuff. Thank you for the help.
I appreciate that! My daughter says I'm "like a dad," too. But I'm probably more strict with her than with my visitors! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Just wanted to let you know that to help protect your paint you could buy some racer's/helicopter tape which is translucent, put this down on/around your mounting points so your paint doesn't get scratched up. That tape works well to protect your bikes too, lots of people use it on gravel bikes especially.
Thanks for the tip! And thanks for your visit.
I honestly want one just because they look so good on hatchbacks
It's an expensive fashion statement for sure! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
One other disadvantage of the roof rack box is the height of the vehicle. Depending on the original height of the vehicle plus the box , it is something to consider when going into low parking garages. Also where I live on an island, taking the ferry to main land is an extra cost due to the height of the vehicle being considered a Large truck.
Agreed on the height of the box, depending on the vehicle. My combination is around 6'3"; so, I probably wouldn't enter any structure that's not at least 6'6". In my opinion, your ferry is gouging their customers. I think the idea of charging "large truck" costs is to recover the revenue lost when vehicles with a large footprint reduce the space available for more smaller vehicles. Charging a large truck fee for a compact car that weighs less than 4000 lbs (loaded) is ridiculous. BUT, when you live on an island, I guess you put up with any BS associated with getting to and from... Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for this, I have been looking at a roof rack for a while and this gave me some food for thought. I'd still rather have a roof box than a bumper rack but I don't think I can ignore the fact that a 5'x8' utility trailer would probably haul anything I could even need to. Anything bigger and I'd be better off renting a u-haul van for the $50 it'd cost me.
Every now and then I wish I had just a little more floor space over my 3.5x5-ft "baby trailer." A 5x8 is a great size and very versatile. I rented a 6x10 on two separate occasions to transport my baby trailer for work. It was like "nesting dolls" for trailers. ;-) For the most part, the baby does great for my regular needs. In fact, routine use of a trailer was the driving factor behind me buying my first trailer or $200 over 20 years ago. Once I rented, I could see a trailer being useful enough that buying would be cheaper than renting over the long run. Thanks for visiting!
Random find on your video and love it! Your GTI is sick! I have an 09 maZda 3 hatchback. Have my rack set up really strong. Going to install a hitch in hopes of carrying my bicycles a lot easier. Love the content!
Thanks for your comments! Good luck with the extra loads. Thanks for visiting. -Scott
Great review video. One thing to add. If your car is equipped with factory roof rack, the installation of the cargo box is much easier and faster.
Good point! It would be faster for me, too, if I just left my rack mounted. ;-) My paint is marred; so, it's a temptation to just leave it mounted. Thanks for visiting!
That was very informative thank you for making this.
You're welcome. I think my analytical curiosity is what mostly drives my ideas for videos. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
Top notch, insanely informative, awesome video man!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting.
Well thought out and produced video. We share a mindset in terms of wanting to get all we can out of a smaller vehicle
Awesome! You may appreciate some of my other videos. Feel free to poke around. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks, watched all 3 videos, your presentation is precise, easy to follow and has value. 👍👍👍
Glad you like them! And thanks for taking the time to tell me that. I hope my presentation skills are getting better, even since then. Editing those long videos was a real chore. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
thanks for the video, greetings from Mexico
Thanks for watching!
Great list of pros and cons. I was debating between a roof cargo vs a hitch cargo. And this was really helpful.
Thanks for your comment! Oddly enough, I had some marring on my roof from long-term rooftop cargo box mounting during a recent 7400-mile road trip. I'm getting the paint reconditioned by a pro soon. I'm also going to test a truck box on a hitch basket. Sure, it carries just half as much as a rooftop cargo box. But the truck box will ride in the car's draft (better fuel economy) and not touch the paint. I'll share a video in the coming months. Thanks for visiting!
Super helpful video, I subbed and thumbs up. Thanks for the info, I’m looking to purchase one now for my pilot
Thanks for the sub! A Pilot could probably carry a very large box! Have fun!
I love the level of detail that you go into. Great work, thanks 😊
Glad you like it! Ironically, some others have commented that they don't like the background story and that I should get to the point. HAHA! Today, "Chapters" make it easier for viewers to skip around. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI it’s was really helpful and nice of you to put the time in to help strangers like me here in the UK. Don’t listen too much to the negative nellys
nice video, hard to find good videos about Golfs
Thanks, Dok! I haven't been a frequent poster; nor do I do enough ongoing mods to keep the videos flowing. But I'm making long-term plans to resume what I had loved most about my VWs: TRAVELING. I may do a small series during some road trips. I'm brainstorming some ideas. ;-) Thanks for visiting! -Scott
Which carrier brings them to you? They are big and shipping cost is so high in US
I don't recall who brought mine since it was so long ago. I think it was DHL. If not, it was certainly a freight company and not one of the carriers that you see in your neighborhood every day. BTW, if you're buying new, the cost of shipping is usually included in the price of the box. If it's not, price compare with Amazon. Good luck and thanks for visiting!
Great video, well made intelligent! Helpful thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
If I told you what I paid you crap your pants Lol I have three of them all Thule and I will always have them just food for thought I found two of mine at the flea market and the other one from a customer who saw mine I've been extremely lucky I didn't go over the $100 mark for all together thanks for the video
Thanks for the comments, William! Yeah, I was looking for a deal for a little while, nothing too serious. When it came to crunch time, I decided I wanted what was (at the time) Yakima's newest release, with the assumption that it would be their best yet in terms of strength and aerodynamics. Had I known it would be a disappointment, I might have looked for a used Skybox instead. But I'm made the best of the leaky box I wound up with. The wrap still looks great. Take Care! -Scott
Yes I was lucky I found two Thule Cascade cargo carriers and a xsmall Thule cargo carrier but once again I love them
How long have you had your Thule rack ?? Just bought mine yesterday and it cost more than I thought
I love this video. Very helpful and calm. No wasted words.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for visiting!
thanks for the info, lots of good points
Thanks for visiting!
Wait, wait, wait….. How many cats? How many turtles?
HAHA! That trip was over 22 years ago. At the time, it was two cats and a box turtle. We added a ball python and another cat when we left NM for CA. Then everyone traveled from CA to VA. The cats have since passed away and new ones are in their place. The python and turtle are still with us. The python is 22 years old and the turtle is ~36 years old. Thanks for visiting.
Very informative and it’s good to list pros and cons. Much thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting.
Great info. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Very good info. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
Very informative. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
Very thorough. Especially the MPG and wind noise comparisons. Thanks
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Concise, informative narration, well thought out.
Thanks! I appreciate that. My older videos make me cringe a bit. I'm not necessarily a pro today, but time and experience in front of the camera has made me capable of creating better videos than this one. ;-) Thanks for visiting!
I appreciate your level of detail!
Greetings from India 🇮🇳
Thank you very much!
Detailed report. Good shit good sir. Thank you.
Thanks for visiting!
thank you for this valuable information. never would have thought the larger the box, the less weight it can support. that helped. appreciate it.
Yes! Total roof load is total roof load, right? I guess the size of box to choose is based on what will be carried. A set of long skis may require a long box. Thanks for commenting. -Scott
great vid. thanks for posting
Thanks for watching!
Good video. You saved me some money.thanks.
Excellent! Thanks for visiting!
your golf looks so nice with the roof rack. I am gonna get one too.
Excellent! Thanks for visiting.
Funny, just yesterday I was thinking about how I wanted a cargo box but don't want it on my mk7 all the time either. I would also be that guy washing the car before as well.
HAHA! Yup. That's still me! I had the car ceramic coated a few months ago. It makes cleaning before and after a breeze! Thanks for visiting. -Scott
Nice video, thanks for sharing your experience
I hope you found it helpful! Thanks for visiting.
Good info, thanks 👍🏻👍🏾
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Great feedback, thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
Great video. Simple yet very informative!
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I just used the largest hard shell suitcase(with wheels) and strapped it to the Roof Rack 🤓
A "budget box" that certainly works! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
How do you protect your roof, please?
Great video! I like how you included lots of data and photographs various situations. Was very helpful. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
My kinda guy. Must be an engineer.
Thanks! I'm "engineering-minded," but not trained. Thanks for visiting.
For putting on the roof rack get some Vinyl wrap and put it where the racks connect then you don’t have to worry about the paint
Thanks for the tip. I've considered that, but I think the vinyl would simply relocate the problem. I recently returned from a trip that had the rack on the car for over a month. The paint looks marred. However, I'm fairly certain that what I'm seeing is actually mineral deposits from rain water. I think they'll come up with polishing. My point is that the edges of the vinyl wrap are just as visible as the mineral deposits. The visible mineral deposits will be gone as soon as I have the weather I need to polish them away. Thanks for visiting.
Found your videos through a random search. Excellently done. Thanks for the content!
Thanks for watching!
Where did you buy that utility trailer from? I'm looking for something similar however there seems to be none with storage.
Thanks
I bought it at Lowes. I have full details in this video: th-cam.com/video/gDvo3jwrZno/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for the info 👍
Thanks for visiting.
Wow.......bravo.....from the heart. Finally someone who understands the meaning of "Thorough" ....thank you sir and i salute you for your integrity and honesty. God bless you and be safe.
Thank you kindly!
nobody going to mention that he travelled 6300 miles with 2 cats and a turtle in the car?
Haha! I suspect many viewers scanned past that so they could get to the "meat" of the video. I have a write-up about that trip at wp.me/P7YnQB-17s, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI how the hell did you cope?
@@thrashpilot - They were good travelers, especially if "Mama's" lap was available. Today's cats would be whiny hassles. HAHA! The turtle is no problem. She doesn't say much. ;-)
THIS^^^
Good video! 👊🏻👍🏻
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Great video! Ty! ✌🇺🇸
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting.
Thank you very much! Well thought out information & lots I did not even think about. Now ready with confidence to buy. Thanks again.
Great to hear! Thanks for visiting.
Great video!
Answers all of my questions that I had about this! Thank you very much!
Kind regards! :)
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I just bought a used Vintage 1980’s Sears X-Cargo Rooftop Carrier (13-15 cu-ft) for $40 and used Toyota Manufactured cross bars for $50, all from Facebook market place, cost me about $90 and some gas
Excellent score! Thanks for visiting!
I could tell right from the outset that you were a detail-orientrd person. And sure enough, you made a super great, super well-analyzed video. Thanks for putting this together!
I learned some things for sure.
Thanks for that! I'm detailed-oriented, for sure. Sometimes, that leads to WAY too much talking. HAHA! I quickly find myself looking at the original video and then "cut, cut, cut, and cut some more." ;-) Thanks for visiting!
pros and cons were really useful good vid
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Most Americans have no respect for small cars and it’s a shame. I’d rather have $1.5k in equipment I use 2-3 times a year and keep my high mpg and parkability all year. Just that simple. 99% of Americans don’t need big ass cars and they’ve been sold a lie from decades of marketing.
Thanks for sharing! The marketing lies are starting to catch up in the form of outrageously-high window stickers. I just watched a video that shows Jeep and RAM still having new 2022/2023 models on their lots, even while RAM is producing 2025s. They're just not selling. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
Great video
Thanks for the visit!
Good informative video. Really thought out. P.S. you look like Matt Damon, so it’s sorta like Jason Bourne is giving me a heads up on the pros and cons of putting a cargo carrier on the roof of my vehicle, so that’s cool lol.
Too funny! Will Hunting could probably calculate how many bodies can fit in the box for Jason Bourne! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
I like the bike mount mod on hitch cargo in the photos at the end. Do you have a video or details? Thanks
No, sorry. It's just a couple of pickup truck bed mounts screwed into the sides of the carrier. I don't use it often; so, I didn't find it worth an entire video. Maybe someday if I take it on a road trip or camping trip. Thanks for visiting.
*…..BIG DOWNER: BLOCKS XM RADIO Antenna Signal….correct??????!!!!*
No! RF signals can pass through plastic boxes. So, the antennas still work fine so long as I do not have metal cargo in the back of the box. Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI …….Took my Thule box home empty today for first time and had full XM signal but I didn’t try all directions. XM antenna was fully covered from the top by the Thule cargo box. When I go under heavy tree cover or under certain car canopies I lose signal. Thanks stealth GTI
Hi there. Thank you for the video. You are inspiring…we may eventually be able to downsize to a smaller vehicle someday. Anyway, my question is actually on your utility trailer. I can’t seem to find one quite like it. Do you have brand/model…link? Thanks regardless!!
See a video at th-cam.com/video/gDvo3jwrZno/w-d-xo.html for full details on that trailer. There's also links to the products I used and to an article that I wrote about the setup. Thanks for visiting!
Great, well thought out video. Thanks for effort and being so clear. And sorry people like you that make great videos have to endure stupid comments like the one I see below "buy a new car". That obviously came from a real intellectual.
I appreciate that! Yes, dealing with "intellectuals" is always fun. Still, all interaction, good or bad, counts toward advancing my videos in the algorithm. :-) Thanks for visiting!
I have Thule Force XT Sport and my Enduro MTB right beside. So the roof rack I have is special size for fitting your bike. I had 3.8-3.9 liter per 100km and after my roof rack and bike it became 4.1-4.2 I mean its not end of the world
It's not a terrible fuel burden to have the box mounted unless you measure over the long haul. Some people leave them mounted full-time, which will get expensive. I enjoy having the flexibility to use mine when I need it and then store it when I don't. Thanks for visiting!
great video...thanks. Can you keep this on the roof rack and drive with it without it being fully loaded. I am going to pick someone at the airport. I want to have it installed but it will be empty on my ride to airport. Do you think that would be an issues?
No issue at all! I've gone weeks with an empty box just so that I'd have the space available for an impulse transport of some object. Thanks for visiting!
Great video!
Thanks for the visit!
To solve your problem with bumper luggage all you to do is make another car license plate and atach to back of the trailer.Some european countries you have to do that by law or you get a ticket.
Unfortunately, that doesn't work here. There's no legal way to replicate the plate and its serialized registration stickers. Thanks for visiting!
Very good.
You do not mention height? I am worried what height limitations in parking garages etc would bring. Been looking at boxes below 40cm height, or lower mounted bars, to keep total height below 2 meters. But found nothing yet.
Ps. I am curious about roof baskets as alternative. Would love to see you test and compare with a roof baskets.
I intentionally omitted height discussions since nearly every viewer's car is different from mine. Plus, some crossbars have more roof clearance than others. Also, some boxes ride lower than others due to the way their floors are designed. Regarding rooftop baskets, I've shared a video at th-cam.com/video/3B4WySXPLJw/w-d-xo.html that compares baskets to boxes. Have a look and see if you find it to be helpful. Thanks for visiting!
My Thule 21 cf roof box was 500 bucks 15 years ago. Been awesome!
Stores in roof in garage.
Used it on Mazda MPV, Saab 900 T and VW GSW currently on factory rack with old Yakima bars and new towers where the sunroof barely clears.. yikes
The Yakima towers on the Mazda did mark the paint.
Cheers and great info as usual.
Thanks for visiting. -Scott
Roof Racks are an awesome innovation!
They are wonderful. I'm currently using mine as a platform for antennas. Thanks for visiting!
Is that 165 lb total weight... Or per square foot sort of thing... Your roof rack is going to distribute the weight 165 lb sounds very low for a whole roof with a roof rack distributing the weight...hmmm... I'm going to have to look into this before I waste my time on a roof carrier... Great video though...
Thanks for the compliment on the video! The 165 lbs is total weight, including the weight of the rack itself. You'll find that's a fairly standard weight limit for passenger cars. Even many SUVs are limited to 165 lbs. Check your owner's manual. More robust (and expensive) racks, particularly those that bolt to the roof and are designed with endurance and overlanding mind, have higher capacities. But the vehicle's owner's manual will still show a limit that may surprise you. I think some racks that attach to pickup truck bed rails go to 500 lbs. Thanks for visiting!
Good overview although evidently over the head of Ali Salem. With a SUV everything inside is in sight and tempting thieves. Even if nothing of value is stolen a broken car window takes time to replace and is a major problem in the middle of a trip. The cargo box is the least bad solution for people with an SUV or hatchback.
Yup, you're right! I had a window busted and stereo stolen in San Antonio when my wife and I visited for our 10th anniversary. Thankfully, our drive to my parent's place was only 100 miles and the weather was nice enough to travel without a window. LOL! I did manage to get the glass replaced before our 700-mile drive home, though. The retint never matched the original. Thankfully, the thief looked no further than the stereo. Just as in my current car, he was sitting on a gold mine and never knew it since I hide my stuff. Thanks for visiting!
I just undo the roof rack and the whole thing comes off in one piece. Saves time on repositioning everything.
W S - I'm not sure what kind of car you load, nor what's on your rack. I used to load my complete package when all I had on the rack was four bicycle mounts. However, working alone, it's very difficult for me to imagine how I'd be able to lift away or (especially) put in place a rack that's pre-loaded to 65 lbs without the foot pads or clips damaging my roof or paint. With help, I still would not want to risk damaging the roof or paint if a foot pad clip is misaligned. I suspect I'd remove the clips to reduce the risks, which is time-consuming. Even if we were to get the rack with box on the roof, there would still be minor adjustments needed. I'd rather make those adjustments with no weight on the rack. In short, I think loading the way I have demonstrated is the safest way to do it without risking paint damage. Of course, if I was loading onto a beater that doesn't matter, then I guess I'd be all for doing it your way. ;-) I'm curious to know more specifics about what's on your rack and what you load your rack onto. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
@@StealthGTI I have an SUV with roof rails and box is Yakima showcase 15 like yours. My rack is the crossbar style which has plastic feet with rubber lining on the attachment point so when I set the crossbar on top of the rails, it doesn't scratch anything. The box is pretty heavy but manageable.
@@wootang77 - Very nice! The permanent rails certainly reduce the complexity a hair. Thanks for the response! -Scott
Well done and explain
Thanks!
Nice vid, well thought out.
Thanks for visiting!
Great video really made some excellent points.
Much appreciated! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you so much, very nice detailed review.
Thank you! Sometimes I go into TOO MUCH detail and then make a video that's longer than people want to endure. It was tough to decide how much was "too much" on this one. I left a lot on the chopping block. ;-) Thanks for visiting! -Scott
ya know they figure the weight carrying capacity of a roof rack. yeh. that's minus the box u put on it. I don't math much but I can make a 90 minute video about paying alot for a roof suitcase:)
Thanks for visiting.
We have a cargo box that fits my 2011 Jeep patriot, and it doesn't make noise when traveling.
Thanks for your report!
Intro too long, I don't really care about all that. I don't see how the rooftop cargo box effects the paint in any way seeing as how it doesn't even touch it, but if you're so anal about the paint, use a sealant instead of wax or better yet, some PPF. Clear visual text for pro versus con sections and what number of pro or con would go a long way.
If only there was an index or list of "chapters" that would allow viewers to skip past the introduction and back story. ;-) Thanks for visiting.
your fuel economy suffered because you bought a cargo box too big for your car and the front of the box goes out from the front end of your windshield so your aerodynamic was compromised. change your car or buy smaller box
By the math in the graphic that I shared in the video, I'm still getting 85-90% of the fuel economy compared to without a box. At over 30 mpg with the box, I'm still outperforming a larger vehicle. I'll stick with what I have. Thanks for visiting.
Wow, more information in here than I thought I needed. Thanks for all the info
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
I find the point about obscuring you licence plate interesting. In the UK and I all the EU if you cover your licence plate you need to get a second plate and attach it to the trailer or bumper mounted bag. It is illegal to drive with your licence plate obscured. in fact you can get fined and points on your licence even if you licence plate is obscured by mud.
I suspect the same is true here in the US. An officer may or may not initiate a stop based on that alone; it depends on how they feel, I think. But if you're speeding or doing something else to warrant a stop, you can bet that the obscured plate will be added to the summons. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
Thx for the review and happy your a great pet owner! Im Here because my 2 old dogs need space on a very long trip!
Have fun on the trip! If you haven't solidified your dog transport plan, have a look at my most recent trip involving three large pet carriers at th-cam.com/video/3WSPJQyGOZ4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RxlsaAWZ3RroxSdr. Thanks for visiting!
Informative video. I’ve been searching for info on the maximum size bars these carriers can attach to. I’ve been planning to put one on the ladder rack over the bed of my truck. Any info appreciated.
Research is important. For example, the Promaster City has fixed mounting points that provide a 36" crossbar spread. My cargo box will not work on that van; I would need something else. Some other vehicle have fixe crossbar spreads, too. I've found etrailer.com to be a great place for researching specifications all in one place. Some boxes can accommodate very wide crossbar spreads. That's what I would want in my next box so that I will have maximum flexibility in whatever car I buy next. Thanks for visiting!
Just put your license plate in the rear window or on the cargo box itself
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Great details thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Nice GTI. I just buy a thule pacific 330L. Greetings from Rio.
Unfortunately, that model is not available in the US. Regardless, I'll just make the best of what I have. Thanks for visiting!
Very informative video thank you for your time to share to us your knowledge
Glad it was helpful!
Nothing against you( your video is good), but i tell you a story, i found a good older style sears brand roof top on the side of the road, took it home ,clean it, done a little work on it, needs weather stripping change in it, and i already have cross bar on my mini van, so i am going to install the roof top on it, cost me nothing, just some work.
Excellent find! I'm a bit prissy about what I put on my car. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
First time here, great video, you covered every single topic that I was concerned about! Your details were perfect!!
I appreciate that! Thanks for visiting.