What Is the Largest Roof Box Available?
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BIGGEST OVERALL
Farad Marlin 680L
24 ft³ capacity, 165lbs load capacity, dual-side opening
BIGGEST thule
Thule Motion XT XXL
22 ft³ capacity, 165lbs load capacity, dual-side opening
BIGGEST YAKIMA
Yakima SkyBox 21 Carbonite
21 ft³ capacity, 80% recycled material, dual-side opening
Farad Marlin 680L
24 ft³ capacity, 165lbs load capacity, dual-side opening
Thule Motion XT XXL
22 ft³ capacity, 165lbs load capacity, dual-side opening
Yakima SkyBox 21 Carbonite
21 ft³ capacity, 80% recycled material, dual-side opening
Introduction
Traveling light! If only that were possible. If you’re heading off on an annual vacation or road trip with family and friends there’s a good chance you will have to take an awful art of luggage and equipment. Trying to pack everything in the trunk of your car along with three or four passengers just may not be possible so it’s time to get yourself a roof cargo box. Here is a selection of some of the largest boxes available from the leading manufacturers.
Don’t forget you’ll need to fit roof bars first so check with your vehicle manufacturer for their recommendations. You also need to make sure you won’t be overloading your roof. Many vehicles have an overall weight limit of 165lbs including the box and fittings. Don’t forget to factor this into your calculations. The sheer size of these boxes makes them more suitable for larger SUVs or station wagons rather than compact or medium cars. You always need to watch out for the amount of overhang that a particular box will have when fitting it to your vehicle.
Without further ado let’s take a look at the largest storage boxes available:
Farad Marlin 680L
This box has a humongous 24 ft³ capacity. That’s an awful lot of extra storage space! The weight capacity of 165lbs is the same as most other cargo carriers around this size and of course, you are limited by the fact that most passenger vehicles have a load capacity of 165lbs (75 kg). If you are fitting this model to a caravan then the weight limits would increase to 198lbs (90 kg).
It should give you enough to carry up to 7 pairs of skis or snowboards.
Internally you can fit objects up to 75.5 inches long (192 cm) and 36 inches wide (92 cm) although its aerodynamic shape might make it awkward to fit some of your belongings.
The box conveniently opens on both sides give you access to your cargo. Some people have had issues with the three-point locking mechanism being difficult to close and lock correctly so it might be worthwhile investing in some heavy-duty straps to make sure the box stays shut during your journey.
Given the length, it is likely to overhang either the windscreen or the rear of your vehicle unless you have a particularly long one. If you have a rear hatch that you want to have access to during your trip then you will need to try to sit the Farad Marlin far enough forward so that you can still access the rear of the vehicle.
Available at a very affordable price, it offers a tremendous amount of extra space and should be big enough to accommodate the cargo requirements for pretty much any situation.
Thule Motion XT XXL
Available in a range of sizes up to 22 ft³. This is the largest size offered by Thule. It’s an aerodynamic design so should minimize the effects on your fuel economy and wind resistance as long as you stay at reasonable speeds. Its size means that it should offer plenty of additional storage for almost every situation.
It is designed to sit in a forward position on the vehicle which should mean that you should be able to access your trunk without fear of hitting the cargo box.
With built-in grip handles and lid-lifters it’s easy to access your belongings while on the road and the Motion XT should be simple to mount thanks to the PowerClick quick-mount system. When fitting the box to your vehicle you will hear an audible click telling you the box has been secured to your roof bars.
Thule’s SlideLock mechanism means you shouldn’t have to worry about the box opening accidentally and the locks should keep everything safe from all but determined thieves.
Yakima SkyBox 21 Carbonite
This is the largest model in the Yakima range coming in at 21 ft³. Containers of this size all need to be aerodynamic to minimize wind noise and try to reduce additional fuel consumption.
The Yakima SkyBox doesn’t disappoint. It’s made from 80% recycled material in the USA and can be added to your vehicle’s cross bars without the need for any tools or assembly.
Dual-sided opening makes it a breeze to access the interior of the box and you should be able to fit it without interfering with your hatch on larger vehicles.
If you are off on a skiing trip then it will handle skis up to 215 cm (84.5 inches). For those of you taking a trip to the woods, you should be able to fit enough gear for up to 5 people.
Keep in mind that It weighs 62 lbs which is a good chunk of the weight capacity that your roof can likely accommodate. You’ll only be able to load around 100 lbs of cargo. This means you should prioritize the largest but lightest items for the roof cargo box.
For those with security concerns, it uses Yakima’s SuperLatch locking mechanism to protect your belongings.
What Is the Largest Roof Box Available?: Conclusion
So there you have it, a 24 ft³ box from Farad is currently the largest one on the market. Other manufacturers can supply you with a box almost as big. If you need even more space then you’re probably going to have to look at a cargo bag or use a roof rack or cargo basket. Don’t forget though not to exceed the weight rating for your vehicle’s roof or the total weight that your vehicle is supposed to carry.
Click the links below for more information and to check the price and availability.
