Dual-sided : The best rooftop cargo carriers open can open from either the driver side or passenger side for easy access. We've got hands-on experience with many roof boxes this year, but the one we want on our car is the Thule Motion XT. It's a premium design built incredibly well, features a no-nonsense installation system that all brands should adopt and has masses of usable storage space. If you're looking for an affordable rooftop pod without sacrificing functionality, you could do worse than the JEGS. It's one of the largest-capacity cargo carriers on this list and features much of the functionality of pricier options, such as dual-sided access and a watertight design. Its boxy design isn't suited for long items such as skis and golf clubs, but it's ideal for luggage. Value: The first thing we notice about roof bags is their value for money over roof boxes of an equivalent volume. This review includes three types of cargo carriers: hardtop, softshell, and basket. A hardtop carrier will provide the most protection, but it’s the heaviest. A softshell bag can still be waterproof, but it may be less aerodynamic and more challenging to load. You can leave a basket carrier on your vehicle, adding a little drag, but you will need a net or bag to secure your loads.

First, the roof rails of your car have a weight limit that is usually found in the owner’s manual, often 100 pounds/45KG. Secondly, the weight of the load impacts car maneuverability when cornering and if the load is too heavy or unbalanced, it can lead to accidents. This is why you need to ensure that the weight of your load does not exceed the maximum allowed weight on the roof of your car. This casing also goes a long way to protect your belongings from harsh weather conditions and moisture. You can find cheaper and bigger roof boxes, but we're not sure there's a more versatile, user-friendly choice, whatever your load needs or type of vehicle. If you need more cargo carrying capacity for your car, there are a lot of practical options for you that can be installed right on your car’s roof. When looking for the best roof cargo carrier, you need to first figure out what kind of cargo you’re going to be carrying. Not all cargo carriers are the same and there are different products out there for different purposes: there are travel bags, roof baskets, and cargo boxes.The short answer is yes, with the obvious caveat that carrier safety is contingent on proper usage. Here are three key reminders: The straps provided are utterly useless. I resorted to heavy-duty bungee cords, and everything stayed put. I’ll use it again but with bungee cords. The straps don’t stay tight, and the ends don’t stay put. You have to pull over and retighten and retie everything every 50 miles.” Size:83.5 x 34.5 x 14 inches (external) | Weight:59.3 pounds | Capacity:13 cubic-foot | Access: Dual | Load capacity: 165 pounds

The Roof Master] worked out perfectly. The only bummer is that the included roof protector left a weird faint pattern that still won’t go away. The bag itself held up great and was easy to get on and off. Nothing leaked even the tiniest bit.”

Size it correctly. A pod should be just big enough to carry your gear, but not so massive that it adds wind or weight drag to the vehicle. Also, make sure the carrier's load capacity doesn't exceed that of your car. The SkyBox is also available in four other sizes—Lo, 12, 16, 18—so most needs, and car sizes, are catered for. Not quite as waterproof as we had hoped. Our things got wet, we are assuming from wind-driven rain.” Thule is a more expensive brand, but sometimes it is worth it. This is an example of you [get what you pay for]. If you want 100 percent confidence with your stuff on top of your car driving 70 mph down the highway, this is your rooftop cargo box.” Car roof bags (or roof cargo bag) are a popular choice because in comparison to roof boxes (with roof bars) they can cost far less plus they also can be compacted down to take up less storage space.