ROOFTOP CARGO BOX PROS AND CONS

[@alisalem9738]

Buy a new car

[@StealthGTI]

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

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

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

[@lanalorenzen]

@@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.

[@StealthGTI]

@@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. ;-)

[@josephj6521]

@@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.

[@kelkilkat]

Anyone who plans their trips around their pets to ensure their comfort is a good person.. from an old, ancient Chinese proverb 😻

[@StealthGTI]

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, kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYi2gX2HrqyCkJY, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting.

[@shotta8836]

Buddy said he was traveling with two cats and a turtle and he wanted everybody to be comfortable so he needed more space😑😑😑🤣🤣🤣🤣💀

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@shotta8836]

@@StealthGTI lol I get u 👍

[@GroovyInclinations]

😂🤣

[@bigeldabarber]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@northbaybroker2339]

😂

[@gaspanda]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing.

[@galacticwarlock2271]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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. ;-)

[@heartpop22]

You are like a dad, explaining good stuff. Thank you for the help.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@1zzKolby]

I honestly want one just because they look so good on hatchbacks

[@StealthGTI]

It's an expensive fashion statement for sure! ;-) Thanks for visiting!

[@regularlyirregular8876]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the tip! And thanks for your visit.

[@Rostasteve]

Loved the mpg and db tables. Thanks for the effort.

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@ZachDxn]

@@StealthGTI I'm the same way, I appreciate this level of detail!

[@mariuszek13]

Another pro of roof box is that it does not obscure parking sensors and view of parking camera. Thanks for the video!

[@StealthGTI]

You bet! I hadn't considered the parking sensors since I don't have them. As for the camera, I mentioned it as a "con" in my hitch rack video, but didn't think about it for the rooftop box. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@hj7993]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@CodyJDyke]

I appreciate your level of detail! Definitely helpful for trying to decide which is the most appropriate route for our trip to Disney. Thanks!

[@StealthGTI]

Glad to be helpful! Thanks for visiting! -Scott

[@idonthavealambo]

That’s the exact same reason I’m getting one!

[@craigslaunwhite579]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@MrPopeyeah]

I appreciate your level of detail! Greetings from India 🇮🇳

[@StealthGTI]

Thank you very much!

[@lawrencefieselman3803]

You succinctly explained the pros and cons. I, too, like the smaller cars for the same reasons you gave so this was a very interesting and informative video for me.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting!

[@emiliomascarenas3035]

I love his concern for the two cats and a turtle 😂🤘🏽 great video dude rock on

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@alekshandhold]

Found your videos through a random search. Excellently done. Thanks for the content!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for watching!

[@barrylinkiewich9688]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@artoix]

So many of my questions answered in a single video + several potential issues I haven't even thought of. Thank you so much for the effort!

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@ww4862]

I love this video. Very helpful and calm. No wasted words.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for visiting!

[@eliutmorales4349]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

Thank you kindly!

[@francistaluban8063]

This man needs more subscribers!! Very detailed

[@StealthGTI]

I appreciate that! I hope to keep creating good content. Take Care.

[@galacticwarlock2271]

The editing was great.

[@diywarren1776]

Well thought out and produced video. We share a mindset in terms of wanting to get all we can out of a smaller vehicle

[@StealthGTI]

Awesome! You may appreciate some of my other videos. Feel free to poke around. Thanks for visiting.

[@mixflip]

I like the looks of a roof cargo box actually. Stradman put a cargo box on his Lamborghini lol.

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@beedee9534]

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

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

Hey, the cargo box on top of the trailer is actually a great idea

[@StealthGTI]

It does work well. However, it's possibly the reason why the rivets on the cargo box started to leak. The owners manual says not to mount the box on a trailer. The bouncing, flexing, and generally violent movement of small trailers may have contributed to the extra wear. With that said, the wrap that I added to the box years ago have kept the leaks at bay. Take Care.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

@@StealthGTI I see. Thanks for that.

[@sonofrobert]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting. -Scott

[@stratstrat644]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@jameslincs]

I love the level of detail that you go into. Great work, thanks 😊

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@jameslincs]

@@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

[@MistaRhoi]

Very thorough. Especially the MPG and wind noise comparisons. Thanks

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@michaelfreund]

thank you for this valuable information. never would have thought the larger the box, the less weight it can support. that helped. appreciate it.

[@StealthGTI]

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

[@andrewkaufmann2451]

Great video! I like how you included lots of data and photographs various situations. Was very helpful. Thank you

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@saginawdan]

Thanks, watched all 3 videos, your presentation is precise, easy to follow and has value. 👍👍👍

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@prologueygo4035]

Great list of pros and cons. I was debating between a roof cargo vs a hitch cargo. And this was really helpful.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@tennisbum3686]

Concise, informative narration, well thought out.

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@viktorpopov5021]

Roof Racks are an awesome innovation!

[@StealthGTI]

They are wonderful. I'm currently using mine as a platform for antennas. Thanks for visiting!

[@gttsi8895]

your golf looks so nice with the roof rack. I am gonna get one too.

[@StealthGTI]

Excellent! Thanks for visiting.

[@j.c.5393]

Thanks for explaining the pros and cons, the wind noise, mpg, etc. Answered a lot of my questions.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it helped!

[@RLICGNT]

My kinda guy. Must be an engineer.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks! I'm "engineering-minded," but not trained. Thanks for visiting.

[@zhangkaichen6226]

Very informative and it’s good to list pros and cons. Much thanks!

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting.

[@yungtityboi7719]

Top notch, insanely informative, awesome video man!

[@StealthGTI]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting.

[@pignonefisso]

Nice, thorough overview. I'm about to install a rooftop cargo box and and hitch bike rack for the 3000mi roundtrip holiday pilgrimage to visit family.

[@StealthGTI]

Sounds great! What box and on what car are you mounting?

[@pignonefisso]

@@StealthGTI It’s an INNO Wedge 660, going on top of a 2018 Golf Alltrack. The car already has roof rails, So I am using crossbars that attach to them. Here I tried to save a little bit of money by going with a more budget-friendly aero setup, which I found in the Malone Airflow 2.

[@StealthGTI]

@@pignonefisso - Very nice! Enjoy your trip and thanks for visiting!

[@dreygun]

Not sure how I came upon your video, but I did thoroughly enjoy it lol. The pics of all yhe different things you carried around etc was entertaining and I also found your commentary very relaxing and went very well with the video. Thanks

[@StealthGTI]

Glad you enjoyed it! It's quite a contrast to a comment that was made yesterday. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!

[@fgDAB]

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!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for your comments! Good luck with the extra loads. Thanks for visiting. -Scott

[@wessfulton644]

Nice video that covered a lot. As you said there are many things to consider when lookng for storage options for a small car or any car for that matter. If you're looking for a way to bring home fuel for lawn mowers and such the trailer option or possibly the hitch mounted rack keeps fumes and possible spills away from the interior of your vehicle. The comparison tables we're a nice addition too. Thank you.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure if I mentioned fuel transport in this video. The "Baby Trailer" is so easy to couple that I frequently use it for even small tasks. Oddly enough, I'm using a battery-powered lawnmower these days and recently switched to a propane generator for my emergency needs. So, I'm not moving gasoline any longer. I transport propane in my trailer. Thanks for visiting.

[@StayStrongGuide]

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!

[@StealthGTI]

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 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYi2gX2HrqyCkJYsi=RxlsaAWZ3RroxSdr. Thanks for visiting!

[@Onurpkpzr]

Which carrier brings them to you? They are big and shipping cost is so high in US

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@AMC-eq3jr]

Great comparison between the three methods. Thanks for sharing, sir.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@edge9596]

Great video. Simple yet very informative!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@weekendthreat5576]

Wow, more information in here than I thought I needed. Thanks for all the info

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@jakegriffith8508]

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

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@drwisdom1]

Mr. StealthGTI has thought a lot about this and provides a very good technical analysis of cargo boxes. Back in 1983 I bought a new GTI and got a set of Thule square bar racks for my skis and have been using that type ever since. But after over 60 years Thule stopped making their super heavy duty square bar traditional racks in favor of their "rapid" system. Later I got a 1988 GTI and got a Thule cargo box for trips to Colorado. Back in those days my skis were 205cm so they wouldn't fit inside GTIs, while today my skis are only 180cm and I just throw them in the back and don't even use a rack. The last time I used the cargo box was 4 years ago when we moved across the country. Since then it has been hanging under our deck. In 32 years I have used the cargo box maybe 16 times, some of which was to move it to another location. When I got my 1992 Corrado I got Thule racks for it. It has little interior space so the cargo box works best on that vehicle, plus it is low and easy to access. I also have lots of Thule accessories like bike racks that are all compatible and easy to install. While I can use my racks on my newer GTIs and Sportwagen for sports, I mostly use them for carrying home drywall and plywood boards from stores like Home Depot. Using 58" bars and load stop triangles you can solidly tie down large items. I am not at all interested in getting weaker and less compatible aero racks and don't worry about the obvious reduction of about 2mpg. Except for my pickup truck which has three racks, I take them off when I am not using them. You can get into Thule square bar racks and accessories really cheap now using craigslist. You just have to know what to buy. People get new cars and are told their racks won't fit so they sell them for nothing to avoid having to store them. If you have roof rails then the Thule 450 feet are a great solution and available for $20-100 depending on the seller. If you don't have roof rails then I like Thule 400 feet but they require a fit kit depending on the vehicle type. Unfortunately, to avoid competing against themselves Thule won't tell us which brackets and pads are needed for the old 400 feet for newer model vehicles. The newer Thule 480 feet use the same fit kit for both mk5 and mk6 GTIs, so that probably indicates they are the same for 400 feet. If you have a vehicle from before around 2010 you can search on "Thule fit kit database" to find the proper fit kit which are available on places like ebay. Sorry about the length, this is a deep subject.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for your comprehensive experience. Today's aero bars are not as weak as you suspect. They have a lot of structure inside. In fact, the core of that structure is square. See a clip that shows the inside of a Yakima Jetstream bar on my video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2WumoCDmKije6s (goes directly to the appropriate scene). These bars will hold more than the roof is intended to support. Thanks for visiting.

[@drwisdom1]

@@StealthGTI If I didn't have a huge supply of square bar parts and was going to buy new, I would definitely consider aero racks. But half on my use is with 58" bars so I can carry 4x8 boards. Looking at your racks I don't think they can do that. Surely aero bars are more fuel efficient that square bars, but once you add accessories and cargo boxes, does it make a measurable difference? I was really impressed by your mpg reduction table. That took a lot of patience.

[@StealthGTI]

@@drwisdom1 - The aero bars will carry lumber just as well as squares. There are right-angle load stop accessories that work with aero bars. It's all a matter of which way you commit. If I had all of your accessories for square bars (or even the round bars I had decades ago), I'd stay with an old system, too. I've stayed with Yakima, for the most part, for a very long time due to my investment in their products and same key lock cores. Take Care.

[@highendtrends3508]

Super helpful video, I subbed and thumbs up. Thanks for the info, I’m looking to purchase one now for my pilot

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the sub! A Pilot could probably carry a very large box! Have fun!

[@Chrisaaanini]

I don't have a GTI but was very informative. Thank you.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting.

[@khole15]

You are a really meticulous person, you are perfect for comparison videos! I just bought a VW Touran as we now have 4 kids, looking for cargo options :) Have a nice day :D

[@StealthGTI]

Wow, thank you! Thanks for visiting!

[@JohnyKnox]

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.

[@StealthGTI]

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

[@johngill5175]

First time here, great video, you covered every single topic that I was concerned about! Your details were perfect!!

[@StealthGTI]

I appreciate that! Thanks for visiting.

[@rickywinterborn]

pros and cons were really useful good vid

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@arashrezaee1464]

That was very informative thank you for making this.

[@StealthGTI]

You're welcome. I think my analytical curiosity is what mostly drives my ideas for videos. Thanks for visiting! -Scott

[@jkn2k]

thanks for the video, greetings from Mexico

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for watching!

[@cdgregOG]

Great feedback, thank you

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@Austin-cx2xe]

nice video, hard to find good videos about Golfs

[@StealthGTI]

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

[@TheMindandTheMatter]

Detailed report. Good shit good sir. Thank you.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@dc5duben96]

thanks for the info, lots of good points

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@JosueMartinez-wd3yu]

Heading to vacation this upcoming Thursday and I have a Kia Soul. So thinking between your two videos. Thanks for the info since this would be the first time I do such.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad to help! There's not a lot of time between now and next Thursday to get what you need. I was in the same position, which is why I paid full price for my box. What are your purchase plans?

[@gaspanda]

This is awesome! Reminded me of Colin Robinson in the TV show "What we do in the shadows".

[@StealthGTI]

I'm not sure what to think about that since I've never seen the show. HAHA!

[@JacobSilver1]

Nice video, thanks for sharing your experience

[@StealthGTI]

I hope you found it helpful! Thanks for visiting.

[@robembery4154]

Great video, well made intelligent! Helpful thank you.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@frank27a]

I’ve had slim line roof box since our first child came 15 years ago, our Astra was an equivalent in model matching to the VW Golf. It’s not about you can get in the box it’s about what you can priorities elsewhere in your loading. It’s for high volume low weight items I’d question the need that anybody has to put heavy items a roof box, take the box off and use the bars instead reality it suits bags with clothes, camping items and fold flat pushchairs chassis which are too wide to go in the trunk of hatchback car. I’ve switched to a Zafira and will look to by a Thule XT L because Snowboard won’t fit in my current one and the installation is more user friendly for single person install. I can tow trailers but it’s a distraction beyond local trips and rear mounted racks have shifted on my car in the past. If you need extra capacity the roof box has been the small car owners go to for over a decade now. Couple this with a Diesel car and I can drive for six to seven hours between refills, in 6th gears and no heavy traffic almost eight hours even with the unavoidable drag. It’s a shame GMC sold of the Plants in Europe making the fuel frugal cars that existed in the Saturn range state side.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the note! I don't recall if I commented that the rooftop box is best-suited for light or fluffy things. I keep heavy items inside the car. I also like to carry things behind the car. See a video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnevqYWaotSbn68, if you're interested. Thanks for visiting!

[@ericjm5264]

Great review! This helps when you're new to the rack game.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@vteconly]

So you're saying with the cargo box on top, you should go 70+mph! I like it!

[@StealthGTI]

HAHA! I don't recall where I talked about speeds. Obviously, the faster you drive, the more noise you'll hear and the lower your fuel economy. I don't think I've driven faster than 80mph with a roof top box. I know one person who went up to 130 with a box. It blew open, broke apart, and scattered his stuff on the highway. HAHA!

[@GEAUXFRUGAL]

Economy suffers with rooftop , but tail box can actually improve economy IF you make absolutely sure it doesn't bounce. I learned the hard way you . Bounce rack can cause economy issues but mostly it'll cause your vehicle to have handling issues that will wear you out on a long trip.

[@StealthGTI]

Agreed! I'm careful to keep the total weigh on the hitch below 175 lbs. So, it's really just a place for extra volume instead of heavy items. I put heavy things inside where they can be properly supported. Thanks for visiting!

[@p.t.9709]

Great info. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for watching!

[@justodamian4065]

Thank you very much! Well thought out information & lots I did not even think about. Now ready with confidence to buy. Thanks again.

[@StealthGTI]

Great to hear! Thanks for visiting.

[@kevinshea5819]

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?

[@StealthGTI]

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!

[@brmelectric]

Very good info. Thanks.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!

[@hedonzx822]

Good info, thanks 👍🏻👍🏾

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting.

[@tedlu008]

Great video

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the visit!

[@TheAnnunakiwerenotgods-hc7cj]

great vid. thanks for posting

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jmurrell42093]

Can u store fishing poles and other fishing supplies in there

[@StealthGTI]

I think my particular box is 80 inches long. That may be too short for a rod unless you have one that can be broken-down for transport. Thanks for visiting.

[@brohemian]

Ty. Great video, didnt expect the all the numbers for noise and mpg etc, also some variables i didnt think to compare. Theres lots of useless videos on this topic. Hopefully others will find this

[@StealthGTI]

Glad you liked it! It's one of my older videos and I wasn't as confident in front of the camera. I think I could do better today, but this video has been a top performer. So, I'll just leave it and let it run. ;-) Thanks for visiting!

[@thefurmanuk]

Thanks for the Golf vid, looks like a good option

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for your comment! I've used the rooftop box more than expected this year. My recent video showed me loaded to help a friend move. The box was a great place to transport a large telescope.

[@BIGMANMUSIK]

Good video! 👊🏻👍🏻

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@VeryMiley]

Good video. Useful. Convinced me not to get a roof cargo on the Taos.

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! What convinced you to avoid the cargo box? What will your cargo-carrying option be instead? Thanks for visiting.

[@VeryMiley]

@@StealthGTI Leaning towards a second car as a heavy duty truck with the tow hitch and trailer. You made great points about pros and cons of roof rack, and of cargo off the back. Excellent perspective

[@wootang77]

I just undo the roof rack and the whole thing comes off in one piece. Saves time on repositioning everything.

[@StealthGTI]

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

[@wootang77]

@@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.

[@StealthGTI]

@@wootang77 - Very nice! The permanent rails certainly reduce the complexity a hair. Thanks for the response! -Scott

[@chaorlando]

I like the bike mount mod on hitch cargo in the photos at the end. Do you have a video or details? Thanks

[@StealthGTI]

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.

[@trevormann8221]

I use my roof mount box to hold all lightweight stuff that’s bulky, like, pillows, duvets etc. I wrap them all in garbage bags to ensure they don’t get wet.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing. I do something similar.

[@Danielmcguffeyxo]

Came for the advice, stayed for the shredding.

[@StealthGTI]

HAHA! Thanks! I *still* get complaints about the music in my older videos, including this one. These days, I use canned opening and closing music that seems to keep me out of trouble. Thanks for visiting!

[@mikepeterson4746]

Good video. You saved me some money.thanks.

[@StealthGTI]

Excellent! Thanks for visiting!

[@BMH1965]

You used a cargo carrier on the back end of the car without lights! Very 'brave'.

[@StealthGTI]

My cargo does not obstruct the lights. Also, with as dense as some drivers are around here, they're either going to hit it or they won't. Having lights just means a few inches longer and broken lights... IF I'm going to get hit. ;-) Regardless, it's all part of the reason why I don't use this carrier very often. Thanks for visiting.

[@idrissamorehouse5776]

Appreciate the well balanced discussion points -i have a jaguar S-type and have started doing some road tripping and i like to bring one or two electric scooters plus my already smallish trunk is half filled with a very nice sound system thus my cabin has been getting filled up rather quickly- so starting to consider a rack and roof box

[@StealthGTI]

Excellent! I hope my video was helpful! Thanks for visiting.

[@willmill409]

i love your VW! im thinking of getting a roof box for my volvo xc90. thanks for video

[@StealthGTI]

Nice! Roof boxes are quite at home on wagons and SUVs. Thanks for visiting.

[@earthcomedy]

great video! made me think of some things I didn't consider...just starting out on the cargo box analysis

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks! I appreciate your comment. -Scott

[@earthcomedy]

@@StealthGTI Just looking at my 2016 Passat Owner's manual and it says to never mount a roof rack! It will do considerable damage, etc... do you have the same warning on your GTI?

[@StealthGTI]

@@earthcomedy - I doubt it. It's been years since I read that section of the manual, but I am 99% certain that there is no restriction due to the following: 1) It would have caught my eye and irritated me if I had seen it. 2) VW does not offer a roof rack or any rack accessories that are compatible with the Chattanooga Passat. That leads me to conclude that VW is serious about not racking-up the Passat. 3) VW DOES offer a roof rack and a full line of accessories for the Golf/GTI. Doing so opens them up to a lot of liability claims if the Golf/GTI shouldn't carry roof loads. With that said, I have no idea why the Chattanooga Passat cannot carry roof loads. I wonder if engineers cut some corners on the roof to keep cost down. I've read theories that VW failed to design VW-specific mounting points, that the roof design features an "air gap" for the airbags that reduces structural integrity, and the VW didn't want to pay to certify the roof. I don't know if any of that is true. But I do know the the big roof rack companies make compatible racks, people use them, and the Passat had demonstrated a very high cave-in limit for their roofs during crash testing (the link I saw is no longer valid). I don't know... weigh all of that as you make a decision. Good Luck and thanks for visiting! -Scott

[@earthcomedy]

@@StealthGTI thanks. REad about other folks on VW Vortex talking about the Passat warning. I will proceed with getting a cargo box / rack.

[@fantasticalparty]

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!!

[@StealthGTI]

See a video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXXZoGagrNeNpNE 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!

[@Stephen-wh7vl]

You went how far with two cats and a turtle in the car? Amazing!

[@StealthGTI]

I barely recall now... 6300 miles? We traveled from CA to VA with three cats (two of them the same as before), the same turtle, and a ball python, too. Last year, we traveled from CA to VA with my mother's three cats. That was adventure, too. Reptiles are less fussy than cats. ;-) Thanks for visiting!

[@silvercrypto4284]

Great video really made some excellent points.

[@StealthGTI]

Much appreciated! Thanks for visiting!

[@sentysj5753]

Very informative video thank you for your time to share to us your knowledge

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AlexandreLima-kh6gi]

Nice GTI. I just buy a thule pacific 330L. Greetings from Rio.

[@StealthGTI]

Unfortunately, that model is not available in the US. Regardless, I'll just make the best of what I have. Thanks for visiting!

[@johnreese3762]

Well done! Nice ride and bike!!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks!

[@garyzeune8127]

You mentioned all the weight of a hitch carrier is on read tires. Could you cut the hitch add a pin so it can move up and down as you drive then add a caster wheel under the hitch carrier? That would mean the caster wheel is carrying the weight of the hitch carrier, not the rear tires.

[@StealthGTI]

That would add complexity and weight. I'll skip that. There's bound to be plenty of reasons that manufacturers aren't making them for cars. In truth, the "extra" weight is really only a bias of total weight carried. Remember: the hitch carrier does not ADD capacity; it only provides a different place to put cargo. See my latest video about hitch carriers at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnevqYWaotSbn68. Thanks for visiting!

[@skay3264]

Great video! Answers all of my questions that I had about this! Thank you very much! Kind regards! :)

[@StealthGTI]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to comment!