Yakima rocketbox vs skybox plus#

Combined with the bulky dimensions, it’s best to move the box with a partner (more on this in “ Installation and Removal” below). In terms of weight, the SkyBox 16 clocks in at 47 pounds. Finally, its 36-inch width works well with a narrow vehicle like my Alltrack, and you’ll have the option to add accessories like a bike rack on larger vehicles with wider cross bars.

And we touched on the height above, but at 15 inches (interior dimensions are about 1 inch less), it does come with some limitations on what squeezes inside. I haven’t had any fit issues on my Volkswagen Alltrack, but to ensure it will fit, you’ll want to measure from your front cross bar to the closest contact point of the open hatch ( Yakima has a useful guide for nailing this down). Overall, it's long enough at 6 feet 9 inches to accommodate most skis and a fair amount of gear, but with ability to slide the clamps fore/aft, it works with a wide variety of vehicles. The dimensions of a roof box are a key consideration-you need to make sure it won't interfere with your vehicle's rear hatch-and this is one of the largest appeals of the SkyBox 16. This also impacts what you can fit inside, but it’s far from a deal breaker, and overall we’ve been very pleased with how much gear the SkyBox can hold. In addition, the four raised levers that secure the box to your vehicle’s crossbars do take up a little space along the interior and keep the floor from being completely flat. As such, you’ll run into issues stacking items that are long (like camping chairs) or especially tall (some strollers that have large 16-inch wheels won’t fit). It’s great for camping gear, but it’s only 15 inches tall at its peak (and those are the exterior dimensions) and lower towards the front. One thing to keep in mind with the SkyBox 16 is its aerodynamic shape does limit what you can haul to items that are fairly low-profile. It's worth noting for those with larger vehicles and a need to haul even more gear, Yakima offers the SkyBox in larger 18- and 21-cubic-foot capacities (Switchback’s founder picked up a SkyBox 21 for a big family move).

Yakima rocketbox vs skybox plus#

Yakima lists the maximum length at 185 centimeters, but I can confirm it was just long enough for a couple pairs of 182-centimeter all-mountain skis plus a snowboard. And for winter-time use, the box easily swallows snowboards and skis. It required some strategic packing, but it stores an impressive amount (especially with items that are soft-sided and compressible). Its manageable size fits on most vehicles, and our model has accommodated bulky camping gear for a family of four, including a large tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and a stove (plus a kid’s Strider bike). There are a wide range of cargo box designs and shapes on the market, but we’ve found the Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite hits the sweet spot in gear capacity for all-season use. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best rooftop cargo boxes. Below we break down our experiences with the SkyBox 16.

It has hauled everything from firewood and camping gear to skis and snowboards and performed nearly flawlessly throughout. We’ve had the 16-cubic-foot model on the top of our vehicle for a few years now and have found it to be endlessly useful. If I had a wider box, I couldn't keep the ski racks, and would have to put skis in the car (They wouldn't fit in a 58' box).Yakima has been a leader in the cargo roof box game for some time, and their core and arguably most versatile product is the SkyBox Carbonite. And if you see the cars in the background of these photos, they have the shorter and wider cargo boxes (a bunch of crazy ice climbers on a very cold day). A shorter rack might allow the wind to come up the windshield and over the top. But I still have the ski racks on one side. I'm going to run without the box for a couple trips and see what happens to the MPG. I don't have many highway miles on this car, but a shorter highway trip with no racks was 31 mpg. It didn't matter if I had a head-wind, tail wind, or side wind.

I was getting only 19-20 MPG, at 65-70 mph. Then, I drove 1200 miles last weekend to some ice climbing in Montana and my MPG really suffered. I really had to play with the spacing of the bars and clamps to fit without blocking the liftgate.

and adds 'just enough extra space', but it's too long (about 90' long). But I wouldn't recommend it because of its length.