Article: make your
car top carrier
more fuel efficient.





Car Top Roof Carriers
for all your luggage and
other cargo needs
the best of 2009

Car Top Roof Carriers for all your luggage and other cargo needs. When your car is too full, you need to get a great roof top unit for your car, suv or van! Maximize your storage capacity by using one of these terrific units! Great for trips or just around town! These units lock for greater security! However, for the most part, people install them backwards. The way they install is fuel-inefficient and they need to be installed with the blunt end toward the front of the car to increase your car's fuel efficiency and by cutting down on wind drag. The article Spockboxes outlines the reasons for this and tells you how to mount your car top roof carrier correctly to reduce wind resistance.


We have the car top carrier you're looking for!

Article: What's wrong
with your
car top carrier?





SportRack A90275 ABS Aero XL Rooftop Cargo Box



SportRack A90275 ABS Aero XL Rooftop Cargo Box
Check pricing, availability & reviews for the SportRack A90275 ABS Aero XL Rooftop Cargo Box!

SportRack A90275 ABS Aero XL Rooftop Cargo Box

  • Mounts to any crossbar
  • Locking with single lock mechanism in rear
  • U -bolt mounting bracket kit included
  • L =63" , W = 38" , H = 19"
  • 18 cubic foot capacity, ABS single shell construction suitable for general luggage and equipment


  • Review:

    The SportRack was very easy to mount on the Sequoia, and feels pretty sturdy (and watertight). Absolutely no wind noise or rattling could be heard inside the vehicle at 75 MPH. I bought it because the width and height makes it better for carrying family stuff than comparable size Thule or Yakima boxes, though it's not long enough for skis. Low price is a huge bonus. I also like that it opens from the back instead of the side, since on my tall vehicle the easiest way to reach the box is standing on the rear bumper. I looked at the big name boxes, and I can't see how they are worth 2.5x as much.

    Thule Sidekick



    Thule Sidekick
    Check pricing, availability & reviews for the Thule Sidekick!

    Thule Sidekick

  • Carry 8 cubic ft. of gear
  • High tech base utilizes exclusive Diffuser Technology - cuts down on drag and wind noise
  • New & improved locking system with smooth - acting transmission and bulit-in security feature-key can only be removed when box is locked
  • Access gear from either side of the car using our convenient Dual-Side opening feature
  • Mounts to most removable and factory-installed racks
  • Dimensions: 54.5 x 25.2 x 12 inches ; 20.2 pounds
  • 25 lbs (item can be shipped inside U.S.)


  • Review:

    The Thule Sidekick rooftop cargo box provides 8 cu-ft of extra cargo space and is designed to mounts aftermarket racks and factory installed roof racks. It features an impact-resistant, polyethylene construction that incorporates a side opening design to facilitate easy loading and unloading.

    Thule 867 Tahoe Rooftop Cargo Bag (roof bag)



    Thule 867 Tahoe Rooftop Cargo Bag (roof bag)
    Check pricing, availability & reviews for the Thule 867 Tahoe Rooftop Cargo Bag (roof bag)!

    Thule 867 Tahoe Rooftop Cargo Bag (roof bag)

  • Roof-mounted cargo bag that expands from 15 to 17 cubic feet
  • Attaches easily to factory installed or aftermarket luggage racks
  • Durable, water-resistant construction with secure taped seams
  • Internal foam padding helps maintain bag shape for easier packing
  • Collapses for storage in included storage bag
  • Limited lifetime warranty


  • Review:

    Great space saver! We bought the Tahoe from Thule because the three teenagers we tote to vacation take up a lot more space than they used to. Amazing how that works! Now we are able to fit all our luggage for a two-week vacation in the roomy cargo bag. We drove through very hard rain for much of the 500-mile trip, yet our luggage was barely damp - we think that had to do more with humidity than anything else. The side hand-holds make it easy to use and the storage bag makes it easy to store. This one costs more, but the extra space worth the price!

    Thule 604 Car Top Roof Carrier



    Thule 604 Car Top Roof Carrier
    Check pricing, availability & reviews for the Thule 604 Car Top Roof Carrier!

    Thule 604 Car Top Roof Carrier

  • High grade impact & scratch resistant material sets the Ascent series apart from all the rest.
  • Access gear from either side of the car using our patented Dual-Side opening feature. Smooth, aerodynamic design for minimal wind resistance.
  • Easy opening and closing with Thule's NO-GO Central Locking, One Key System.
  • Mounts to most factory installed and aftermarket racks. Four box sizes available.


  • Review:

    I just used this carrier on a 1600-mile round trip from northern Illinois to North Carolina (on a 2005 Astro Van). On the return trip, we went through extreme hurricane force winds (aftermath from Hurricane Ike) of 75 MPH from all directions in Louisville, KY. The wind downed trees on the interstate, but the carrier held firmly and no rain entered despite an incredible amount of buffeting due to the winds. I was concerned that the sideways and up-and-down effects of severe buffeting might loosen the grips on the crossbar, but the grips were as tight when I arrived home as they were when I left home. I saw two top carriers that had separated from their vehicles and had been run over on I-65...that's how bad the wind was.

    Shipping service and tracking through Amazon was great, and the price was the best I could find!

    Thule 450 CrossRoad Railing Roof Rack Foot Pack
    (Set of 4)



    Thule 450 CrossRoad Railing Roof Rack Foot Pack (Set of 4)
    Check pricing, availability & reviews for the Thule 450 CrossRoad Railing Roof Rack Foot Pack (Set of 4)!

    Thule 450 CrossRoad Railing Roof Rack Foot Pack (Set of 4)

  • Designed exclusively for use the the Rapid Aero aluminum load bars, (sold seperately)
  • Maximum rack strength and custom fit provided by rubber coasted steel strap
  • Easy to install with the turn of the handle
  • One Key System- can be locked with four lock cylinders
  • Refer to Fit guide for recommended bar length and application
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty


  • Review:

    We've been using Thule products on our cars for about 10 years. I like the "square" form factor. Gives a really good + strong fit. This is my first set of 450's and I'm very pleased. Like all Thules these are well built and beautifully designed. I had some trepidation about the plastic strap on the bottom (I'm a big fan of the 415's) but these fit securely and are working out nicely.

    Customer service at Thule is incredible; another great reason for buying their products.

    Thule 7001 Go Pack Cargo Bags (Set of 4)



    Thule 7001 Go Pack Cargo Bags (Set of 4)
    Check pricing, availability & reviews for the Thule 7001 Go Pack Cargo Bags (Set of 4)!

    Thule 7001 Go Pack Cargo Bags (Set of 4)

  • Material: Tarpaulin and nylon
  • Dimensions: [Each] 12 x 13 x 24in (31 x 33 x 61cm)
  • Volume: 3800cu in (62L)
  • Recommended Use: Road trip storage
  • Warranty: Lifetime


  • Review:

    As advertised... an excellent choice for the Thule luggage carrier!

    Sturdy, roomy, and they all fit perfect in my Thule luggage carrier. I looked around various stores for similar bags, and they were all $25-$40. So getting 4 of these for a little over $100 is a good deal, especially when you consider they fit perfectly into the Thule luggage carrier without any guesswork. They are built from the same stuff they make tents out of, and they have the feel of durability to them. They also have a slip-resistant bottom so there is no movement from the bags when driving.

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    Back to Top

    What most people do wrong when installing their car roof top carriers!

    (or "How to make your car roof top carrier more fuel efficient")

    Spock Boxes : Definition: looks like the box Mr. Spock was shot into space in while a bagpipe-laden funeral was conducted in his honor in Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan.


    What most people do wrong
    when installing their car top carriers!



    Spock Boxes: Definition: looks like the box Mr. Spock was shot into space in while a bagpipe-laden funeral was conducted in his honor in Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan.

    Okay, so what's the beef with spock boxes?

    Well, most people, actually more like 99.997%, mount their car top carriers backwards! And yes, even the companies that make these carriers promote this backwardness. So don't feel too bad about it. But it's backwards!!!

    This is what I mean and what it means to you...

    The nose of an airplane is rounded, all trailing edges are tapered, and there's a good reason for this. It's called aerodynamics. It saves money among other things, like rounded leading edges and tapered trailing edges cut wind resistance and reduce fuel usage significantly.

    If everyone who owned a spock box would go with the "flow," and mount their Spock boxes with the blunt end forward instead of the sharp end (which supposedly looks like it's slicing into the wind but it isn't), think how much petroleum this might save over the course of each year!

    Rising gas prices are taking a bite out of everyone's wallets - let's at least do this much for ourselves to increase our own fuel efficiency!



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    © Copyright 2009, LucidLights, LLC™, all rights reserved.
    Unless otherwise credited, all opinions expressed belong to John Clark Craig,
    CEO and inventor of LucidLights and LucidBrake,
    scientist and alternative energy expert.
    Contact him by clicking the LucidLights link.


    Last updated on: Friday, July 03, 2009

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