I'd probably need to make a set of custom mounts again to work with my rack, be interesting to see if it's quick disconnect etc. It's a clumsy solution, so I might move toward a full-roof box to throw everything inside.ĭo you have any regrets about picking the 18 over the 21? It looks like the 21 is about 2 inches taller but same overall footprint.Īlso, do you have any input on ease of install/removal? I would only have it on for family trips. Love the ski racks but hate the bag- the straps have to be undone every time you want to open it. Right now for fully-loaded family trips I'm using the Yakima Fatcat ski racks that I made custom mounts for, and a soft cargo bag. I'm considering a skybox and wasn't quite sure if the 18/21 was too long for the roof, but with the ducktail end it looks just fine. Happy to take any questions about the setup, fitment, clearance, etc. Yakima mounting feet are adjustable fore and aft, while the Thule mounting feet are in set locations (I'm 99% sure this comment is accurate regarding the Thule Force) in the hypothetical instance of failure i much prefer the Yakima system, which even if it were to somehow fail, would be more difficult to actually come fully off the crossbars. The basket mounts using U-bolts, so you'd need to make. The cargo box measures 54 x 25 inches, which would fit nicely in your cargo basket. Given that amount of space you have to work with, I'd recommend going with the Thule Sidekick you looked at, part TH78GC. the Thule feet pinch the front and back of the crossbar. Availability of Roof Mounted Cargo Box to Fit Inside a 60 by 50 Inch Cargo Basket. Yakima mounting feet wrap under the crossbar from front to back. this seemed to be due to the more angular shape on the Thule front end. however, the front of the Thule lid continuously was getting caught on the front corner of the base. Thule aesthetically is very cool looking, no doubt. Thule has 6 sturdy metal hooks for interior tie-downs while the Yakima has 4 plastic hooks for tie-downs. i like the action on the Yakima much more than Thule when closing, the Yakima is makes a distinct *click* when properly closed. there is no lever system to release the lid. the Thule had a plastic knob that rotates as you unlock. must unlock then rotate lever to release the lid. SkyBox interior floor is a flatter design that Thule, which had more undulations across the bottom Spent a while at REI going back and forth between Yakima SkyBox 18 and Thule Force XT XXL as they are comparable in price and size, here's what i personally noted as pro/cons looking up thru the sunroof, i could see the cushioned support under the bow of the box made for very little wobbling doing 80 down the hwy and had no extra noise (although with the other bolt-ons my 4R is already fairly noisy). test drive from Austin to Houston yesterday with some gear loaded in. the mounting feet themselves sit approx 1/4" to 1/2" above the mesh floor of the rack. cross bars can be positioned so that the rear a the box clears the open lift-gate while also resting the nose on a sup pad across the front raised bar. Only positives is that it’s less expensive and decreases MPG less than most.Yakima SkyBox 18 + Gobi Rack with removable crossbars makes for a very good fit atop the 5th gen. It has less storage and load capacity, it’s less sturdy and have less features, it’s harder to assemble and so on. Thule SideKick 682 isn’t necessarily a bad rooftop cargo box but it’s inferior to other Thule products. Locking system is a bit finicky but it does work. It has a lock (CamLock system) and comes with a key. Thule SideKick opens only from passenger side. If you have someone helping you it’s not that bad but you will have really hard time if you try to do it alone, you might even find that the task of assembling and installing it by yourself is impossible – that’s how challenging it can be if you don’t have anyone helping you. Whereas it’s very simple with Thule Force XT or Thule Vector Alpine, it’s a lot more difficult with SideKick 682. MPG also will decrease only by couple digits (like a decrease of 1-2 MPG).Īssembly and installation is probably the biggest flaw of SideKick 682, at least when compared to other Thule cargo boxes. You likely won’t experience any additional road noise with Thule SideKick, especially if radio is on. Cargo box comes with vinyl covers for unused mounting holes and they seem to do a good job of preventing moisture getting inside.īecause of its small dimensions it doesn’t cause as much noise or impact milage as much as larger cargo boxes. Thule SideKick seems to be very water resistant as inside of the box stays dry during and after rain. It won’t dismantle or break apart while you are driving. However it’s solid enough for a cargo box. The box itself is thin making it wobbly and flexible despite having reinforcement plates. Sometimes something we perceive as not sturdy enough actually is and this is somewhat the case with Thule SideKick cargo box. There are two types of qualities you should consider about Thule SideKick 682 – perceived and actual.
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