Car top carrier

[BPS]

I'm looking at a couple of options for a car top carrier, in the running is a Thule frontier (11 cu ft), a Thule Mountaineer (16 cu ft) and a sport rack (16 cu ft) - all found at my local Canadian tire.

My use will be predominantly carrying camping equipment, tent, bags and so on. I removed all the rear seats from the sienna and have set up a very comfortable place to sleep back there so The carrier is to ensure that i don't have to move items every night.

I'm leaning towards the 11 cu ft one and my partner thinks the 16 cu ft one is the way to go.

I've read that the larger carries result in a measurable decrease in fuel consumption while the smaller one generally does not, it also looks like getting access to the contents of the smaller one is easier as it sits to one side while the larger one usually sits in the center of the roof (although I could change that)

has anyone had experience with these things and their impact on fuel consumption, noise and general access? Any one here ever use the sport rack model also known as a Karrite Expedition?

[brian_bp]

I have a Mountaineer, also purchased at Canadian Tire. I've noticed that this is an older model in Thule's lineup (even when I bought it in 2004 it wasn't the most current); I like the Frontier/Mountaineer shape better than the new ones, but the new ones have mounting clamps which should be easier to use.

Sleeping in the back and carrying gear on the roof was our plan, too, and although we never slept in the back (chickened out and got a trailer), we have used the Thule to carry bulky gear, so our experience should be applicable.

I have not noticed a measurable increase in fuel consumption (decrease in fuel economy), and while there is some wind noise I don't find it objectionable.

I placed the Mountaineer as close as possible to the passenger side, and I don't know why the mounting location (side-to-side) would be affected by the box size; my wide box just reaches further across the roof than a narrow one would. The Mountaineer is wide, so the reach for access to the far (hinge) side is a stretch for me at six feet tall, even standing in the open sliding doorway. This is a real annoyance when mounting the box (reaching the handscrews inside which run the clamps), but not an issue for me when loading an unloading, because I put bulky items in and only need to grab the near side of them.

I placed the front crossbar of the rack as far forward as possible, used the most widely spaced mounting holes in the box (there are two positions for each mounting clamp), and placed the rear crossbar to suit the box. The rear end of the box is still harder to reach than the front, since I reach it while standing in the doorway. I wanted the forward location both for load location (I combine the box with trailer towing), and because the roof rails are curved - further forward means closer to level.

[jake696]

I'm looking at a couple of options for a car top carrier, in the running is a Thule frontier (11 cu ft), a Thule Mountaineer (16 cu ft) and a sport rack (16 cu ft) - all found at my local Canadian tire.

My use will be predominantly carrying camping equipment, tent, bags and so on. I removed all the rear seats from the sienna and have set up a very comfortable place to sleep back there so The carrier is to ensure that i don't have to move items every night.

I'm leaning towards the 11 cu ft one and my partner thinks the 16 cu ft one is the way to go.

I've read that the larger carries result in a measurable decrease in fuel consumption while the smaller one generally does not, it also looks like getting access to the contents of the smaller one is easier as it sits to one side while the larger one usually sits in the center of the roof (although I could change that)

has anyone had experience with these things and their impact on fuel consumption, noise and general access? Any one here ever use the sport rack model also known as a Karrite Expedition?

I'll put bikes on the roof, but would hate anything more. Wind is bad in these parts, which is why I went w/ the box on my '04. The DPS hitches and boxes can still be found...I think? The box is rated for 250lbs.

[robo5]

I'm looking at a couple of options for a car top carrier, in the running is a Thule frontier (11 cu ft), a Thule Mountaineer (16 cu ft) and a sport rack (16 cu ft) - all found at my local Canadian tire.

My use will be predominantly carrying camping equipment, tent, bags and so on. I removed all the rear seats from the sienna and have set up a very comfortable place to sleep back there so The carrier is to ensure that i don't have to move items every night.

I'm leaning towards the 11 cu ft one and my partner thinks the 16 cu ft one is the way to go.

I've read that the larger carries result in a measurable decrease in fuel consumption while the smaller one generally does not, it also looks like getting access to the contents of the smaller one is easier as it sits to one side while the larger one usually sits in the center of the roof (although I could change that)

has anyone had experience with these things and their impact on fuel consumption, noise and general access? Any one here ever use the sport rack model also known as a Karrite Expedition?

I'll put bikes on the roof, but would hate anything more. Wind is bad in these parts, which is why I went w/ the box on my '04. The DPS hitches and boxes can still be found...I think? The box is rated for 250lbs.

WHOA, I have never seen that box!!! I do not have a DPS on my van but i am interested if you have a part # for the box(?)

OK the lic. plate has to be moved.(is there lic. plate lights on the box?) I noticed reflectors on the box. Are they also brake lights on the box?( i don't think so as the taillights are high enough).

I looked around but came up with nothing as far as the box.

(sorry for the highjack)

[topspy]

I think it looks somewhat similar to the Toyota official DPS-system box that was available for '04s and at least '05s in the USA. Not sure about later years. And it was kinda $$$$ too. You had to get the Toyota hitch, Toyota platform, plus the Toyota box. There were also bike racks and a few other interchangeable accessories.

[brian_bp]

... I went w/ the box on my '04. The DPS hitches and boxes can still be found...I think? The box is rated for 250lbs.

I think it looks somewhat similar to the Toyota official DPS-system box that was available for '04s and at least '05s in the USA. Not sure about later years. And it was kinda $$$$ too. You had to get the Toyota hitch, Toyota platform, plus the Toyota box. There were also bike racks and a few other interchangeable accessories.

Yes, it looks like the Dual-Port System (DPS). I have started a new topic dedicated to this system:
Dual Port System (DPS) - the OEM hitch and carrier system

While the rated capacity of this system is considerably more than the roof rack, the roof rack limit is probably for handling dynamics (rather than structure), and from a dynamic point of view the box location is not a great place to add mass, either. For stuff which really should not be in the van interior, this seems like an easily accessible and low-air-drag alternative to me.

(Edit note: I moved most of the original content of this post to the separate DPS topic)

[gotone]

Here is more information , uses standard 2 inch receiver.

http://hitches4less.com/dpscargosystem.html

[brian_bp]

Good find... I had forgotten about the ROLA connection.

The ROLA Adventure Modular Storage System seems to be basically the second-generation DPS cargo tray and box, but mounted to a common 2" receiver, so it's not Dual Port System at all (I assume that jake696's system is real Dual Port stuff). There are lots of 2" receiver-mounted cargo platforms and boxes, any of which can be alternatives to roof-top carriers.

I posted some more detail on the ROLA Adventure Modular Storage System and DPS in Dual Port System (DPS) - the OEM hitch and carrier system.