Have you ever ever heard of Tom Combine? He was a well-known Hollywood stuntman within the Nineteen Twenties and 30s. I wrote about him for AJ just a few points again. He suffered an astronomical quantity of accidents in his work, however what actually caught with me was how he died: He was in a single automotive accident and a strongbox of cash and jewels flew from the again and hit him within the head, killing him immediately. Ever since, I’ve not been capable of drive with stuff behind my automotive and really feel secure. Now, strapping down your junk is overlanding 101, however how many individuals really do it? It’s a little bit of a ache after which it’s a little bit of a ache accessing your stuff. However what’s additionally a ache is getting your neck damaged by a flying French press.
After an prolonged bike journey with my SUV loaded to the gills, I made a decision I wanted a rooftop cargo field, so I contacted my buddy Justin, who’s owned just a few, and requested him what he thought. He cherished his packing containers and his solely recommendation was to get as massive as I may.
It was strong recommendation. I selected the Yakima CBX 18 ($1,099), the second-largest cargo field Yakima makes. The “18” refers to 18 cubic ft. On my first journey with it, I saved two large camp chairs, firewood, two sleeping luggage, a four-inch Exped sleeping mat, water, shovel, axe, my bike duffel, kitchen package…I didn’t hold a full accounting, but it surely was a lot. The one issues I stored inside have been meals and a cooler (which, sure, was strapped down).
There are many nice cargo packing containers available on the market, and I’ve owned each Thule and Yakima fashions. I picked the Yakima for 4 causes: It’s simple to connect to the crossbars, you may open it from both aspect, it has a fairly glossy profile for the scale, and I used to be proud of my final field, which additionally was a Yakima.
- The CBX has 4 curved clamps that stretch from the underside of the field. They slide on tracks and open and shut with a dedicate software—it’s like a four-sided Allen wrench. You place the field on the crossbars, open the clamps vast, slide the field and/or the clamps till they’re beneath the bars, then tighten. There’s a easy torque system that stops you from over-tightening. It’s a dead-simple course of.
Mounting took me the identical period of time whether or not I had a helper or did it solo, about quarter-hour. The field weighs 65 kilos empty, so I received it on the roof by inserting a thick transferring blanket over the tailgate finish of the roof and sliding it atop at an angle.
- Having to go all the way in which round to the opposite aspect of your automobile to entry your field is the definition of a primary world drawback—however when a field is that this vast (38 inches) and shops this a lot stuff, bi-side-al entry is a big comfort. Particularly when you’ve got one thing heavy on the far aspect, like firewood. Yakima’s single-key system is a pleasant contact—the identical key works either side (because it ought to).
- After I stated fairly glossy, perhaps I meant comparatively glossy. The CBX18 is 17 inches tall. If you happen to drive an SUV, you in all probability aren’t pulling right into a storage with it except your storage is a pole barn. However in comparison with Yakima’s SkyBox NX 18, it has a lower-looking profile.
- The one grievance I’ve with the CBX is that securing the lid generally is a finicky course of. This, I believe, is the character of the beast when the beast is made from plastic and is 91 inches lengthy. That plastic can flex, so when you don’t shut the lid fastidiously, it may not click on into the fore and aft latches. Or it’s going to click on into one and never the opposite. I had the most effective luck—or solved the difficulty—by closing it gently within the middle after which urgent at the back and front, hand proper over the latches, till it clicked into place.
- What about mileage? Yeah, about that. You’re going to take a success it doesn’t matter what field you set in your roof. My Lexus GX470 sometimes will get 20 mpg on the freeway; the field diminished that to 18.5.
Is there a roof field in your future? If that’s the case, the Yakima is price a glance. However so are packing containers from any of the main manufacturers, and I might ignore any opinions that declare there’s one greatest field. Extra vital is that you’re clear about your wants and makes use of. Will it keep on on a regular basis? Do you solely want it within the winter for skis and boards? How tall is your automobile? Do you must get right into a storage with it? Except you’re model loyal, matching your must a particular field greater than a particular model is one of the best ways to go.
