Choosing Roof Basket Versus Roof Bag on 2018 Subaru Outback
Question:
I’m honestly trying to determine whether a roof basket or roof bag is best for me. I have a 2018 Subaru Outback and will be taking a cross country drive. I will be moving in the next year so I’m not sure how much space I will have in my garage to store a basket. Or can I keep it on 24/7 I live on the coast? I have cross bars that came with the Subaru. I guess my confusion with a bag is that, while I know the bag will mount to my rack bars, I don’t understand how much weight I can put in the bag since it’s directly on the roof. Also, can a roof basket be helpful for trips to hardware and what not and strapping down lumber and such? It would be suitcases and maybe like occasionally ice chests and whatnot on the roof. I have two car seats in my car so using the trunk capacity isn’t always an option and we don’t keep our trailer hitch cargo installed all the time.
asked by: Catherine
Expert Reply:
I can understand your confusion. Setting a cargo bag directly on the vehicle roof isn't the greatest idea not only for the reason you mention, which is weight. Having the bag directly in contact with the roof's painted surface isn't a wonderful idea either. While traveling down the road, you're always going to have dirt and grit get on the roof surface between the bag and the roof. This can scratch the paint in a surprisingly short amount of time. The best practice is to use a cargo basket if at all possible. Subaru lists a capacity of 176 lbs for the roof rack in the owner's manual, so you'll want to keep below that. The Thule Roof Mounted Cargo Basket # TH859XT you were interested in weighs 29 lbs, so using this particular basket would leave you with about 147 lbs worth of capacity for luggage and odds and ends which is pretty decent.
The factory crossbar spread, or center to center distance between the front and rear crossbar on your vehicle is 30 inches, so you'll need a cargo basket that is compatible with that spread. The Thule # TH859XT that you'd looked at meets that criteria. We do have some carriers that are lighter, but the capacities are less and they are smaller than the Thule model. For anything of similar size with equal capacity but with a lighter weight, the price point climbs pretty rapidly much past the Thule model, so this would actually be my best recommendation for you.
You certainly could use the roof rack for carrying lumber, as long at the capacity is not exceeded and the load is properly tied down.
You could leave the rack on year-round, but the rack is constructed of steel so you'd need to keep it maintained by touching up any scratches or gouges before they can start to rust. I used to have one of these baskets myself, and I just kept it hung on my garage wall where it didn't take up much space. I live in the rust belt, and I kept a coat of car wax on mine and it stayed looking pretty good for the 4 years I had it.
Anything that's not waterproof could be wrapped in plastic and placed in a cargo bag like # RL100S30. A bag isn't absolutely necessary, but the bags do a good job of keeping the bugs off of everything and keeping everything contained. A cooler should be securely ratchet strapped in place.
I've linked you to some product description videos featuring the products I've recommended.
Products Referenced in This Question
Rightline Gear Sport 3 Rooftop Cargo Bag - Waterproof - 18 cu ft - 48" x 36" x 18"
- Car Roof Bag
- Waterproof Material
- Naked Roof Mount
- Roof Basket Mount
- Roof Rack Mount
- Extra Large Capacity
- Long Length
- Gray
- Rightline Gear
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Thule Canyon XT Roof Cargo Basket - Steel - 49" x 40" x 6" - 150 lbs
- Roof Basket
- Cargo Basket
- Aero Bars
- Factory Bars
- Round Bars
- Square Bars
- Short Length
- Steel
- Medium Capacity
- Black
- Thule
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
Continue Researching
- Shop: Curt Cargo Bag for Roof Basket - Waterproof - 21 Cu Ft
- Shop: Thule Canyon XT Roof Cargo Basket - Steel - 69" x 40" x 6" - 150 lbs
- Search Results: ratchet straps
- Search Results: cargo bag
- Shop: Rightline Gear Sport 3 Rooftop Cargo Bag - Waterproof - 18 cu ft - 48" x 36" x 18"
- Shop: Rightline Gear Sport 2 Rooftop Cargo Bag - Waterproof - 15 cu ft - 44" x 36" x 19"
- Shop: Ratchet Tie Down Straps w/ Storage Bag - 12' Long x 1-1/4" Wide - 830 lbs - Qty 4
- Shop: Extension Piece for Thule Canyon XT Roof Cargo Basket - 20" Long
- Shop: etrailer Cargo Bag w/ Mounting Straps - Water Resistant - 9 cu ft - 40" x 20" x 20"
- Q&A: Fit of Rightline Sport Waterproof 3 XL Rooftop Cargo Bag # RL100S30 on 1999 Toyota Sienna XLE
- Q&A: Compatibility of Thule Canyon XT with Extension on 2017 VW Passat
- Q&A: Will the Thule Roof Top Cargo Bag Part # TH869 Fit a 2013 Acura MDX With Side Rails
- Q&A: Best Cargo Bag for etrailer Roof Cargo Basket
- Q&A: What are the Useable Interior Dimensions for the Thule Canyon Roof Mount Cargo Basket
- Q&A: Cargo Net Recommendation for Thule Canyon XT Cargo Basket
- Q&A: Large Roof Cargo Basket Recommendation on 2007 Subaru Forester with Factory Roof Rack
- Search Results: roof basket
- Article: Rooftop Cargo Carriers
- Video: Curt Roof Basket Review - 2018 Subaru Forester
- Shop: Roof Rack
- Search Results: roof rack
- Video: Yakima OffGrid Roof Cargo Basket Review
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Search Results: 44649
- Video: Curt Roof Mounted Cargo Basket Review - 2022 Toyota RAV4
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Search Results: 68149
- Shop: Brake Controller
- Article: Roof Rack Information
on Roof Basket
