Recommendation for Carrying Gear and Luggage on a 2013 Ford Flex with Factory Roof Rails and Hitch

Question:

I am trying to decide whether to get a roof cargo box or a hitch cargo box. It would be for lacrosse gear and suitcases for tournaments and vacations. I would likely leave it attached or on because we do not have a garage and I am a mom who may be packing on my own on many occasions... which cargo box, which roof rack and which brand would you suggest? I have factory installed roof rails and a 1.25 inch hitch.

asked by: Lucia D

Expert Reply:

There are a few different factors that you will want to look at in your situation. The first factor to consider is the weight of the gear you plan on carrying. I found a copy of the owner's manual for your 2013 Ford Flex and I found that the roof weight capacity of your Flex is 100 lbs and the tongue weight capacity of your trailer hitch is 200 lbs. If you plan on carrying more than 100 lbs of gear and luggage, a hitch mounted cargo carrier may be your best option, it is also the more economical option. On the other side, a roof mounted cargo box will allow you to load longer items such as crosses or lacrosse sticks much easier than a hitch mounted carrier. I have given you my recommendations for a roof mount and a hitch mount option for you to check out and compare.

For a hitch mounted cargo carrier, take a look at the Reese Carrier # 63155. This cargo carrier measures 20 inches x 47 inches and was designed to fit with Class I trailer hitches. The hitch on your Flex is a Class I trailer hitch. This carrier weighs approximately 44 lbs, so that would take up some of the tongue weight capacity of your hitch. You would be able to carry 156 pounds of cargo.

For a roof mount option, we will want to start with crossbars that a roof mounted cargo box can attach to. Since you already have the factory side rails, I recommend looking at the Thule SquareBar Roof Rack, which consists of two 53 inch steel crossbars, # TH712400 and the Evo Raised Rail Feet, # TH710401.

For a cargo box, I recommend the Thule Motion XT Rooftop Cargo Box, # TH629706. This cargo box has 17 cu ft of storage and the internal dimensions measure 69 inches long x 31-1/2 inches wide x 15 inches tall. This cargo box does weigh approximately 42 lbs, so you will want to take that into consideration when loading additional cargo.

I have attached product links for the cargo box and the roof rack for you to check out as well as FAQ articles on cargo carriers and roof racks.