Roof Top Cargo Basket to Fit 2013 Subaru Outback Wagon  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Many rooftop cargo baskets like the Curt # C18115 require crossbars on the vehicle roof and in the case of this particular basket these bars must be spaced at one of three specific distances and not exceed 3-inches in width or 1-5/8-inches in height.

There are also cargo baskets from other companies like Surco that can mount directly to factory side rails on some cars but on your 2013 Subaru Outback Wagon none of their products are a fit. I confirmed with my contact at Surco. I also checked with Thule and Rola and none offers a direct-to-side rail option for your Outback. This just means you'll first install roof crossbars in order to use a basket.

The linked page will show you all roof rack options for your Outback's raised side rails. You have choices in cost-effective basic square bar racks like the Inno system made of parts # INB117 and # INFR as well as racks that use quieter aerodynamic bars. Thule offers their black AeroBlade Edge rack # TH7502B-TH7502B that offers a sleek OEM-like appearance and the quieter performance that only comes from aerodynamic crossbars like these.

For a rooftop cargo basket that will work with both types of crossbars (and without the crossbar spacing requirement of the Curt basket) I suggest the SportRack Vista # SR9035. This basket fits round, square, aero, elliptical, and most factory crossbars.

You may care to add a tire step to make loading and unloading a bit easier. Heininger offers their tire step # HE4040 that comes fully-assembled and simply slips over a rear tire when it's time to load the basket. It folds for easy storage in the car.

It is a good idea to check your Subaru owner's manual for any guidance regarding roof cargo weight capacity. The combined weight of the carrier and your cargo cannot exceed the car's limit as specified by Subaru.

expert reply by: Adam R

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