Best Cargo Carrier Option for 2016 Ford Escape Titanium with Panoramic Sun Roof

Question:

I have a 2016 Ford Escape Titanium with a panoramic sun roof and factory installed side and cross rails. The owners manual indicates not to exceed 45lbs weight on the roof mounting system with a sun roof. I am looking for the lightest weight carrier box. The owners manual also indicates not to place anything directly on the roof because of the sun roof so a carrier bag I believe would partially be on the roof even with the cross bars. Any suggestions?

asked by: Fred J

Expert Reply:

Your vehicle simply is not well-suited to carrying cargo on its roof. Even the lightest enclosed carriers, like the Yakima RocketBox Pro 12 that is 30-lbs, weigh so close to the car's 45-lb weight limit that they will not be able to hold much cargo for you. The best option for you to transport items on your Escape is to use a hitch-mounted cargo carrier.

If your Escape has a hitch it will have a sticker on it that indicates its Class rating and tongue weight (TW) capacity. Both 1-1/4-inch Class II hitches and 2-inch Class III hitches are offered for your Escape, and carriers are available for both hitch sizes, but the larger 2-inch size will provide a higher carrying capacity, so I suggest a Class III hitch like # 75758.

For a 1-1/4-inch carrier you can use an item like # C18145 and for a 2-inch hitch a carrier like # C18151. I have linked our pages for both sizes of hitch carrier.

Keep in mind that both the hitch and the car itself have to be rated for the combined weight of the carrier and what you load on it. Your owner's manual or local dealership can provide this information for your specific Escape.

expert reply by: Adam R