Roof Mounted Cargo Bag Recommendation for 2014 Nissan Murano w/ Factory Roof Rack

Question:

The factory luggage bars on my 2014 Nissan Murano are only 27 inches apart and are fixed. Is there a bag that would work with this rack, or would I need to remove the luggage bars to use a bag?

asked by: Dave C

Expert Reply:

There's really no good reason why you'd need to remove the crossbars. The rooftop cargo bag will sit just fine over them, the presence of the crossbars won't harm a thing. The Rightline # RL100S20 with its 15 cubic foot capacity would be a great choice. The fabric the bag is constructed of is waterproof, but in a heavy downpour, rain can find its way inside thorough the zipper, so wrapping anything that can't get wet in plastic would be recommended.

If the thought of the bag not sitting flat against the roof bothers you, you could remove the crossbars as long as the roof of your Murano has the side rails that can be used as attachment points for the roof bag. This being said, leaving the crossbars in place would allow you to attach the bar to the crossbars and the side rails, which means the bag would be safely locked into place.
If the bag is just strapped to the side rails, it can scoot forward and backwards as you accelerate and brake which can scratch the paint.

Before placing a cargo bag on your roof, be sure the bag and the roof surface are scrupulously clean. Any grit stuck between the roof and bag can cause the paint to get scratched. A good coat of quality car wax would offer some protection. A protective pad, part # RL100650 is also available.

expert reply by: Mike L