Yakima Skybox NX 16 Rooftop Cargo Box Fit on 2018 Toyota Highlander with Oval OEM Crossbars

Question:

Will this fit on a 2018 Toyota Highlander XLT, with factory oval crossbars? These are the ones that come out of the top, with no discernible rails. Can this be mounted to give sufficient clearance for the tailgate opening? Thanks.

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

The Yakima SkyBox NX 16 Roof Cargo Box # Y95AV will fit on aftermarket or factory oval/elliptical crossbars up to a maximum size of 3-1/2 x 1-11/16-inches and so long as the bars' center-to-center spread is between 24 and 36-inches. It will allow full opening of the Highlander's rear hatch as long as there is at least 47-inches from the center of the front crossbar to the seam where the roof and hatch meet.

The Skybox NX 16 has external dimensions of 79-1/2" long x 35" wide x 16" tall and it accommodates skis up to 69-inches (175cm). The box itself weighs 48-lbs empty.

With any rooftop carrier I recommend considering an accessory step to make the loading and unloading processes easier. We have tire-mount steps like # HE4040 and # PT68ZR that slip over a rear tire, but instead I suggest the cost-effective Telesteps step # TE97FR. This aluminum step is lightweight, comes fully-assembled and unfolds instantly to give you almost a foot of extra reach. It stores easily in the roof box or in the vehicle. I own this product and it seems to be endlessly useful around the house and garage when it is not in use helping us access our vehicles' roofs. This will make using the Skybox a whole lot easier.

You'll want to keep in mind that the combined total weight of the box and its contents should remain within the roof capacity as noted in your owner's manual.