Toyota Prius 2011 with Rightline Gear Sport 2 Rooftop Bag on Naked Roof

Question:

Hello, I am driving cross-country and bought this roof bag to naked mount to my 2011 Prius. I am packing a bunch of duffels which are about 15-35 pounds. Can I put two 35 pound duffels in the roof bag? There is definitely space, but my question is more about the weight limit and distribution. Thank You,

asked by: Jennifer K

Expert Reply:

There are a couple of reasons why I don't think using this without a roof rack is the best way to go, but I'm not going to tell you that it's not possible. The difference between carrying objects on your naked roof compared to when mounted to a roof rack with cargo carrier, is that the roof racks are going to be mounted to the strongest points on the vehicle roof and distributing the load to the pillars/frame of the vehicle. When you just lay something on the roof, you run the risk of damaging the paint and caving in the metal/plastic roof panels. Bags like this when mounted to a naked roof also are going to impede some of the head room in the cabin and potentially allow water to leak into the cabin when attached. The Rightline Gear Sport also doesn't have a rigid bottom, so if the roof gets wet, everything you're carrying gets wet. With all that being said, I would recommend checking your owner's manual to determine what Toyota says is a safe weight to carry on the bare roof of your Prius- I've found a lot of conflicting information, but you're likely going to be at the limits of what is safe.

I know that roof racks are expensive, especially if it's something that you're going to get limited use out of after this trip, but it might be worth looking into to have that extra peace of mind that you're not damaging your vehicle and the bags won't come dislodged during your trip. The most cost effective option for a roof rack, if you wanted to go that route, would be going with the Inno Roof Rack System for Toyota Prius # INB127 , # INSUT and # INK865 (all 3 pieces make up the rack). You would also need to pair it with a wallet friendly cargo basket like the Yakima LoadWarrior # Y07070 that will carry your Rightline Gear bag. Inno makes a well built rack at an economy price for your vehicle and this is going to provide you with the safest and best way to transport the Rightline Gear bag on your cross-country trip.

expert reply by: Erik B