2002 Lexus LS 430 Carrying Items On The Roof Of The Vehicle

Question:

Dear Sir or Madame, I am looking to order the below car top carrier for my 2002 Lexus LS430 CargoSmart Soft-Sided Car Top Carrier - Water Resistant - 15 cu ft - 38inch x 38inch x 18inch Item # CS94F I have a few questions: 1. I need it lockable. Is it, or can it be theftproof or do I need to haul it into the hotel every day? Does it have carry handles? 2. How quiet is it? 3. Does it interfere in any way with the handling of the car? 4. Straps - I need to pull down the window weatherstrip?? Can I avoid that? I do not wish to risk damaging the weatherstrip. 5. Do the units tell or recommend how many pieces of luggage? / storage containers? - Can you recommend packing boxes or do you have them in stock to sell? 6. How durable is it? i have seen pictures of strap failures, etc. All of you products have 5-star ratings, may I presume you have that handled? 7. How is gas mileage impacted? I will be using the carrier for a one-time 2400 mile trip. 8. What would you recommend as side bars or similar to mount on the car to assist in the use and stability of the carrier? Any other accessories you might recommend, or, for that matter, a different carrier. 9. Have I missed anything, question wise, that people typically ask? Thanks. I await your earliest reply. Sincerely,

asked by: Kim W

Expert Reply:

Carrying cargo on the roof of your vehicle will free up the interior which can make a long trip more enjoyable. The CargoSmart Soft-Sided Car Top Carrier, part # CS94FR, does not have a naked roof application. It will only attach to a roof rack or side rails. Our optimal solution would require a roof rack to work with the CargoSmart Soft-Sided Car Top Carrier.

My roof rack recommendation would be the Inno Square Bar Roof Rack - 2002 Lexus LS 430. The rack includes Inno Square Crossbars - Steel - Black - 50" Long, part # INB127, the Inno Feet for Square Crossbars - Naked Roofs - Black, part # INSUT, and Custom Fit Kit for Inno XS200, XS250, and INSU-K5 Roof Rack Feet, part # INK777. This combination will provide you with a vehicle specific fit which will allow you to carry items on the roof of your vehicle. Your vehicle is rated to carry 132lbs on the roof.

If this is not an option and you would prefer a rooftop carrier that will attach to a naked roof I recommend the Rightline Gear Sport 2 Rooftop Cargo Bag - Waterproof - 15 cu ft, part # RL100S20. To attach this to your vehicle you would run the straps along the roof of the interior of your car. Your straps would go over the weather stripping in your car, not under. It is a waterproof 15 ft. rooftop cargo bag.

Security is very important on a road trip and you will want a lock for your rooftop carrier. The Cable Lock for Rightline Gear Cargo Bags - 35" Long, part # RL100640, would be the lock I recommend. It has a retractable cable that threads through your zipper pull, the d-ring on your bag, and around the rooftop bars of your rack.

With the CargoSmart Soft-Sided Car Top Carrier locked to the vehicle you will not have to bring it into the hotel. It will not interfere with the handling of your car and since the carrier will be attached to the roof rack you will not have to worry about damaging the weather stripping in your vehicle. Unfortunately the carrier will not tell you the number of suitcases or pieces of luggage it will hold. You can use boxes but we do not sell them. The ratings are based solely on customers leaving them on our website. This particular carrier does have a one year limited warranty and your straps should not fail if this item is installed correctly. Anything carried on the roof of your vehicle will have some affect on your gas mileage.

I have included links below.