Can Yakima SkyBox Cargo Box Be Used with Bike Racks on Roof of 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Question:

Hi there, We have a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Thule crossbars installed. We mount a Yakima Skybox 16 but are hoping to also add a bike rack to the top - would this product be a good fit? Is it a problem to have the skybox off-center? Is space for two bikes unreasonable? Thanks!

asked by: Katrina K

Expert Reply:

The Yakima SkyBox 16 measures 36 inches wide which will leave plenty of room for carrying two bikes on your roof. Having the SkyBox mounted off center won't cause a problem, but if possible I'd place the box in the middle and the bike racks on each side of it, in order to make loading and unloading the bikes easier.

In all honesty, I wouldn't recommend the Swagman # S64710 Fork Down bike rack, unless you're just transporting the bikes for small distances locally. The racks are pretty flimsy, and allow the bikes to sway back and forth quite a bit. I'm not confident you'd be happy using them.

Instead, I'd recommend the Inno ForkLock III, part # INA391. This IS a more costly option, but the racks are much more rigid which means the bikes will stay still on your vehicle roof.

To make accessing the items carried on your roof easier and safer, I'd recommend using a door step like # RL100660.

I've linked to demonstration videos for the products I recommended.