Effects of too large of a roof box? Going camping, need storage! (PHOTOS of box install added!)

[DTown3011]

I thought for sure I would have my manual tonneau for our camping trip this weekend but alas, I do not. We have another SUV but the R1T is so well built for camping I really want to take it. However, I really need some extra storage and not having a covered bed is a serious issue. I have a Thule box for our SUV that will surely hang over the roof and/or the bed depending on how I mount it - besides looking totally stupid, what are the negative implications, if any, for using it? Is it safe? Just a stupid idea? Should I just strap everything into the bed and cover it with a tarp? Has anyone tried mounting a box that was much too big for the bed? HELP!

For reference, this is the box I have:

Thule Force XL Roof Box | REI Co-op

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[WSea]

I use 2 Plano outdoorsman trunks. They keep the dust out too. Still plenty of room for cooler, 7 gallon water container, chairs, etc. I do have a tonneau so probably would still install Thule box over bed in your case but I don’t think the crossbar locations will work if same box as mine. Maybe over cab then

 

[DTown3011]

I use 2 Plano outdoorsman trunks. They keep the dust out too. Still plenty of room for cooler, 7 gallon water container, chairs, etc. I do have a tonneau so probably would still install Thule box over bed in your case but I don’t think the crossbar locations will work if same box as mine. Maybe over cab then

Good idea/option. I'll love telling my wife we need to buy MORE stuff for the truck hahaa!

 

[Red Beard]

I just took the Thule XL on on a little over 500 miles round trip camping adventure. I have to say I thought we would take a bigger range hit. Overall the R1S still estimated our range well. I’ve attached both of my trip screens with the details for the way there and back both of these were done in one day (there & back). We even had a crosswind on the way home and still did better than when the wind was pushing us on the way to our destination. We also had four people and all the cargo space was filled with our gear, so we were fully loaded.

 

[DTown3011]

I just took the Thule XL on on a little over 500 miles round trip camping adventure. I have to say I thought we would take a bigger range hit. Overall the R1S still estimated our range well. I’ve attached both of my trip screens with the details for the way there and back both of these were done in one day (there & back). We even had a crosswind on the way home and still did better than when the wind was pushing us on the way to our destination. We also had four people and all the cargo space was filled with our gear, so we were fully loaded.

Yes, from what I have seen it's not a major range hit. This was on an R1S though, correct? I have an R1T so trying to fit the XL over the roof or bed is problematic.

 

[timmmmeh]

Drove from LA to Utah for a camping trip last week. Instead of spending $500 for bars to mount the Thule cargo box I have, I bought a cargo hitch for $100 instead. It was a lot easier to load and unload cargo. Three Rubbermaid bins from Home Depot, some chairs, and a tent fit perfectly in the bag. I didn't notice any range loss. Averages only 2.2mi/kWh, but I think it was mostly from going 80-90 trying to keep up with the semis.

 

[DTown3011]

Drove from LA to Utah for a camping trip last week. Instead of spending $500 for bars to mount the Thule cargo box I have, I bought a cargo hitch for $100 instead. It was a lot easier to load and unload cargo. Three Rubbermaid bins from Home Depot, some chairs, and a tent fit perfectly in the bag. I didn't notice any range loss. Averages only 2.2mi/kWh, but I think it was mostly from going 80-90 trying to keep up with the semis.

Looks great, but I am bringing 4 bikes on my hitch rack so wouldn't be able to use a hitch mounted box - that space is reserved and the bikes are most important!

 

[Red Beard]

Yes, from what I have seen it's not a major range hit. This was on an R1S though, correct? I have an R1T so trying to fit the XL over the roof or bed is problematic.

It was an R1S. I hear you that it might be a bit awkward on an R1T. I was surprised when I went to put mine on for the first thought I had to use the four front anchor points which are closest together to get it to fit the clamp spacing. Then when I compared it to my old Tahoe I realized how close the crossbars were on there too. The front of the Thule did match up with the front of the roofline of the R1S though. Sorry wish I had a pic to share but don’t at the moment.

 

[DTown3011]

Whelp, I put the crossbars on the truck this morning and will be testing the fit of the box today. It should overhang 2' on both the front and the back. I think it will be fine given our camping trip isn't very far away.

 

[pavl]

Whelp, I put the crossbars on the truck this morning and will be testing the fit of the box today. It should overhang 2' on both the front and the back. I think it will be fine given our camping trip isn't very far away.

do you mind posting a picture of how it sits?

 

[DTown3011]

do you mind posting a picture of how it sits?

Indeed. Actually fits quite a bit better than I expected and looks great. Even the antenna wing on the roof fits perfectly in between one of the ridges on the box.

 

[pavl]

Did you try putting it over the bed or is it way too long for that?
Also I'll be curious to see how it impacts efficiency up there. I've done a cargo basket fully loaded over the bed, but haven't done anything on the roof yet.

 

[WSea]

Indeed. Actually fits quite a bit better than I expected and looks great. Even the antenna wing on the roof fits perfectly in between one of the ridges on the box.

Perfect!

 

[DTown3011]

Did you try putting it over the bed or is it way too long for that?
Also I'll be curious to see how it impacts efficiency up there. I've done a cargo basket fully loaded over the bed, but haven't done anything on the roof yet.

I did not try putting it over the bed but unless I install it backwards I don’t think it will fit and it will drastically hang off the back and for this trip. I’m going to have a bike rack with four bikes on the back so that won’t be an option. Also, it’s only about an hour away so I don’t really care too much about efficiency for this particular trip but I can see what it’s like and let you know. Everything else I’ve seen the box doesn’t massively impact efficiency.

 

[DTown3011]

Loaded up!!!

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