Cargo box odyssey: Yakima Grandtour 18 w/ Rivian crossbars on R1S a solid combo!

[ramibanna]

Sharing some positive learnings on the Yakima Grandtour 18 roof box w/ Rivian crossbars on R1S.

As I was looking into it three factors were bubbling up:
1. Front v back crossbar position - and their trade-offs
2. Wind noise
3. Banging on the roof

Can report that the Yakima Grandtour 18 (largest size) supports the ideal back crossbar position (ie middle and back brackets) for best aerodynamics (range) and noise (MUCH quieter than the front position) AND without tailgate interference (ie doesn’t touch the box when opening the back boot). I have observed the box bouncing at higher speed and bumps certainly but never banging on the roof (as I saw someone had reported elsewhere). It even has a handy channel to avoid any antenna interference.

I first tried the front position and was genuinely deafened by the wind noise. Started looking into foils and voodoo to suppress it. Thrilled the back position works and reduces the noise by so much (as others had hinted).

So would recommend based on my experience and particular given the Yakima claw/clamp comes closest to acceptable spec for the very wide Rivian crossbars (also Yakima).

Bonus: looks smooth…

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[Carscott]

Great thanks. Im in the market. Has anyone else tried a different box?

 

[SILVERR1S]

I have a Yakima Sky Box 16, initially installed at the middle/rear bar locations on my R1S. It fit, it was quiet and didn't interfere with the rear lift gate. Unfortunately, that position made it a challenge to load/unload gear, so I've moved the cargo bars to the middle/front positions. Now, loading/unloading is easier, but I've introduced wind noise/whistling. Currently assessing my next set of options.

 

[POLAR1S]

Looks nice but ant reason why you would get this over the Yakima exo swing? Would be much more aero efficient. Like way more. I mean the roof does look cool. I usually use my cargo box and then if I need, use the exo swing add on to put additional cargo rack on top. Then if I need additional space, I would use my crossbars for my Yakima ski rack. But anything on top is last resort. I do keep the crossbars on my car all the time because it does complete the look.

 

[MejDam]

Great thanks. Im in the market. Has anyone else tried a different box?

I have the Thule Force XT XL Cargo Box, which I've used for several years. It was a great fit for my 2023 Tesla Model Y, and I now primarily use it on my 2023 Rivian R1S. Expect roughly a 10% drop in range with it mounted. Here's a picture of me taking it to Yosemite, CA.

I’ll be heading to the Grand Canyon with it this weekend!

 

[Carscott]

I decided to get the Thule motion 3 Xxl low and can confirm that in the rear position it fits without interference with rear hatch on a 24 gen 1 r1s DMP. In the rear position the noise and vibration is negligible. However I do notice the cross bars in the rear two locations without the Thule
Box installed seems louder than the racking in the forward position. Not a big deal. 3xxl low fits long 215 ck Xc skis.

 

[robwistar]

I have a Yakima SkyBox that I had been using with my Mazda CX-9, but now switched over to my R1S. The SkyBox clamp initially wouldn't close on the beefier Rivian crossbars. I replaced the hex bolts on the clamps with ones 1/2" longer and now they clamp on fine.

 

[jeeden]

Missed this thread. I have an old lopro 15 that works great, I'll probably replace it soon with a grand tour 18. Details of my setup and some others here

https://www.rivianforums.com/yakima-skybox-lopro-15-cargo-box-fits-on-r1s-cross-bars/

 

[Rockymountainjosh]

I have a Yakima SkyBox that I had been using with my Mazda CX-9, but now switched over to my R1S. The SkyBox clamp initially wouldn't close on the beefier Rivian crossbars. I replaced the hex bolts on the clamps with ones 1/2" longer and now they clamp on fine.

I did the same with my Yakima Skybox 21 on an R1S. Great call on the half inch longer bolts... while I think the standard ones world technically fit after you get it sized, it would be at the end of the thread which is sketchy. Only nuisance was I couldn't get galvanized bolts to thread and had to switch to stainless.

Note for anyone doing this with any Yakima roof box: the clamps don't entirely encircle the Rivian crossbars, but when clamped they are totally solid, definitely not going to budge. Yakima says as long as it's clamped hard you're good, and I have gone through the whole ski season so far without anything shifting.

 

[robwistar]

As an update, I did actually experience some shifting in really high winds. Not when driving but when parked overnight. It was a little unsettling to discover, but it still felt solidly clamped, and I didn't have any issues subsequently driving 80mph on the highway for five hours. ?‍

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