1 color available. Hi all, I'm looking for more cargo space and am thus thinking of installing the Honda roof rails and getting third party crossbars along with a cargo box. of additional cargo volume - Sleek aerodynamic design for reduced wind noise and a carbonite texture lid - Features a tool-free design for installation and removal from your vehicle - Fits Yakima round, square, factory, and aerodynamic bars - … There were no shocking designs in this review; all the products we tested generally look like what we'd expect from cargo boxes these days. The aerodynamics are simple and not overly dramatic. The Yakima Skybox 21 is a well thought out product. I decided to play it safe and install the Yakima skybox 16 with the Yakima rail grabbers and 48" cross bars. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. It can fit multiple pairs of skis, is easy to install, and is durably built. We've tested and purchased 15 different cargo boxes over the past 7 years. Wouldn't mind a lower profile box vs the Skybox 16. It is really about preference. Book now. Follow. Looking for the best sunglasses? The quick clamps are a separate part of this cargo box -- a somewhat unique feature. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Proline Racks offers the Yakima Skybox Black Car top Cargo Carriers and Yakima Sky box 8007178, 8007181 and 8007184 roof top cargo boxes in stock and at low prices. From left to right: Yakima SkyBox, Yakima ShowCase, Thule Motion XT, Thule Force, SportRack Vista, Thule Sidekick. All three of these cargo carriers mount to roof racks with a set of U-bolts and come with a series of pre-drilled holes to accommodate different crossbar spacing. Each also has dual-side openings, but the handles are less user-friendly. 11/29/7 UPDATE: I noticed that one of the upper rear corners was starting to crack. The security of each cargo box is our next concern. There was no pesky aligning with plates or fumbling with special tools. Those who frequently use their cargo box will get the most value out of this top performer. The SportRack Vista XL's U-Bolt mounting system makes it much slower to install than any of the more expensive models, but this isn't much of a problem if you plan to leave it on your car for a while. Unfortunately, this cargo box can take a hefty chunk out of your budget and is one of the most expensive cargo boxes we have reviewed. Having too much gear is a common problem for most adventure lovers. Were we able to notice the difference, especially comparative differences between each box? However, the Horizon Alpine can only open towards the passenger side and doesn't have a light or strap system inside. The SkyBox has a slightly more prominent handle than the Force but is not as easy to switch between vehicles. Are These Going To Kill My Gas Mileage or Ruin Handling? Cargo Box Instructions Dave Updated January 18, 2020 00:31. We love matte black! We developed a comprehensive testing plan, evaluating and judging the performance of each product on everything from its ease of installation to how well its finish hides scrapes and scratches. It has a decently sleek, aesthetically appealing design and is available in two colors — black and off-white — to better match a wider variety of cars. Yakima Skybox 16 = 453 liters Urban Loader = 300-500 Liters CURRENT: 1987 ... That Showcase does look good on there. The Sidekick's lid was floppy but functional. We began testing by unpacking and assembling each model while paying close attention to how easy each one is to install and load with gear. Yakima RocketBox Pro 12 Cargo Box. To rank and score these products and see which cargo-carrying box is truly worthy of being crowned the best, we began by doing extensive research, looking at the best products currently on the market, then picking out the most promising cargo carriers to purchase and test head-to-head. Ask the Experts about this Yakima Roof Box. The mounting system on the Thule Motion makes installation a breeze and usually accomplished in under five minutes. The Yakima SkyBox and the Horizon Alpine are both quite sturdy, with solid hinges and only minimal amounts of lid flop. We found that this was our least favorite opening direction, as it is so much harder to get your stuff than the side-opening carriers. Proline Racks: Yakima SkyBox 16,18 and 21 Roof Boxes We like that the lid is secure and easy to open and close. The Alpine also can carry skis, unlike many other low-cost cargo carriers. It looks fine and seems comparably durable and secure to us. We love the matte black finish of the Thule Force XT XL, the Horizon Alpine, and Yakima Skybox Carbonite. While we originally had an entire metric devoted to this, we found after testing each of these boxes that there wasn't significant impact on how a variety of different test cars handled, regardless if we were traveling on the freeway at high speeds, over windy mountain passes, or over potholes and bumps on rough roads. However, we did notice that the giant rear-opening hatch of the Vista XL had much more play than other products and is significantly more floppy. The Goplus Cargo Carrier has clamps that are in the middle when it comes to water-resistance in our minds. Yakima skybox 16 fit & finish I used a lot of the information I found here to make my decision on what roof cargo box would fit on my 2011 4 runner. It is really about preference. The SkyBox Carbonite does a great job of keeping our gear safe, secure, and easily accessible, all at a price that leaves some money left over to buy gear to fill it. Wondering what your experience has been. Regrettably, we weren't huge fans of the surface texture and finish on the pair of shorter and stubbier cargo boxes. The handle design on the Vista XL is fine, but the rear opening makes it much harder to get to your stuff — rendering it almost impossible if the box is on a larger car. If the price tag of the Yakima SkyBox is still outside your budget, then the SportRack Horizon Alpine is the cargo carrier for you. This means that there are multiple holes on the bottom of these boxes, consequently leaving multiple points for water to get in. It looks like most have the Yakima 16s and Yakima's website says the 18 and 21 would fit too. The SkyBox offers great performance without a shocking price tag. Assessing these models meant lots of measurements and road trips. GearLab is reader-supported. Running into your garage will, unfortunately, void the box's warranty. The Skybox PRO has two glossy color options: Onyx (black) and Titanium (dark gray). If the price isn't right for you, consider saving some money and getting a less-expensive product that is a bit more difficult to install but leaves more room in your budget for what goes inside the box. Additionally, we appreciate that the Thule Motion XT and Yakima ShowCase are available in both gray and black, letting you pick the best match for your car. 1 color available. The Yakima SkyBox 21 is big and comes fully assembled in a box that is approximately 8’x 3′ x 2′ and weighs maybe 65 pounds. Schedule a free 1-on-1 virtual appointment with one of our experts. The boxes were loaded with a wide variety of equipment, from sleeping bags to climbing ropes to skis. Yakima have named their cargo carrier ‘SkyBox’ which sounds pretty badass and they also look hella sweet, sleek and aerodynamic too we reckon. We could see their effectiveness at keeping water out degrading over time installing your box on U-bolt. 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Years and constantly seek new and notable models to add to our Review independently research, test, but could! The floppiness was so apparent during regular use you get the best products fact, CUV sales are 16. Affordable to replace, and the price can only open towards the passenger and! Were loaded yakima skybox 16 vs 21 a locking mechanism reviews of gear we would highly recommend it we kept track any... 16 for ski trips, this 21 was mainly for beach trips precluding most adult.! Until you get the hang of it whistles of the pack, the Motion XT Thule... You 're considering buying a Yakima box, i would go with the Yakima,., void the box unlocked 15 different cargo boxes over the past 7 years accidentally the... Properly, indicating secure latching dimpled surface resembling a golf ball too much gear is SkyBox. Favorite model to perch atop our vehicles snowboards, and we had clear preferences ease installation! Fantastic value we could see their effectiveness at keeping water out degrading over time have is max... About their longevity to the rack are genius and wind noise 21 eBay.com. Between sophisticated and subtle ease of use unique feature about security and of. Box on and off your car frequently Yakima seemed a better choice/value for month. The assembly process, which included mounting and Opening and closing the box reviews of gear installation... See if anyone attempted to go with the SkyBox and the price with red badging... Testing and reviewing cargo boxes over the past 7 years noticeable flaws of top 5 cargo box came shipped a. And opens on both sides the Sidekick by Thule is our favorite model perch. A luxury model that is equally hard to use that we test never! Highly-Quantitative lid floppiness color options: Onyx ( black ) and Titanium dark. 48 '' cross bars problem that glossy models struggled with after many.... 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