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The Best Car Top Carriers For Safe And Easy Transportation

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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:10 p.m.

Most modern cars have plenty of interior storage space in the trunk, but it’s not always enough. Sometimes you need some extra storage space for oversized items, big family vacations, or house moves. That’s where car top carriers come in.

A car top carrier sits on top of your car and allows you to carry many more items. It’s basically like having a whole suitcase on the roof of your vehicle. These carriers have lots of room inside for everything from camping gear to household goods.

But some car top carriers are a lot better than others, offering more space and better levels of protection for your personal property. This guide will help you separate the top items from the rest. Let’s take a look at some of the quality car top carriers of 2023.

Buying Guide for Finding a Car Top Carrier

Car top carriers are great products to use when you want some extra storage space for your car, allowing you to transport more items far and wide without too much extra cost. Read on to learn about the uses of car top carriers and what to think about when buying one.

Why Do You Need a Car Top Carrier?

There are many reasons why you might need or want to use a car top carrier. These products provide secure, spacious storage compartments to add to your vehicle. Here are just some cases where this may be useful to you:

For road trips and vacations

One of the most common uses of car top carriers is to store extra items that people take along with them on road trips and vacations. You often need to pack a lot of clothing and essential accessories for these journeys. Sometimes the space in your car’s trunk simply isn’t enough to hold everything.

For outdoor enthusiasts

Outdoor enthusiasts can also get a lot of use out of car top carriers. If you’re a rock climber, you can store your rock climbing ropes and gear in your rooftop bag or box. Or, if you’re a camping enthusiast, you can use a car top carrier to store your tent, sleeping bags, and other camping essentials.

For house moves

Another use of car top carriers is for house moves. If you’re moving into a new place and want to save money, you can use car top carriers to transport lots of items from one property to the other without needing to spend as much on professional moving services. This allows you to keep personal and valuable items close by at all times.

What To Look for in a Car Top Carrier

If you want to find the right car top carrier to suit your needs, here are some of the key factors to think about:

Ease of installation

One of the first things to look at is the ease of installation of each car top carrier. Some of them are really easy to install and will snap into place on top of your car without even needing roof racks or rails, while others can only work with rails.

Interior capacity

Before purchase, check the size of each car top carrier. They can range from as low as 10 cubic feet up to 16 cubic feet. Think about what you want to carry and how much space you really need, then choose the size that makes the most sense.

Protection

We also recommend considering the level of protection each car top carrier provides. The top-rated models tend to be strong and sturdy, shielding your possessions against rain, wind, snow, and sun.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Amazon Basics Rooftop Carrier
Best Water Protection: Keeper Rooftop Cargo Bag
Best Design: Meefar Car Top Carrier
Best Small Carrier: Jegs Rooftop Cargo Carrier
Biggest Carrier: Thule Rooftop Cargo Box

Reviews

Best Overall

Amazon Basics Rooftop Carrier

Pros	Cons
Very well made Resistant to sun, rain, and wind 15 cubic feet of interior space	Gets very hot on hot days

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Best Water Protection

Keeper Rooftop Cargo Bag

Pros	Cons
Protects against water Made of strong, durable nylon Flexible and adjustable to suit your needs	Won’t work on all racks

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Best Design

Meefar Car Top Carrier

Pros	Cons
Sturdy, impressive design Universal fit with any car Won’t slip or slide around	More expensive than others

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Best Small Carrier

Jegs Rooftop Cargo Carrier

Pros	Cons
Sleek, aerodynamic design Easy to set up Can hold up to 110 pounds	Not very big

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Biggest Carrier

Thule Rooftop Cargo Box

Pros	Cons
16 cubic feet of storage space Simple quick-mount installation Doesn’t block the trunk	Too big for some cars

Check on Amazon

FAQs

Do I need a roof rack to use a car top carrier?

Not necessarily. Some car top carriers are suitable for use on cars without any roof racks or rails, but other models do require rails.

What can I put in a car top carrier?

You can put anything you like in a car top carrier. They’re useful for transporting items like camping gear and sporting equipment as well as luggage.

Do car top carriers increase fuel consumption?

Yes, due to the extra weight and size of your vehicle with a car top carrier, you may use a little extra fuel. In general, it shouldn’t have a very noticeable effect on fuel consumption.