We're looking for a way to expand our storage on occasional trips -- mostly camping -- and just need something mostly for sleeping bags, soft luggage, etc. I don't think a hard cargo box is necessary for us. We wouldn't use it enough, it's too expensive, and it's difficult to store. We have Yakima crossbars on our Forester. We're trying to decide on a basket plus pouch or just a good pouch. I know Thule makes a pouch that sits on the cross bars (like a hard box but rolls up). We've also looked at Sherpak and Kanga pouches, which I think can sit directly on the car or in a basket. (Both I think are more water resistant than the Thule.)
Is there any reason not put anything directly on the roof? Directions always say not to exceed the roof's limits, but the manual doesn't really specify that -- just the weight limits for the cross bars. We did this once on a Saturn, and it dented the top (admittedly, that was a plastic car). Our concerns about the basket is something else to store, and we've read that MPGs take a serious hit with a basket (~6+). Obviously, any option would affect fuel economy, but we'd like to minimize that if possible. I've heard some of the other basked options (e.g., Rola) may be less tall and create less drag.
Is there any reason not put anything directly on the roof? Directions always say not to exceed the roof's limits, but the manual doesn't really specify that -- just the weight limits for the cross bars. We did this once on a Saturn, and it dented the top (admittedly, that was a plastic car). Our concerns about the basket is something else to store, and we've read that MPGs take a serious hit with a basket (~6+). Obviously, any option would affect fuel economy, but we'd like to minimize that if possible. I've heard some of the other basked options (e.g., Rola) may be less tall and create less drag.
