SportRack Skyline XL Cargo Box - Assembly Required

Update: I just returned from a 1100 mile camping trip and the SportRack performed perfectly. Held solid during 80mph highway cruising, rough dirt roads and the occasional tight turn. Contents stayed perfectly dry in the heavy Northwest American rain, with no noticeable wind drag or noise. Even with 100lbs of cargo loaded, my Subaru Outback did not feel top-heavy around corners (which is probably more of a characteristic of the car and not the SportRack). Negligible effect on fuel consumption. It was much easier to remove from my roof than to attach, after the trip. Bumped it up to 5 stars from 3, for price and solid performance. My Subaru has a moon roof so I was able to simply look up and see the effect of wind of the SportRack as I drove - and it had negligible vibration (with a little to be expected because of the plastic construction). The SportRack held: 1 huge 5 person tent 2 folding camping chairs 1 pop-up shade tent 2 sleeping bags 1 throw blanket 1 folding metal table (small, rolls up) 2 umbrellas 3 regular pillows ----------------------------------------- Good value for the price. Very tricky to install the hinges and certainly requires two people, particularly since the plastic is so flexible (flimsy?). But after it is put together and locked closed, it feels much more solid. The pictures in the printed manual are very tiny, so I recommend downloading the PDF version so the images can be ZOOMED in to see even the smallest screw perfectly. They created the PDF in vector, so the lines are nice and sharp no matter how much you zoom in. I had my laptop handy while I assembled this unit. PROs: Solid once assembled and locked shut. Low price for a large amount of cargo space. CONs: When the lid is opened (in the hot sun) it just flops and warps to nearly being closed. Practically the rigidity of rubber. I had to prop it open with a piece of wood. I'm wondering how long it will take for the plastic to crack because of this. Very difficult to install the driver's side U-bolts, climbing on the cars roof was needed, particularly since the plastic lid is so flimsy. I'm considering re-installing with my own hardware with the nobs accessible on the outside, otherwise it's a giant pain to take on and off for other items like kayaks. Also, the plastic front and rear latches seem very brittle for such an important part (that keeps the lid closed while driving), so I bought a spare set ($10) for peace of mind. Just a thought: I wonder if spraying the inside of the top section with truck-bed liner would stiffen it up. It could certainly make it more durable. But for the price, you can't beat the size of the storage space.

I wouldn't recommend this cargo box if you are planning to drive through high wind area (such as highway through the midwest desert) or if you don't have time and energy to patiently install it. I bought this box because it's low priced and is very large; I plan to only use it for big family vacation, so it's perfect for me. The installation took me a few hours because even though it's very simple to install, the bolts provided are extremely tight fitting (almost doesnt fit); no exaggeration, you will sweat a lot. Forget about using screwdriver, it will shear the head; i had to use wrench, clamp it on both sides and turn. The bolts need to get in all the way even if you think you can't turn it any further because otherwise the hinges will move somewhat and then the top won't stay open. The first problem i found is with the key where it won't lock. I had to jump in the box, close it up, and found that the key housing hole was drilled too far down. I had to readjust the key bracket so the arm will reach and lock. The box was installed a week before our trip; it has travelled in-town highways every day without any problem. The biggest problem came on the first day of our trip; we were driving on an insterstate and had strong head wind, the box pop open while driving. We found that all the lock mechanisms were still intact and in the lock position, so that means the box body flexed enough that the key arm slipped open while in the LOCK position! The top was bent due to this but can be straighten out enough so it will relock. A few hours later, it opened the second time but this time the back latch assembly torn apart due to the wind force and we weren'tt able to relock the box as the top has bent enough that it doesnt line up with the base properly. We were lucky that we brought some duck tapes and towing rope, with a little "mac-gyver-ness" we were able to reach our hotel with the box still on the roof. The next day we had to ask the hotel to dispose the box because the box has flexed enough that is now wobbly while driving and without proper lock on the box it's useless and just a hazard to continue with it. Now i have told you my experience and headache with this cargo box, you decide if you want to buy it. Pros: Cheap. Large enough to practically fit an adult in it. Surprisingly no noticable wind noise. Cons: It's flimsy. Cant withstand strong head wind. Lock construction is very weak. Extremely hard and time consuming to assemble.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: 9/18/2013 I ordered it via Amazon Prime and had to arrange delivery via a freight company. The box it came in was huge. I really wasn't prepared for the size, despite knowing the dimensions. This thing is huge and holds more than the trunk of my Pontiac Grand Prix. It took about 45 minutes to assemble. I mounted it to the roof rack of a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (using GM utility bars) and it fits great. It is a bit flimsy. I've never dealt with a cargo box before, so maybe that normal...and I'm sure if I wasn't complaining about it being flimsy, I would be complaining it was too heavy. The box is very light and easy to get on and off the car (while remaining attached to the removable utility bars). Back to flimsy...when open for more than a few minutes, the hot Arizona sun causes the top grey part to sag at the hinge points and fold down "closing" the box (the reason why I didn't give it 5 stars). It has room to fit my luggage set (31", 28", & 24" suitcases) with a little room to spare. When loaded, sometimes it's a bit tricky to lock...but it always locked solid. I drove and was parked in several Monsoon downpours and the inside of the box stayed dry. I was a bit paranoid about something awful happening, but once mounted and latched shut it's great. I drove almost 1000 miles with it on without a single problem. A flying rock (or maybe it was a bird) hit it at 60MPH and bounced off the roof. There was a small gouge in the box and a dent and chip in the roof. So despite the "flimsy" charge, this box is actually quite durable. I was curious about a gas mileage decrease, so I tested it only with my spare tire in it. The change in MPG was negligible. Maybe 1 MPG. That said, it does take a noticeable hit when going over 70MPH (negated by simply following a high-profile vehicle)...but your mileage may vary. I picked it because it was big, yet short enough fit my vehicle's goofy roof rack...AND because it was about the cheapest option I could find. The pros outweigh the very few cons for me and I'd recommend it... EDIT: 8/2/2014 I just got though with an 1100 mile trip with this box and again it was awesome! There are a few details I left out (or got wrong) on my original review. First, the change in MPG. This last trip was a duplicate of one I took last year before I had the box. I averaged 35.7 MPG without the box, and 29.7 MPG with the box (THAT'S 6 MPG LESS!). So my statement of the MPG change being negligible is WRONG. That's still better MPG (loaded, with cargo box) than SUVs and minivans get (empty). Also, on the first-gen Pontiac Vibe, DO NOT USE GM UTILITY BARS P/N 12495663. The bars are listed as being compatible with the Vibe, but they don't slide all the way forward...so the liftgate will not open all the way with the box mounted. Use GM P/N 12498684. Also, the Vibe's roof rack was obviously a Pontiac afterthought in the design. The rack is lower in the back than in the front. As a result, the rear of the box needs to be shimmed up in order to be level. I used two wooden yardsticks, but I might add a third next year to see if MPG improves. Finally, the antenna CAN stay mounted when using the utility bars. There's enough room under the box for the flexible mast to be bent down and stick out the back. The rear hatch touches the antenna when it opens, but it doesn't hurt anything.

This thing really is huge and is perfect for a midsize SUV like a Pathfinder. It was pretty easy to assemble and the hardware was fine, so some things must have been fixed that others were complaining about in earlier posts. Some of the holes are off just a tiny bit, so things like the u-bolts for mounting didn't fit perfectly. Also, one of the holes for the locking mechanism was too close to the edge, so I had to carve it out by hand a little with a knife to get the lock to fit correctly. The only other caveat is that I haven't used it yet so I can't comment on things like road noise and weather resistance. Overall, it felt like a really good buy since it was anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of comparable models. It seems sturdy as well and closes snugly and locks up tight. I still love it despite some of the minor issues and I'm looking forward to using it. The only issue I had was with shipping. It ships freight on a 53' semi truck. The truck wouldn't come to my neighborhood because there was no where to turn around, so I had to meet the driver a mile or so up the road in a large parking lot. It was nothing more than an inconvenience, but thought it was worth mentioning.

PROS: The pod is really roomy. We fit 4 sleeping bags, 4 camp chairs, 4 roll-up sleeping mats, an 8 person tent plus extra tarp, and other odds and ends (sleeping bag lines, some shoes, a couple of pillows) up there with no problem for a month-long camping road trip. It rained and stormed a couple of times and everything was dry. It didn't seem to seriously affect the way the car drove, although gas mileage was down a bit. It fit fine on a smaller car (Mazda 3 5-door) without impacting the antenna or the door to the trunk. It fit perfectly onto the Sportrack roof rack we bought to install it on. Installing the pod onto the rack was fairly easy - we put it on and off a few different times during the trip. CONS: The material is flimsier than expected. Leave way more time than you'd think to put it together, and have patience and a person to help you. The hardware fittings are poor quality: The hinges that are supposed to keep it open while you load it - one works great, the other one keeps the other end open only when it feels like it. We've tightened/adjusted/rebuilt that hinge a few times and I think we'll need to request a new one. The clips on the front and back to close it are sometimes really hard to close - not because it is overloaded, but because they bend funny and get stuck on their own hinge. The little locks are mostly just for show, and will only lock if you have the edges lined up to a certain level in a very particular way. Overall, because the price is s good compared to most of the other models, I would still buy this. It does the job, if you pay attention to the quirks in the hardware.

I am writing this because, I almost didn't buy this carrier because of the many poor reveiws. I ended up purchasing, mainly for the price and I liked that is was made in America. I couldn't find anything wrong with it. It took my 9 year old son and myself about an hour to put it together. The hinges were a little tricky to install. I mounted it to the roof rack of my 2010 Toyota Seinna with a the supplied hardware. It held all the luggage for my family of 5. The front and back latches along with the 2 side locks, you couldn't pull it apart if you tried. It was on the roof for a total of 2 weeks and over 1900 miles. I couldn't feel it or hear it at freeway speeds. It affected my gas mileage minimally, It even was dry inside after a night of pouring rain. The shell is kinda flexible so you have to make sure to line up the two halfs, but again was no big deal. I'm not sure if this model has been re designed to take care of the issues of the previous reviews. But if you need a cargo carrier that's not gonna break the bank, this is the one.

Really disappointed. On a warm, sunny day portions of the cargo box sags (plastic is not rigged enough). When the top part is open on a warm day, the box top sags due to the soft plastic and doesn't whole its shape. The bottom section also sags where the box is mounted on the roof racks. The hinge in the front and back are really cheap and flimsy and don't work in sync. It takes a push up of the front top to have the hinge open correctly and then you go to the back hinge and do the same to allow the top to remain open. The side access, versus the top opening forward, is a huge problem. First, trying to assemble the 2-hinges took about 15 minutes. It takes 2-people to assemble; one holding the nut on the outside of the box while a second person turns the screw head on the inside. Once the box is on the roof, securing it to roof racks is a real challenge too. You have to get on a ladder with someone holding the ladder while you extend your body across the box to secure the 4-bolts (brass hinges) while someone inserts the metal rods below the rack and box to be secured. Once the box is ready to be loaded, it is a 2-person job; one holds the ladder while the other has to reach across the box to place luggage on the hinge side of the box. Reaching for luggage on the hinge side of the box is a real challenge too. Summary; you need to have long arms and be in good physical shape to routinely use the cargo box. I would never recommend someone buy this side access, flimsy cargo box.

This past weekend I was traveling home going about 70mph. I heard this loud pop and looked and my cargo carrier flew off of the van and landed in the median. The brackets that hold the rails on my van broke off. I turned around and came back to see if I could salvage it. The cargo hauler was in one piece and only had a dent and a superficial scratch along the side. All of my belongings were in tact. I just couldn't believe how durable this hauler was. I wasn't able to bring it home but I was able to have someone pick it up for me.

Not very easy to assemble, the material is flexible and you need to check all the locks well. After a little modification (4 holes), I installed it on a Dodge Caravan. For this price, a very good thing.

It is very spacious and quiet when driving on highway. At least, I do not hear any noise when driving. It is not sturdy, but would not pop up after locking. However, it is very difficult to install on the top of my car roof and very difficult to remove it. The problem lies on the difficulty in screwing. My wife had to crawled into the box in order to screw and unscrew. Because of this problem, we are reluctant to use it again. It has sit in my garage for three years after the first use.

When this peice went through the molding process, it never molded properly and wasn't QCd properly, therfore the Latch doesn't clasp properly. I would definitely not recommend this product or anything else from this company. Tried to return to no avail. Took it on a trip and it got really soft in the sun ,was extremely noisy had to use alot of duct tape to.hold it shut in order to muffle the noise. Gets really soft in the sun and warped. I threw it in the garbage. Will spend the extra money next time and get something better.

Once assembled, it does a good job, but you will need patience and a good amount of force to thighten the hinges. My old model was way more easier to assemble.

Pros: huge Cons: - very flimsy parts and components -awful to assemble it -very expensive for the quality you get It will probably be ok for a while but i'm sure if this company tried to make this product cheaper, they wouldn't be able to because it's so cheap already even if it's made in the USA