Expand your horizons with a rooftop cargo carrier

Are you ready to adventure but not sure your car is up to the challenge?

There may be a stylish solution that quickly transforms your fun and practical city-friendly set of wheels into something a little more accommodating once you venture beyond the city limits.

We’re talking about a Thule rooftop cargo carrier.

As the name suggests, it’s a stylised box that attaches to your car’s existing roof racks in a matter of minutes and seriously expands your vehicle’s carrying capacity without encroaching on occupant space.

So before you go shopping for a new car to tackle the big trip, why not see whether a Thule rooftop box can provide the extra luggage capacity you need, while still allowing you to drive the compact car you want for the rest of the year.

There are rooftop boxes and there are rooftop boxes.

Thule engineers and manufactures some of the most advanced, high quality and stylish boxes in the business.

They’re not only designed to look good but are also easy to use.

It starts with the PowerClick mounting hardware that gives you a visual confirmation that you’ve attached the box correctly and, importantly, safely.

It means no worrying about whether you’ve clipped things in properly.

And being lightweight makes Thule boxes easy to manoeuvre onto the roof.

All Thule boxes also have dual-side openings, allowing you to access the box from the driver’s or passenger’s side.

It’s the perfect solution, especially when you’re venturing into unfamiliar territory.

And Thule rooftop boxes are crafted from the highest-grade ABS plastic that is designed to fend off knocks and scrapes – all with the aim of protecting your gear.

There’s more to a rooftop box than how it looks.

With electric cars in particular, aerodynamics play a key role in the impact the additional pod will have on your vehicle.

Thule cargo boxes are not only engineered using the latest computer-aided design; they also undergo advanced wind-tunnel testing to verify the data.

As a final measure, Thule engineers then hit the road to ensure the boxes are performing as planned, taking detailed efficiency calculations for verification.

By better slipping through the air, you’re not only minimising wind noise but also reducing aerodynamic drag that can sap energy and reduce how far the car will travel between refills or charges.

A rooftop box should be tailored to your car and lifestyle.

When shopping the Thule range there’s a broad selection of rooftop boxes tailored to your needs and limitations, be that the size of the roof or where you plan to park or drive.

Thule retailers can assist with sizing up your vehicle and provide expert advice to ensure you’re choosing the ideal option.

There are three main lines within the Thule rooftop box family – Force XT, Motion XT and Vector – with each available in different sizes.

The Force XT is all about value-packed versatility. There’s loads of space and all the thoughtfulness and clever design of other Thule models.

The Motion XT brings serious size to the equation, especially if you choose the XXL model. Available in a range of sizes, it incorporates a handlebar to make opening easier, plus there’s the innovative SlideLock system that allows for simple one-handed closing.

The Thule Vector is the most advanced of the trio and adds a little bit of luxury to the rooftop box equation.

As well as a sleek profile, the Vector boxes have a felt-lined interior and LED lights to help with loading or unloading in the dark.

Plus, there are even Thule rooftop boxes for powder hounds.

As the name suggests, the low-profile Alpine versions of the Vector and Motion are perfect for skiers looking to transport their skis and boards with a stylish and compact solution.

Worried you won’t be able to fit into your garage or underground car park with a roof box carrier?

Thule has an innovative solution designed to fit all your gear without popping it up high. They’re called rear-of-car cargo boxes.

As the name suggests, they mount to the rear of the vehicle rather than the roof, something that is also a big advantage for electric vehicles that may not have a big load rating for the roof.

The rear-of-car carrier quickly attaches to your car’s towbar to provide easy-to-access additional storage capacity. Being closer to the ground also makes it easier to load and unload heavy or bulky items.

Some even include ancillary lighting and a space for the numberplate, ensuring you’re not only complying with local regulations but also staying safe.

Thule testing has shown that its aerodynamically designed rear-of-car storage box can actually improve vehicle efficiency.

The Swedish company covered 5400km real-world kilometres with an Arcos box using an all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 and found that by elongating and smoothing the air flow over the vehicle it actually improved the driving range by five per cent.

That means the already-efficient electric car could travel about 17 kilometres further on each charge – all while packing in more gear.

For an EV that’s an enormous advantage that could also mean less charging and more adventuring.

Of course, the main advantage of a rear-of-car cargo box is it further expands your car’s carrying capacity.

You could pack all your clothes and valuables in the rear box, leaving the roof free for all manner of extras, from a rooftop tent to bikes and kayaks.

And when you get home you can remove it all and go back to that city-friendly machine that continues to serve you well.

Best of all, you’ll be the envy of the campground when arriving in style and unloading everything you could ever want – and more – from your compact car.

To learn more about the Thule range of rooftop boxes and rear-of-car cargo carriers, head to the Thule cargo box selection guide.