Mounting a Thule/Yakima Cargo box on a half rack?

[not on the rug]

Has anyone ever mounted a cargo box on a half rack before? I don't want/need a full rack at all, just the option to toss the box up there once or twice a year for road trips.

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[Umichigan1]

Has anyone ever mounted a cargo box on a half rack before? I don't want/need a full rack at all, just the option to toss the box up there once or twice a year for road trips.

Yup! I have a Yakima box on a TurnOffRoad half rack and I love it. However, I admit to some nervousness regarding having a box on the roof. Past experience seeing a box get ripped off a roof (no rack involved) and a general lack of faith regarding how racks are mounted to Bronco roofs. To offset those issues I keep a ratchet strap over the box (for what its worth). Also, the box will affect your gas mileage considerably. At long duration highway speeds I get as little as 13mpg with a 2.3L.

 

[lakesinai]

Has anyone ever mounted a cargo box on a half rack before? I don't want/need a full rack at all, just the option to toss the box up there once or twice a year for road trips.

Which half-rack are you talking about? There's the OEM rails, and what I have, the TrailRax Half Rack. Then there's the rack space above - how much do you want to use, as well as weight capacity/load stability. When you put a container above, you also impose on the midpanel and the ability to remove it. With the TrailRax, the side racks add additional weight capacity and load stability, as well as storage for tools.

The Top of the TrailRax is 48" x 36". But the front rail supports the wind foil. Attachment space from the front of the second rail to the back of the 4th rail is 30".

 

[not on the rug]

@Umichigan1 Thank you. That looks great. I think it works nicely on the 2 door, my concern on the 4 door is that the box would have to sit too far back and I wouldn't be able to open the glass. The rear hardtop roof panel is longer on the 2 door than on the 4 door so the racks are longer.

MPGs...don't even get me started. Of my 2 vehicles, the Bronco is the more fuel efficient one. My X5M gets about 14mpg. It is what it is. I believe in smiles per gallon.

@lakesinai Thank you as well. I was looking at the Hooke Road rack for now.

Do you mount carrier to your rack? If so, which one? I have a fairly large Thule box (can't think of the model offhand) and I don't believe the mounting points can get close enough to fit the Hooke Road box. I also looked at the simple Broaddict half rack and it looks like I could squeeze it onto that one but the rear of the box would stick out far behind the roof and I wouldn't be able to fully open the glass.

I really don't want/need a full rack, but I'm thinking I don't really have a choice.

 

[lakesinai]

@Umichigan1 Thank you. That looks great. I think it works nicely on the 2 door, my concern on the 4 door is that the box would have to sit too far back and I wouldn't be able to open the glass. The rear hardtop roof panel is longer on the 2 door than on the 4 door so the racks are longer.

MPGs...don't even get me started. Of my 2 vehicles, the Bronco is the more fuel efficient one. My X5M gets about 14mpg. It is what it is. I believe in smiles per gallon.

@lakesinai Thank you as well. I was looking at the Hooke Road rack for now.

Do you mount carrier to your rack? If so, which one? I have a fairly large Thule box (can't think of the model offhand) and I don't believe the mounting points can get close enough to fit the Hooke Road box. I also looked at the simple Broaddict half rack and it looks like I could squeeze it onto that one but the rear of the box would stick out far behind the roof and I wouldn't be able to fully open the glass.

I really don't want/need a full rack, but I'm thinking I don't really have a choice.

Good luck, and post what you do. I have not installed a box on my TrailRax half-rack so far, but I wanted you to see the dimensions. I use it for side-saddles and tools, to tie items to on the beach, and I plan to semi-permanently mount a solar panel for my Dometic Frig and PLB40 battery which live in the back.

In 2021/2022, TrailRax was the only rack available. There are others now, which others give good report on. Such things are very specific to the owners needs. For me, this unit is perfect. When I don't have the Skyrider installed, I can store the mid-panel on the half-rack when on the beach.

Good luck!

 

[nick00800]

Any update on this @ not on the rug?

 

[not on the rug]

Any update on this @ not on the rug?

I ended up going with a full rack. The dimensions and location of a half rack on a 4 door just wouldn't allow me to be able to fit the size carrier that I have.

 

[nick00800]

Looks good. I would just like the back racks but I didnt think it would work.

 

[trenttrizzy]

Yup! I have a Yakima box on a TurnOffRoad half rack and I love it. However, I admit to some nervousness regarding having a box on the roof. Past experience seeing a box get ripped off a roof (no rack involved) and a general lack of faith regarding how racks are mounted to Bronco roofs. To offset those issues I keep a ratchet strap over the box (for what its worth). Also, the box will affect your gas mileage considerably. At long duration highway speeds I get as little as 13mpg with a 2.3L.

I’m late as hell but what model box is this?

 

[Umichigan1]

I’m late as hell but what model box is this?

To be honest, this model of box is not likely sold anymore. It's at least 20 years old. It has had a long life on a few of my vehicles.

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