#Yakima rocketbox 12 interior dimensions full#

The load was also completely dry - which was important since we had been driving through some rain showers as well as snow melting on the road. When we got to our destination and opened things up (again with a ladder for ease), the load was secure, had not shifted at all, and everything was exactly where we had loaded it.

#Yakima rocketbox 12 interior dimensions full#

There was also no evidence of the skis or other items inside the box shifting around, due in part to the fact that we packed it pretty full and snug. The aerodynamic design functions exceptionally well, even when cruising along the interstate at 80 mph. Perhaps a little more “pull” in heavy crosswinds, but that might have been in our minds too. Once driving, it literally only took a few minutes and we forgot the box was even on the car. Sure enough, the lid had closed a bit askew, so I opened it, got some of the jackets moved away from the latches, and on the second try got a much more assuring “click” and the box had definitely closed straight and sealed well. I also chose to walk around the car and make sure that it looked like it closely snugly and symmetrically. You want to spend a minute being sure you get a good, secure “click” on both sides when the box closes. We made sure we had the key on a big, easy-to-spot chain. One thing about the Yakima Skybox – it only opens and closes with the key. We chose to have the skis inside ski bags just so that the ski’s sharp edges would not scrape around and cut the other items in the box, but you could probably also just layer some pieces of cardboard or even some old blankets in for this. We loaded skis as the main item, but then filled the box up with soft items such as jackets and pillows. Loading and Unloadingįor loading the unit, we also used a step ladder. We also tested our sightlines and our back hatch to be sure the box was not interfering with anything. We did a couple local test drives to be sure nothing was rattling or askew, and it stayed set securely. Once the unit was installed on our pre-existing Subaru cross bars, it was solid and straight. Doing more of a side mount did not seem to affect the ride at all, and made it easier to access when using it. Sometimes we clamped it perfectly on centered on the car, but after a while we starting clamping it closer to the side. You are not going to do a good job if attempting to crank it down at an awkward angle. It is essential that you have a ladder for this job (preferably not one that leans against your vehicle). That goes for all carriers, not just this one.Ĭlamping the unit on to our cross bars we easy once it was set, although you want to be sure you have a firm positioning on the cross bar or you could falsely think you have it tight. Their awkward shape and lack of handles makes it much easier for two. These are not easy to carry around, even if you are strong. Note that with all rooftop cargo boxes, handling them and putting them on your vehicle is really a two person job - at least at first.

The installation process took a while, but we allowed enough time and were able to pay attention to the details. The Skybox clamped securely to the roof rack. So what did we think of the Skybox after driving 2,000 miles, much of it at 75 to 80mph? We are big fans. Our Experience with the Yakima Skybox Carbonite The Outback comes with factory roof top cross bars, so we did not need to use add-on cross bars. In our test drive, we mounted the Skybox on a Subaru Outback.

We experienced pretty strong winds during part of the trip, which we were happy about since we wanted to assess the Yakima Skybox when faced with a stiff headwind and cross wind. We carried 4 pairs of skis and as much other stuff as we could stuff in the box. Our test was a 2,000 mile cross-country roadtrip spanning 3 states (there and back), and it was done in winter conditions. We decided to give the Yakima Skybox a first-hand user test, after seeing countless Yakima roof top cargo boxes on the road over the years. Skybox Carbonite 21 price How We Did Our Hands-On Yakima Skybox Road Trip Test For this review, we’ll be focusing on the Skybox 16. In our review, we’ll break down the most important features, benefits, and drawbacks of this carrier to give you a real feel of using it. The Yakima Roof Carrier is a perfect way to haul your gear on top of your vehicle.