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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 3, 2015 - 03:32pm PT
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For the trip to Indian Creek in my Jetta SportWagen we estimated the need for 50 cubic feet of cargo... the JSW only has 38 cu ft when one of the back seats is occupied by a passenger, so my thoughts went to some sort of roof carrier.
But I didn't want to spend $1000 or more on a box, roof rack, and accessories, I really don't have a pressing need for more space on my usual voyages.
While investigating the costs of a minimal box system the Thule web page had a link to "Boxes, Baskets & Cargo Bags," the bags seemed interesting. They make two, the largest being the "Interstate 869" for $200 and it would fit my roof racks without any additional modifications. This bag has 16 cubic feet of space which would be the incremental increase needed to haul our stuff from Livermore to Indian Creek and back again.
After discussing it with Bela and Linda I bought the bag at REI (during their 20% of sale). The idea was to try to observe the roof load limit for the JSW of around 75 kg (165 lb). We'd put the bulky by soft/light stuff up there, and the heavier/hard stuff in the cabin.
Here's the load up:
We had the car pretty well loaded after getting our kit in it... certainly not as zippy as it usually is, and a bit "heavy" in the turns, but we still cruised at the various speed limits (including 80 mph from the Utah boarder to SLC).
We had rain on the way out, which was a worry with the sleeping bags, etc, but we had taken the precaution of putting these in trash bags to minimize the possibility of getting them wet. That seemed to work out well.
In SLC we did take out the bags, and then repacked the roof bag in the morning. I think we didn't do as good a job sealing up the weather flap this time as it bag had water in it when we arrived at the Creek.
Once we got to the Creek we took the roof bag off the car and got the usual 45 mpg...
At the end of the trip we loaded the roof bag up, but made sure that the soft stuff we'd need stayed in the cabin, so we wouldn't have to break into the roof bag. In spite of driving rain much worse then we had on the way out to the Creek, we had only a little dampness when we unpacked the bag in Livermore.
Packing the bag is also a little tricky. We had flapping going on up on the roof on the way to Indian Creek. We surmised it was because of what was packed in the front of the roof bag. That is the "leading edge." We made sure it was stuffed with somewhat harder stuff, the Yoga mats when in there, and that most of the space was filled with something. We had none of the flapping we experienced on the drive out.
I'm happy I got the roof bag, it will be useful in the future when I'm taking a load a bit more than I can get in the cabin of the car. And also happy that I didn't spend a lot of cash on a whole roof-rack/roof-box system which I would use infrequently.
I might eventually get a roof-rack system to make going to the Home Depot a bit easier... but I'm not in a rush right now.
The Gear Review page looked at roof racks, but not roof bags, so I thought I'd launch this out there for you to see. It's a less expensive option and quite utilitarian.
The bag did reduce my fuel use from 45-49 mpg down to 35 mpg, a 22% reduction. The JSW has a cross section of roughly 70" wide x 59" high... the bag height was more than 13" (probably closer to 20") which would represent a 22% increase in area... aside from my taking it easy for the first leg of the journey, we drove at least the speed limit on the way out.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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thanks Ed - nice and useful report. I've been wondering about those.
P.S. glad you are ON TOP of it
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WBraun
climber
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10 mpg reduction because of that roof bag.
WOW!!! That's huge ....
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couchmaster
climber
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I averaged 19 Mpg last trip to the Valley with a roof rack full of climbing/camping baloney on a Forrester (for 3 of us), and just got 29 yesterday on a climbing trip to central oregon with a haul bag and just me, all tucked neatly inside (same vehicle). Shocking but if I do the math, it costs 10 mpg to put a rack full of crap on top.
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John M
climber
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Ed,
I don't know how a hitch would work on that low slung vehicle, but did you consider a hitch mounted cargo carrier?
something like this.
http://www.stowaway2.com/hitch-cargo-carrier.aspx
I'm looking at one for my 2002 honda crv. I have to go with the smaller one.. 12.5 cubic feet because of tongue weight.
Since I have been living out of my vehicle for the last year I could use more space, but did't want to put something on top due to the fuel mileage and noise issue..
Has anyone used a hitch mounted box?
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Putting a Yakima box on top of my 4Runner doesn't have near that much MPG impact. I suspect the boxes are significantly more aero. Plus the 4Runner is already pushing a giant square chunk of air.
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Dickly
Social climber
KY
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Nice GR. I bet the hard boxes get better mileage by far. I like those rear hitch racks, they seem like the way to go.
I always wonder why people that go out of the way to get an energy efficient car drive around town 24/7/365 with a rocket box on top. Is it so they look outdoorsy or are they just lazy? Both?
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wallyvirginia
Trad climber
Stockholm, Sweden
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I got myself one of those Thule roof bags, for family camping trips. Already had racks for the kayak so it was a cheap investment. It's great in many ways, easy storing for us apartment dwellers is one. There is a downside however, you're not supposed to drive with it unloaded. The flapping fabric will tear, I suppose?
Major deal breaker for me. Since I typically put tent, sleeping bags and pads up there. I come to my destination, set up camp and go exploring. Now I have to take down the box and store it before I can drive anywhere, only to put it back up before changing camps within a day or two. May not sound like a big deal but it sucked so much I ended up selling the thing.
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ryanb
climber
Hamilton, MT
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We actually have both a yakima roof 16s roof box and a seattle sports sherpak go 15 roof bag. I've had the former for years and we bought the latter to strap on top of my wives car while moving.
The hard box and rack are totally worth it for regular use. It is easier to keep stuff organized in there or open and close it for a quick grab and really doesn't effect the fuel economy much, especially at slower speeds. It also fits long things like skis or garden tools etc. I left it on my car most of the time in Seattle (since I bike commuted and only used the car for climbing trips and grocery store runs etc) and found all sorts of random uses for it while running errands.
They are expensive at full retail but go on sale regularly (once or twice a year at rei) and it is easy to find car specific parts like cross bars etc on craigslist at deep discounts as people sell their cars or buy cars with racks they don't want.
The sherpack go served its purpose well and we've recommended or lent it to other people who are moving. It can be had for ~$60 on sierra trading post right now or less with an email coupon which is a great deal if anyone is looking. Its aerodynamics depend on how you pack it though the bag is quite square.
One nice feature is that it can fit two regular sized crash pads which is one reason we chose it over over brands...it would be a great option for taking a bouldering trip in a sedan though the yakima box will fit a large crash pad as well and is much easier to get things in and out of.
It is also made from burly dry sack style material and has big flaps over the zipper that seem to keep dust ant moisture out fairly well.
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Roots
Mountain climber
Tustin, CA
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Glad to hear that bags are gaining in popularity. We've been using them for about 15 years now. The main reason we went with a bag is the reason you mentioned: roof/rack weight limits.
It doesn't take a physicist to calculate that boxes take up almost half the weight limit.....empty : D
They're water tight as you noticed and the only real downside is lack of hard security. However, we just put a pad lock on the zipper pulls. So far, nothing has been stolen.
We've had great luck using them in the back of truck beds too; watertight, gear is out of sight and dusttight for dirt road driving.
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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I use a roof bag periodically. It has been through some big rain without getting wet inside. I was surprised. I have been pretty happy with it and don't mind taking it off and putting it back on.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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I don't have that space problem since I drive a crewcab pickup with a canopy over the truck bed. Don't care about mileage since im from an oil state and am doing my small part to boost prices while effecting the supply side of the quotient by burning significant quantities of deisel. Doesn't much matter mileage wise if im towing either. Hell, I could have probably towed you out there without much change in mileage. Now look at the savings for you there in that scenario.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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You could probably fit me in one of those, Ed.
But then you'd get Romney'd!
LOL!!!!
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Mar 12, 2016 - 04:59am PT
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anyone know the milege affect of a smaller hard box. the long skinny ones 11 CF? or 16CF?
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Mar 12, 2016 - 05:15am PT
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I've found two Thule boxes on the side of the road. I went to West Marine for their G-flex epoxy and glassed both of them back to life. Got keys made for about $15 on eBay and they're good. Cost about $70 total for glass and resin and keys.
When I do long trips I cinch a couple NRS straps over the box like I would a kayak or canoe--I've heard stories of pop opens at 60 mph and spontaneous gear sales on the highway.
I also cut up a pair of old down hill skis and bolted them to the inside of the box. I ran U-bolts through my racks and then through the skis. This makes for a more rigid box and it won't ever get ripped off by passing semis or the odd tornado.
I had one of the bags but I never used it--bought it at goodwill for $20--gave it to someone sometime somewhere
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
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Mar 12, 2016 - 12:50pm PT
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I know someone that owned a bag, and complained of it leaking.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Mar 12, 2016 - 06:24pm PT
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I have a Yakima skybox 16, think it was about $400 on sale. It works on the stock roof rack on my Subaru, but my car has crossbars, maybe the jetta doesn't?
Way better than the old roof boxes. This one opens from either side. It attaches with 4 clamps and takes 30 seconds to put on. The old one I had in the 90s had 8 wing nut things you had to clamp it on with. It took about 15 minutes.
I like it way more than a ski rack when I use if for that. Skis/boards stay protected and clean. And you can throw poles and everything in there easy and quick. I guess the drawback is most people just leave their ski racks on all ski season, while I take my box off unless I need it.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Mar 13, 2016 - 09:53am PT
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You gonna be draggin' that bag this way soon, Ed?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 13, 2016 - 11:16am PT
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it seems like it...
I have to get my ass in gear to take advantage of the VW offer to pay us off for being victimized by their apparent fraud... I'll cash my bucks in on a rack system to help with bag...
...looking forward to a long week in the desert.
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