Best storage containers and straps for roof rack?

[Moab]

I have a flat Rhino rack on my 2012 Jeep. What are some good storage containers and straps or clamps for mounting things aloft? Would definitely consider something surplus. 

Considering the black with yellow top storage containers from HD. But looking for something even more water tight. Have a hard time believing a nin clamoed down lid would keep water out in a driving rain at highway speeds.

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[echo83]

First, I'm immensely jealous of that roof rack. Holy smokes. 

Second, and to answer your question, I'm a big fan of Dakine Tie Down Straps:

https://www.dakine.com/products/tie-down-straps

I've used them for years, most recently to bring a surfboard and a 35 pound stand-up paddleboard on a 2 hour road trip. Total weight was probably around 60, maybe 70 pounds. Back roads and highway speeds, with what basically amounts to a small airplane wing mounted snugly on foam pool noodles, and the cargo was fine. 

The strap up front hummed a bit, depending on speed, which was annoying, but tolerable. I think ropes would have been much quieter, because the straps can catch air like a wing and start vibrating, but the straps are way easier to use. 

Who am I kidding? You're driving a Wrangler; you can't be a stranger to road noise at high speeds. 

[Moab]

First, I'm immensely jealous of that roof rack. Holy smokes.

Second, and to answer your question, I'm a big fan of Dakine Tie Down Straps:

https://www.dakine.com/products/tie-down-straps

I've used them for years, most recently to bring a surfboard and a 35 pound stand-up paddleboard on a 2 hour road trip. Total weight was probably around 60, maybe 70 pounds. Back roads and highway speeds, with what basically amounts to a small airplane wing mounted snugly on foam pool noodles, and the cargo was fine.

The strap up front hummed a bit, depending on speed, which was annoying, but tolerable. I think ropes would have been much quieter, because the straps can catch air like a wing and start vibrating, but the straps are way easier to use.

Who am I kidding? You're driving a Wrangler; you can't be a stranger to road noise at high speeds. 

Those look great.

Actually in my old Jeep TJ there was hella noise. But in this new one its a limo, comparatively. Lol. At first I had mud terrains on it. And they were annoying as hell. Even at parking lot speeds. But once I put all terrains on it its sweet noise wise. 

The roof rack I don't know much about. Although I know its a good one. I like that its low profile. And it was obviously a professional install. Very secure. 

[Raptor]

I have one of these which has proven to be weather tight.
 
https://www.amazon.com/JEGS-Performance-Products-Rooftop-Capacity/dp/B078WK774N/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=MU2AFH5RXJBF&keywords=rooftop%2Bcargo%2Bcarrier&qid=1697492941&sprefix=roof%2Caps%2C281&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

That said I prefer to use one of these on a "back porch" type mount.  which may work for the roof rack.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C11XBX6W/ref=twister_B0CDFZ2MJM?_encoding=UTF8&th=1


EDITED to add: I saw the roof top bag you posted I would suggest just buying some 1/4 double brained dacron line and trying down the bag on the roof and simply doubling up the tie downs.

[Blast]

A lot of overlanders use these Harbor Freight rifle cases:
https://www.harborfreight.com/9800-weatherproof-protective-rifle-case-long-green-58657.html
-Blast

[NT2C]

Probably not what you have in mind but I have one of these that we carry all sorts of gear in on long trips.  It's 6 years old now, still works like new, and has about 15,000 miles on it with nary a drop of water getting into it, no matter how fast I drive.

[Moab]

Awesome suggestions guys. First thing I need to do is measure it. I'm not even sure which size I have. I also didn't realize how nice it was. MSRP is over $2200! 

If I ended up going with a big box like nt2cs id probably just get the jegs one. Although I know his and the Thule and Yakima are top brands. But dang they are expensive. I also kind of like the idea of smaller containers that you could easily take down and put up.

I wonder how much of a difference the big ones make with wind and aerodynamics? I like the soft bag as it can be strapped down to its smallest size. Given what you have in it. Meaning less volume resisting wind.

I looked at surplus. No savings there.

Theres a faurly cheap model if cargo box on amazon that has wheels. I could see the advantage there. 

[Raptor]

I guess the real question is how often will you use it. In my case I bought the roof box for a one time use and kept it as a backup plan. If you are going to routinely use it get a good one. 

[Moab]

I guess the real question is how often will you use it. In my case I bought the roof box for a one time use and kept it as a backup plan. If you are going to routinely use it get a good one.

Ya. Totally in agreement. Thats exactly why I was considering the bag. Its a few time use item. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

If you check Craigslist or Facebook groups, you can some times find Thule hard boxes for not a lot of money.

Friend of mine on Facebook did that and has a side business renting out the ones he's got. A couple of the ones he's bought have had minor issues like busted locks or cosmetic issues, but he's fixed them with minimal effort.

[Raptor]

If you check Craigslist or Facebook groups, you can some times find Thule hard boxes for not a lot of money.

Friend of mine on Facebook did that and has a side business renting out the ones he's got. A couple of the ones he's bought have had minor issues like busted locks or cosmetic issues, but he's fixed them with minimal effort.

Those are both great ideas.

That said I checked my local Craigslist and there there were several Thule boxes for sale for between $100 and $400. Obviously they may be scams (insert usual beware of scams language here) YMMV. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

If you check Craigslist or Facebook groups, you can some times find Thule hard boxes for not a lot of money.

Friend of mine on Facebook did that and has a side business renting out the ones he's got. A couple of the ones he's bought have had minor issues like busted locks or cosmetic issues, but he's fixed them with minimal effort.

Those are both great ideas.

That said I checked my local Craigslist and there there were several Thule boxes for sale for between $100 and $400. Obviously they may be scams (insert usual beware of scams language here) YMMV. 

If there's damage to any of them, that may explain why they're so cheap.

But there's also the possibility of them being scams as well. One thing that may prove it's a scam is if they ask for gift cards to "hold" the item. That seems to be a common thing with scammers in my AO and it wouldn't surprise me if scammers elsewhere do the same thing.

[Raptor]

But there's also the possibility of them being scams as well. One thing that may prove it's a scam is if they ask for gift cards to "hold" the item. That seems to be a common thing with scammers in my AO and it wouldn't surprise me if scammers elsewhere do the same thing.

Taking a closer look at the address of the sellers for the cheapest ones it is also very likely they got it through a five finger discount. 

 

[EBuff75]

Back in the '80s we had a Sears X-Cargo rooftop box for my mother's Dodge Aries K when we went on family vacations.  One good thing in your case is that you've already got a ladder to get up to the roof, as they're hard to use, even with a short car like hers was!  I picked up a folding step that hooks onto the door latch recently as a way to get at the roof on my Suburban.  I haven't done anything other than test it yet, but the roof is so hard to access that it felt like a good addition.

A big reason that most of those cargo boxes stay dry is that the top overlaps the bottom by 1/2 - 1".  Then they just need a simple foam or rubber seal and they stay pretty dry.  I've looked at some of the Thule boxes as a means of extra storage when I go camping, but having the solar panel on top of my truck was rather limiting for room.  I have seen some people who attach the panel to the top of the cargo box as a way to have both.

Looking forward to seeing what you end up with!

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

But there's also the possibility of them being scams as well. One thing that may prove it's a scam is if they ask for gift cards to "hold" the item. That seems to be a common thing with scammers in my AO and it wouldn't surprise me if scammers elsewhere do the same thing.

Taking a closer look at the address of the sellers for the cheapest ones it is also very likely they got it through a five finger discount. 

 

That is a likely possibility.

Kind of like how some folks in my AO will sell Milwaukee or Kobalt tools for next to nothing. They five finger discount them from Home Depot or Lowe's and then try to sell them on Facebook.

[NT2C]

Awesome suggestions guys. First thing I need to do is measure it. I'm not even sure which size I have. I also didn't realize how nice it was. MSRP is over $2200!

If I ended up going with a big box like nt2cs id probably just get the jegs one. Although I know his and the Thule and Yakima are top brands. But dang they are expensive. I also kind of like the idea of smaller containers that you could easily take down and put up.

I wonder how much of a difference the big ones make with wind and aerodynamics? I like the soft bag as it can be strapped down to its smallest size. Given what you have in it. Meaning less volume resisting wind.

I looked at surplus. No savings there.

Theres a faurly cheap model if cargo box on amazon that has wheels. I could see the advantage there.

Allow me to answer some of your questions regarding the aerodynamics.

First, any soft bag you get is going to have parts of it that flap in the wind and make noise.  How tolerant you are of that kind of noise will play a vital role in making your choice.  On the aerodynamics issue, you're driving a Jeep with that classic Jeep flat face.  Not the most aerodynamic vehicle to begin with.  Adding a box like the one I have, even with its aerodynamic shape, is going to affect your fuel mileage.  In my case, with my Jeep and my box model, it costs me about 1.5 MPG at highway speed.  I would expect any similarly shaped box would have a similar mileage penalty.  It does also have its own version of wind noise, but it's more of a roaring sound similar to normal road noise, just a little louder. One advantage of such "pods" though is that they only take up about 1/2 the width of the roof, allowing you to add things like a bike rack, or kayak carrier to the roof.  Just make sure you tighten down the clamps properly.  They're made in such a way that it's almost impossible for a pod to blow off your roof, but the suckers will slide across the roof to the opposite side when exposed to the air blast of a big semi passing you at speed if not sufficiently tightened down. Ask me how I know.