Talk to a Sales Tech
1-888-706-1096
M-F 8:30A-11P, Sat-Sun 8:30A-9P
Black Friday is Here! Shop Early Deals >
Get $80 Off Redeem Now >

Roof Racks Vs. Cargo Carriers

Garvin Off-Road Series Roof Rack F-150

On your way to Mexico you pass that ridiculously overloaded truck and you might think to yourself: Why doesn't this guy use a car roof rack or a cargo carrier to protect his load from landing on the freeway? Not only does overloading make you look funny, it is also a pretty sure way to get pulled over by the next bored police officer. However, if you've thought about storing your cargo in a safe manner, you surely came across these versatile cargo carriers or car roof racks. In this article, AT explains the main differences between these two and shows you how to mount your load securely.

1. Roof Rack vs. Cargo Carrier: Capacity

Whether you get a Land Rover Discovery rack, a Ford Focus rack, or a Ford Explorer rack- these roof racks are the perfect storage companion. Although you might think that they serve the same purpose as roof bags - that is, carrying luggage on the top of your vehicle - the differences lay in detail. Roof racks such as the GMC Safari rack or the Honda Odyssey rack provide maximum capacity for your cargo. You can basically put as much or as little as you want onto your roof. Thanks to the rack's system of two parallel bars at the horizontal edges of your roof, you are able to mount the load in the safest possible way. Look around when you're on the street for a Land Rover Discovery roof rack, a Pontiac G5 rack or a Honda Civic rack!

2. Roof Rack vs. Cargo Carrier: Versatility

Roof bags are a good choice if you want some extra space for stuff that doesn't fit inside your car anymore. No matter where you go, a cargo carrier keeps your belongings protected from the forces of nature. A roof rack, however, is more versatile. Store everything you want, from snowboards, skis, to grandma's kitchen inventory. Roof bags might be more secure since you are able to lock them and hide your things from the eyes of evil thieves, but a Honda CRV rack or a Jeep Wrangler rack are more flexible.

3. Roof Rack vs. Cargo Carrier: Sport-Ready

Racks like a Land Rover Defender rack, a Ford Escort rack, or a Saturn Astra rack provide the perfect setup for adding extra devices to your vehicle's roof, enabling you to carry bikes, surfboards, or even kayaks to your vacation spot. AT is not only the perfect choice for roof racks and cargo carriers of all kinds, we also serve your needs when it comes to bike rack systems or if you need a spare tire carrier. Best yet, if you mount that canoe onto your rack, it might be as aerodynamic as roof bags are.

So, whether you buy a roof rack or a roof bag totally depends on what you want to transport, what your vehicle type is, and how long you wish the cargo to be stored. Cargo boxes are the elegant and less obvious way of getting your stuff from A to B, whereas roof racks such as a Subaru Outback rack, a Toyota Tacoma rack, or a Chevy Express rack are more versatile and flexible. On your way to Mexico, you might see some Cherokee racks, Jeep Wrangler racks, and Land Pontiac Torrent racks. Maybe even a Saturn Relay rack. Whatever car you drive for yourself, make sure to have your cargo stored securely if you don't want to end up seeing your load on the road.