Cargo box and elec PH

ANZAC · 11-02-2011, 11:18 PM

What is the practical weight I can carry in the cargo box?

I have tracks and Yakima racks, and I have a small cargo box from my Subaru I could mount on it, just want to know if this is practical. Thinking of camp chairs/tables etc up there. How hard is it to get at without a ladder if you mount it to the right (ie at barn doors)

OttoVolcomSMB · 11-02-2011, 11:48 PM

I have a Yakima skybox that I transferred from my outback and put it up on the ph top. It took my wife and I two ladders to get it up there but we did it. I have a 4 step ladder from bed bath and beyond that I use to get up there. You can however reach up open and kind of get things in or out. I like the ladder.

**daveb** · 11-03-2011, 12:10 AM

Yeah, I don't know how you could reach anything without some way to get up there. Standing at the side barn doors is difficult and while reaching up, I feel like I would fall out of the doorway.

I can get a lot of equipment in the pod, but it needs to be unloaded for the most part before lifting the electric top. I don't know about a manual PH. Each cargo container is different so I guess that would matter as well. I can reach my Yakima container while standing on the ladder but each container is different. Mine opens on a hinge.

86Scotty · 11-06-2011, 10:07 PM

i just bought a Sportrack box, made by Thule i'm pretty sure, and i noticed when i was shopping that most of these are rated for right around 100 lbs. Not sure how that might change on a PH top though since i don't have one, never thought about it. Also, just FYI, it's not recommended that you ever drive with one empty, they need weight in them for ballast in the wind. I put stuff in mine that i'll never take out while at home (unless it get's wet and i need to dry it out), tent, bag chairs, sleeping bags, cots-all the stuff i only use if we aren't sleeping in the van. This also keeps me from having to get up there as often.

OttoVolcomSMB · 11-07-2011, 02:20 AM

I second Scotty. I keep chairs, sportbrella, and other unused( often) camping gear. First time wife and I went camping we almost forgot to take out stuff before lifting the top. Luckily I remembered for us. I used to run my skybox on my Subaru full and empty. I believe it works better with something in it but only because I have a huge sunroof on the Suby. If empty I could see it bob on the freeway. They are however quite strong on the clamps. In my own opinion it's fine either way. Keep it under a hundred.