Roof rack storage ideas.

Dear members, do you have any ideas for nice low profile storage boxes? I got sherpa crestone roof rack. And dont tell me roam or pelican. Something at a reasonable pricing. I aint gonna overpay for that. Any experiences, recommendations? I am not a cheap bastardo, but I have seen and heard this and that about expensive boxes, and say no. I can wait.

Thank you

 

Check out the harbor freight Apache 9800 rifle case. Nice quality that they run on sale periodically $99.

Not a pelican but for the price difference it's nice.

 

Awesome! Thank you.

 

I don’t know, look how much you can store in a pelican

 

Big mouth, can handle big loads....

 

i have found cheap pelicans on FB marketplace that have been in great shape. may be an option for you.
but as stated, people do seem to like the apache cases.

 

Thank you for all the help.

 

^This.
The harbor freight apache rifle cases are made by Eylar. They are weather proof and very solid for the money.
I use mine to store recovery gear on the roof if I need that extra interior space. Plus they are very low profile compared to other options.



Edit: ^Old pictures. But they get the point across.

 

How did you mount? Drill for a u-bolt and attach to crossbar?

 

The LFD crossbars are sized just right to accept 3/8” carriage bolts.

Drill a hole in the bottom of the case. Carriage bolt goes up from the crossbar into the case. Gasket material (for water proofing), large washer, lock washer, and wing nuts secure the box to the crossbars.

This is effectively theft proofs the case. In order to take the case you’d have to unlock the case first to access the wing nuts inside. But once you do it’s completely tool less which is nice.

 

@SmithJ


Not my image but that’s the idea

 

Pelican are pretty good. They come in many sizes. Have you looked into them?

 

I have looked into them. Yes, they are nice. I will think about it. Tonight I am heading to harbor freight, to see the quality of theirs.

 

I did a lot of research on this for a while. I couldn't spend the money on ROAM cases, although that's what I want.

Home Depot has Husky "toolboxes".

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2...-and-Portable-Hand-Tool-Tray-206319/321052317
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2..._-321052317-_-1-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

 

I've got an even cheaper suggestion: Ask yourself how much you really need roof storage boxes. I'm not casting stones; I've had two different roof rack set-ups with 4 different sizes of storage boxes, including the ultra-expensive Pelican Cargo series with their quick detach mounting brackets. After using them extensively both while traveling between countries and as a daily driver, I got tired of them and now I don't use any boxes on top. In the rare times I'm really hurting for space inside, I throw lightweight, bulky items on the roof rack in a couple drybags and strap them down. I found roof storage boxes cumbersome to use over time, and inconvenient anytime I needed to pull into a parking structure. In theory it seemed super cool to keep recovery gear up there, and other bulky items I didn't need to get at constantly. I found myself filling them with stuff I really didn't even need. It caused the same backpacking phenomenon of "needing" to fill the cargo space simply because it was there. In reality, I wish I had realized how useless they were before I spent a lot of money and effort on getting them.

 

Jedi has a valid point.

Even the easiest to mount options do take time and effort to setup. They also create wind noise and do rob some mpg. Not to mention parking garages can get risky.

If I'm going on a trip alone I have plenty of storage space. But when I take the wife on multi-day wheeling trips I've found it's very nice to have the option specifically for recovery gear.

 

Thank you for taking your time to help me out. I have already determined that I need such a case. I have four dogs, one big one, three small ones.

 

My 4R is only for camping trips and such. I drive something else for work or around the town.

 

How much can you really store in one of those rifle cases?

Personally, I would check marketplace for a used Thule or Yakima roof box. Yeah, it doesn't look as cool as the tactical rifle cases on your roof, however you can fit more in them and they're cheaper.

 

I need something low profile. I dont need it to look cool. I look cool myself, so there it is. ;-) I dont need such a big box, as yakima or thule. I am carrying my spare tire on my roof rack. I need the box for small items, dog leashes, dog bowls, spare batteries, gloves, some ropes, etc. I can access that easily, I am 6'5" so that is not an issue.

 

I bet you listed that on your dating profile and you had to beat them off with baseball bat.

....5'10" over here.....

I'd go to bars way back when with my 6'4" and 6'5" friends and I basically didn't exist. Now my wife is 4'10" and she thinks I'm, 7' tall and please don't tell her.

.........you need external storage for batteries leaches dog bowls, gloves ropes..?

is everything before gloves and ropes to disguise your kill kit and you want to put it up there in case you get pulled over and the cop peers into your car?

forgive me I guess it's always good to start with why you need a thing but your 'good enough' mantra here comes back to, I just need my partial kill kit out of the car when I'm on the hunt so I don't need to get carried away with Pelican etc

 

I dont have dating profiles. I dont believe in that crap. Sorry.

I started with why and what I need, two years ago. I basically have been going out and have been adjusting and thinking over what I need based on what I do and where I go. I did not start with buying items and then look for the use for them. I also need to carry my spare tire on my roof rack because I am having an auxilliary fuel tank installed next month or so, and a bigger box will not fit my need. I do not hunt.

 

Well yeah you're not going to hunt on a dating app and leave a trail obviously. I only mentioned that to compliment you and deprecate myself so you'd open up a bit which works on people....who dont have kill kits they need to throw up there on the roof rack.

Hey so why do you need the aux fuel tank? So you can hunt far away from you home turf and don't hit gas stations and leave a trail?

 

Thank you for your compliment. I noticed that a bit, but I just do not talk about my height too often. I have been getting comments my whole life, since I got this tall, I think 16 yo or so. I hear, Oh, you are tall, how tall are you, why are you so tall and shit like that. Almost wherever I go. Honest. I kind of regret to have brought that up....I have done nothing to be this tall, cant help the mother nature and genes. I dont judge shorter guys. I do not care and I do not see any benefit of it. So fuck it.

Exactly, you dont have to leave the trail. I want that tank so I dont have to carry any extra jerry cans. With a tank like that, you can just disappear into wilderness and drive around without worrying too much about gas and range. I know it is worth it. Long Range America is the brand, extra 24 gallons. It is something I am very excited about. And yes, I know it will weigh a bit....

 

I only bring up your height to make sure you know the taik you could be drawing in.

I am super curious (without knowing your lift) the different in ride height between empty and full on say kings " lift heavy duty springs.

You been out there much? I've only done probably 5k miles on dirt roads myself. I put some gas in one time out in the mojave when we were out a few days going down every which road.

I could see needing gas if doing the same in death valley.

Otherwise I'm super curious. You ever needed gas? Don't get me wrong. I've been looking at those tanks with long eyes.

 

I have been in situations where you need more gas because you want to travel deeper and farther and then you realize, Oh I gotta go back, not enough gas, only enough to come back, no gas stations around. Such extension allows you to explore more without range anxiety coming sooner. Like, planning routes less with gas stations location around your trails. I have been out a lot, not just in my 4r. Recently, Mendocino county and high sierras, mojave desert for example. Get one, it is worth it.

 

So you don't want to spend much on cases. You put your spare up top to do a pretty extensive mod to double your gas tank. You're from CA where the gas stations are plentiful and you could easily carry a small gas can up top.

Doesn't add up. I was testing the waters on serial killer but...

Everything you're doing is more work, more difficult, more expensive. But it's what I would do...if I was out hunting.

 

LOL

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GOOD BYE.

 

Good luck to you too man

 

$105 Plano All Weather 42” Tactical Gun Case with Wheels, Black with Pluck-to-Fit Foam, Watertight & Dust-Proof Shield Protection, TSA Airline Approved for Travel

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B7SB486?ie=UTF8