Thule cargo box review

When we first got our minivan in 2004 we were amazed by how much room we had. What is even more amazing is how much stuff you bring with you when you have three kids! We were finding ourselves stuffing clothes and toys around the car seats because the trunk was full with a stroller, highchair, diapers, etc. To find a solution I looked to the other people movers on the highway and saw that they were all using rooftop carriers of one sort or another.

After doing some research, both on the road and online, we settled on the Thule Cascade 1500 Rooftop Cargo Box which we purchased through Amazon (no tax and free shipping). A few days after it arrived we tested it out on a trip to Maryland. Here’s what we found:

• This thing is BIG. Lots of storage room. Not heavy, but it would be tricky for a shorter person to put on top of a minivan. I’m 6′4″ with long arms so it was cake for me.
• Initial setup gave me a little trouble, mainly because I did it in the dark without reading the instructions. After I figured out how to do it correctly it is now a 5 minute job to put on and take off.
• The clamping system is not only easy, but extremely secure. Doesn’t budge at all.
• This model opens and locks on either side. Great feature.
• We noticed no difference in our mileage. Our van gets low 20s mpg and seemed to stay the same. Any decrease could easily be attributed to the extra weight of all the stuff we’re carrying.
• Looks good. I was worried about the smooth plastic getting scratched, but after a half dozen trips it still looks new.

Overall this was a great purchase for us. I love being able to store most of our bags up top and not stacking stuff around the kids. Extremely easy to install and the minivan doesn’t handle any differently while driving. The only downside is that the box is a large item to store when not in use. We now use it for all our trips, even short weekend visits. If you’re interested in getting a rooftop carrier, checkout the Thule site to see what fits on your car.

If you live in the New England area, Thule is looking for testers! Great way to get a freebie!

Yakima is another brand I’ve heard good things about. I chose Thule because of my Amazon prime membership. Free shipping on such a large item is a great motivator.