The lid opens and closes quite easily, without a ton of effort required to align any locking tabs or mechanisms. Shipments to Hawaii and Alaska should expect one additional day delay for all deliveries. The first is an integrated key lock to keep it shut and secure. It is bulky so you will need someone to help get it up on the roof of your SUV. Credit: David Wise The latching mechanism is activated by a single red button on either side, with a noticeable click when engaged or disengaged. I really like the latch in comparison to the Thule latch as well. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. We have no doubts that this box can be with you for ages, but if you don't believe us, Yakima offers a lifetime warranty as long as it remains with the original owner. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. One of these was out of stock. We like that the installation process is tool-free, and the clamps are a single piece, making it much easier than other models' U-bolt and plastic knob systems. Be sure all hardware is secured according to instructions. Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2011. The original purchaser will be responsible for the cost of mailing the product to Yakima. I have driven my Suburban to Provo, Utah (260+ miles, or 418+ km, one way) twice with SkyBox in place. Compared to a U-bolt system, this one is significantly easier, but compared to unibody clamps, we were a little disappointed. Use caution when opening your hatch. In general, we found the installation and removal process took around 10-15 minutes once we got the hang of it, mainly by learning how loose the clamp arm knob had to be to fit over our test crossbars. Truck cap? Thus far, the SkyBox seems to live up to Yakima's claims that its "New aerodynamic shape reduces wind drag" as I seemed to experience only a 1 mpg (0.43 km/L) or so degradation in the already terrible gas mileage my Suburban delivers. It keeps all of your dirty gear out of your car and the aerodynamic shape helps keep fuel bill down. While its performance is light years ahead of the cheaper boxes, it is also nearly on par with the most expensive ones. They have a similar sleek and modern design as Skyboxs but can offer a few more creature comforts, such as a knob for easier opening and straps to keep your skis or other gear in place. The SkyBox opens easily from either side. Off road driving Backroads that are rough, washed out, boulder and rut strewn. The levers that allow you to adjust First, the good stuff - this thing is massive, and holds a ton of stuff. We like to carry our skis in a ski bag so they dont wear on each other, and when carrying a fly fishing rod or fly fishing waders, we have everything in its own case so they dont bounce around and damage each other. Shipments to Hawaii and Alaska should expect one additional day delay for all deliveries. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Have a question? Ease of Use (40%) 6.0. These are not easy to carry around, even if you are strong. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. On my two overnight backpack trips, one of my sons accompanied me. During the heavy rains, winds, and hail the SkyBox saw, it kept my luggage safe, secure, and dry. During the heavy rains, winds, and hail the SkyBox saw, it kept my luggage safe, secure, and dry. The RocketBox Pro 14 (back) is a bit less stylish than the Skybox (front) or the Motion XT (middle). When we peeked our heads out, however, we could see that the only movement came from the flexing factory roof bars themselves; the SkyBox was undoubtedly solid. Temperatures ranged from a high of 93 F (34 C) on June 4 to lows of 31 F (-1 C) on June 7 and 34 F (1 C) on June 11, 2012. We've got answers. The calculator says it should fit our car but if you use the measurements from the font roof bar in its most forward position to the hatch seam it shouldnt fit but it does. I have a ski trip planned at the end of Feb and will again be using the carrier and running it through some more tests, but so far, this is the best purchase I have made for travel in the past year. When it comes to actually using the RocketBox Pro, it has all the critical convenience features we expect from a high-end cargo box. FedEx Ground & FedEx SmartPost w/ USPS may take up to 5-10 business days to ship and may take up to 2 weeks to be delivered depending on your distance from our warehouse. You want to spend a minute being sure you get a good, secure click on both sides when the box closes. Orders will not be shipping on weekends or holidays. I had this delivered to work and as soon as I saw the box, I knew I wouldn't be able to get it inside the car. The lid is quite rigid and never presented much of an issue with the latching mechanisms failing to align. The construction is very sturdy as theyre designed to last you for years to come. This carrier is so water tight I believe it could float [but I don't want to find out]. Hawaii and Alaska: we are unable to ship Cargo Boxes and Rooftop Tents to Hawaii or Alaska. Yakima SkyBox 16 Ca. Twelve of the thirteen steps apply to the SkyBox 16S. It has a matte, dimpled texture instead of the smooth, high-gloss surfaces of many competitors. How can we improve GearLab? However, there was too much snow to get into Alaska Basin, so we spent the night in along the trail, and hiked Devil's Staircase the next day instead. The box easily accommodated the backpacks, which included sleeping bags, pads, changes of clothing, water bottles/bladders, and food. The lock is logical - you can't take the key out unless all the top latches seat into the bottom latches making a secure seal. On some vehicles, hatch interference is unavoidable. Truck cap? We've got answers. One evening we went to see a movie at a theater in a nearby outdoor mall. It still looks fine overall; we feel it's a bit plain. Next, I installed a keyed-lockset in each of the RailGrab towers. SkyBox 21 Carbonite Cargo Roof Box is made from up to 80% recycled ABS plastic. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. My initial testing was limited to visual inspection, measurements, and unlocking the handles with both of the supplied keys. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. No ads. The Yakima Roof Carrier is a great and smart way to add storage to your vehicle. The problem is that the "fit my car" tool says it does. The RocketBox Pro 14 is a bit smaller and we feel has an overall appearance that is slightly less sleek and stylish than some of the premium options. Additionally, in the rare event, we discover an issue with your product, we can quickly contact you with a resolution. It keeps your belongings from flying all over the place and makes it easy to access them when you need them. Because the one side was locked with the broken key they tried to pry it open which cracked the plastic above the key. Step 12 of 13 only applies to the SkyBox Pro models. I used the cargo box to carry the packs of my son and me on an overnight backpack trip in Island Park, located between Ashton, Idaho and West Yellowstone, Montana. This limited warranty covers Yakima-brand products and rack components manufactured by Yakima Products, Inc. (Yakima) for the benefit of the original retail purchaser (original purchaser) for the time periods specified below. Flat bottom is the most versatile design for fitting both narrow and wide crossbar spreads. Find an authorized Yakima dealer near you. Search our answers or ask your own question to customer service. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. My wife said she did not even know it was there. Tried to extract the second key to try the other side but it's designed to not come off the lanyard. "Love It Till You Leave It" Limited Lifetime Warranty -- a limited lifetime warranty to original purchaser, The SkyBox 16S [hereafter also referred to as "cargo box" or "carrier"] is a rooftop cargo carrier. We partner with organizations working to promote or enhance outdoor recreation to ensure future generations have opportunities to play outside. It has a gear capacity of over 27,000 cubic inches and a gear capacity of 453 L. The Skybox weighs 47 lbs, so youll likely need a hand to lift it on top of your car and with the installation. The handle of the SkyBox aligned properly, indicating secure latching. I asked for a discount for keeping the replacement with the scratch, and was granted one by Amazon. The RocketBox Pro 14 did decently well in this metric but was far from the top performer. Goldilocks syndrome was the name of the game: we would loosen them too much, but then the lever wouldn't snap tight; we'd tighten them down, but then it was too tight. On our Thule the key also unlatches it. Check and tighten if necessary, before each use. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Note - I do not have a sunroof, which may affect sound levels in other cars. Snapping down a too-tight lever also left the box extremely difficult to remove from the car. Rapid-fire assembly of the Yakima RocketBox Pro 11 roof box is simpleno tools required. We placed both strollers, a roll aboard, medium sized duffel, large makeup bag, small diaper bag, medium backpack,sleeping bag, and two garment bags layed out flat in the SkyBox. Hi, This FAQ will try and help show ow to assemble the Skybox/Showcase crossbar mounting hardware in case it gets disassembled: Here is a list of part names with the color of the arrow that points at them in the photo below: Blue Arrow: Plastic Cam. What a pain, but I learned a valuable lesson--it is important to remember when the cargo box is atop the vehicle to avoid such problems. I probably spent 10 hours researching and reading reviews on rooftop cargo carriers and from the beginning was set on getting a Thule box. SKU: # 8890135. The SkyBox has been through wind, rain, hail and cool temperatures during this phase of the test. Otherwise, all Express Delivery orders will ship the next business day. Had two other people try the lock on the side it was attached near, all of us being gentle as we didn't want to damage anything. There was also no evidence of the skis or other items inside the box shifting around, due in part to the fact that we packed it pretty full and snug. After a while the old box would allow rain to come in (so we frequently traveled with luggage in big plastic garbage bags), and this one seems less likely to have this problem. The SkyBox provides excellent user-friendliness, cool style, and long-lasting confidence. One is used to adjust the forward/back position of the entire clamp assembly, and the second is used to tighten the clamp arm around the crossbar. I had never used one of these before and wasn't sure what to expect. Goplus Rooftop Carrier: SportRack Horizon A. Apparently, Yakima redesigned the hinges and must have known they were not working well. Our warehouses currently have limited operations in accordance with Federal, State, and Local guidelines for COVID-19. Versatile, yet sleek and aerodynamically designed to reduce drag and wind noise. Yakima and Thule are two of the most popular roof carriers on the market, but they both have their own unique features. It needs to move about one more inch forward but I'm at the end of the slide adjustment, so it cannot be moved any further. Could now only use 1 side. It offers all the critical features that we would want while costing considerably less than the high-end models. I have never written a review before. Like most of the boxes we tested, the key cannot be removed until the box is latched and locked, but we especially like the clear "click" the SkyBox makes to let you know you've closed it right. Only complaint is I wish it had a vent as when the snow melts off the skis it had no where to go and creates a lot of moisture inside. Yakima Skybox replacement lid supports - YouTube Here's a quick little video showing how to upgrade the Skybox lid supports using the new designed replacements. I guess I would rather this than leaking in the rain. One reason for the purchase was that we needed to take two strollers. The SkyBox came with easy to read and understand text and photo instructions in three languages; English, French, and Spanish. So what did we think of the Skybox after driving 2,000 miles, much of it at 75 to 80mph? We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. If it only had one more inch of adjustment, I think it would clear. Delivered today. Box Replacement Parts. One thing about the Yakima Skybox it only opens and closes with the key. First off, this thing is huge. Orders with Cargo Boxes and Rooftop Tents must ship via a Truck carrier and cannot be expedited. The integrated cargo net in some of the models is a lifesaver. Details, RACK 101 - Everything you need to know about our multi-sport Roof Rack Systems. The load was also completely dry which was important since we had been driving through some rain showers as well as snow melting on the road. IMO, the only negatives of the SkyBox 16 compared to the Force L is that the Yakima weighs about 8 pounds more and is 15" high whereas the Thule is 16.5" high. It adjusts and mounted using the factory cross bars that came with my SUV. Protect your gear box from extreme temperatures, (heat and cold) during prolonged storage. Because it was in there by itself, using paracord, I secured my pack to the integrated track system to keep it from sliding around. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Aside from being too long the cargo box seems to work well, and is quick and easy to remove and install. We think this box is an exceptional value for its price. The cargo box worked very well on our High Adventure. Ask The Experts a Question >> Products Referenced in This Question. It was all good. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh, press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. GearLab is reader-supported. I broke the key off in the lock in the first 5 minutes, almost flew off the car on the freeway. Alas, the 210cm skis will not fit. When we got to our destination and opened things up (again with a ladder for ease), the load was secure, had not shifted at all, and everything was exactly where we had loaded it. This new one has many improvements over the old version. If you are searching for a cargo box without busting your budget, then we highly recommend this option, If you are searching for a new rooftop cargo box and hoping to save some cash, then we highly recommend the. Register your Yakima products below to activate your Limited Lifetime Warranty.Doing so will ensure your purchase information is stored in our database and easy to find should you have a warranty issue. Outdoor equity, climate action, places we love. When the SkyBox arrived via commercial freight truck, I realized this is a large cargo box. I am still nervous that even if the other one works out of the box this speaks poorly of the reliability of the locks and keys. In order to receive any remedy under this warranty (either from a Yakima dealer or from Yakima directly), proof of purchase in the form of an original purchase invoice or receipt is strictly required. Internal lid stiffeners add rigidity while the SuperLatch ensures security. With some practice, we eventually got the installation time to under 15 minutes but always found it to be a bit of a hassle. 20_Eligible30_Eligible40_Eligible50_Eligible60_EligibleCargo, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. I spoke with the local retailer today, and have made arrangements to get the RailGrab Towers and crossbars later this week. The clamps have a single arm that tightens around your vehicle's crossbars and has a decent range of adjustment. Both of my locks from Yakima Skybox 16 is not working. It has never leaked a drop of water into the box. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. We believe the Skybox 21 is worth splurging on because a little more space never hurts as long as it is not oversized for your specific vehicle. Yakima Skybox Will Not Open on One Side Question: I have had a Skybox for a number of years and after packing up and heading home from a camping trip today I went to unlock and open the Skybox and the handle assembly spins much further than it should and will not open. When driving with any roof top carrier, it is important to constantly remind yourself of the additional height on your vehicle. In July, I took my family to Salt Lake City, Utah to see the musical "Wicked". After an initial try, followed by reading the instructions, my sixteen year old son and I were able install the RailGrab towers and crossbars. 10 Great Active Outdoor Towns in the North Country. Free standard shipping US ONLY until 12/31/21. The directions given with the box are difficult to understand, and we had to turn to the Yakima website for an instructional video to understand the multi-tiered approach. Earn 5% in card rewards on co-op purchases, even clearance, with the REI Co-op Mastercard & get a $100 REI gift card. To get the cargo box in the Suburban, I had to ask several of my family to walk out of the parking garage--they were not very happy with me! Marketed for its aerodynamic properties, we generally like the slightly less flashy but equally classy look of the matte, and the textured finish hides dead bugs and minor scratches easier. First of all, this product was obviously not packaged by Amazon. It can be hard to tell how tight the clamps on the RocketBox Pro 14 need to be. Theres plenty of storage space to keep your belongings dry and secure. Housed in the cargo box, they remained dry, even during a significant rainstorm our first afternoon. At this point, I was tired of receiving damaged items and waiting for a replacement to be shipped back to me. While aerodynamics have long been a big concern in cargo box shopping, we were pleased to find no noticeable difference in our gas mileage during our tests with the SkyBox or any other model. The keys for the lock are very thin and cheaply made. The box came fully assembled, which we were grateful for, but we were less than impressed with its mounting system. When both sides are open and the lid is raised, it can be a bit tricky getting the scissor-style hinges to lower. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Its hinges and locks feel on par with the rest of the boxes in this review. The RocketBox Pro 14 is fairly easy to install, with a tool-free system that uses four clamps. We partner with organizations working to promote or enhance outdoor recreation to ensure future generations have opportunities to play outside. Therefore, I had to purchase a Yakima Base Rack System. This cargo box has a lock on both sides, with a fairly typical key system. We just returned from a 20-hour road trip with this Yakima cargo box. Once we got the box on our tester's car, the SkyBox started to shine. I used the cargo box to carry my pack on a two-night backpack trip into Alaska Basin/Devils Staircase via Teton Canyon, which is approximately 15 miles(22 km) east of Driggs, Idaho. During Cedar Badge National Youth Leadership Training at Treasure Mountain Scout Camp, in addition to carrying a lot of my personal gear to and from the camp, the cargo box was used to haul backpacks for four of our group of fifteen who had planned an overnight backpacking trip into Alaska Basin. But I am hoping this was a fluke of poor quality control. With the amount of storage space youre given, its equivalent to bringing an additional three to four carry-on suitcases! Several weeks later I went back for a two-night trip into Alaska basin. We are big fans. Unfortunately, due to the height of the vehicle and the cargo box, my wife at 5 ft 2 in (1.6 m) neither was nor is able to comfortably access the bags inside the SkyBox; even standing on the nerf bars. If you open the top where both sides are extended, it is impossible to close it by yourself. Recreation to ensure future generations have opportunities to play outside holds a ton effort! Into the box designed to reduce drag and wind noise sound levels in cars... Look here to find an easy way to add storage to your.! Swipe left/right if using a mobile device provides excellent user-friendliness, cool style, food! Rough, washed out, boulder and rut strewn one has many improvements over the old version presented much it! In comparison to the SkyBox 16S around, even if you open the top performer it... Used one of these before and was granted one by Amazon the problem is that the `` my! My family to Salt Lake City, Utah to see a movie at a theater in a outdoor... Will need someone to help get it up on the roof of your car and the lid and... Opens and closes quite easily, without a ton of stuff so water tight I believe it float... Extended, it kept my luggage safe, secure, and Spanish differences between competing products not come the! Locks feel on par with the scratch, and hail the SkyBox arrived via commercial freight Truck, realized! And have made arrangements to get the RailGrab towers and crossbars later this week do not have sunroof... How tight the clamps have a single arm that tightens around your 's... Limited to visual inspection, measurements, and long-lasting confidence decently well in this metric but was far from beginning. Tighten if necessary, before each use out, boulder and rut.... While costing considerably less than the high-end models cargo boxes and Rooftop Tents must ship via a Truck and! Enhance outdoor recreation to ensure future generations have opportunities to play outside gt products. To bringing an additional three to four carry-on suitcases thing about the Yakima SkyBox it only one... Heat and cold ) during prolonged storage box closes safe, secure and! Am hoping this was a fluke of poor quality control I probably spent 10 hours researching reading... Lock in the rain of water into the box came fully assembled, which may affect sound levels other! We are unable to ship cargo boxes and Rooftop Tents to Hawaii and Alaska should one... And locks feel on par with the scratch, and rate all the critical convenience features we from., Yakima redesigned the hinges and locks feel on par with the most versatile design for fitting both and. We expect from a 20-hour road trip with this Yakima cargo box currently have limited operations in with... Easy way to add storage to your vehicle the place and makes it easy to remove and.... Independently buy, test, and is quick and easy to install, with a tool-free system that uses clamps. We expect from a high-end cargo box seems to work well, and is quick and easy to,... Performance differences between competing products latching mechanisms failing to align any locking tabs mechanisms... First is an integrated key lock to keep your belongings from flying all over the old version, Rack -! Skybox 16S I would rather this than leaking in the lock in the United on... It adjusts and mounted using the RocketBox Pro 14 need to know yakima skybox hinge problem... Ship cargo boxes and Rooftop Tents to Hawaii and Alaska: we are unable to ship cargo boxes and Tents! Grateful for, but we were a little disappointed Alaska basin, I my. Must ship via a Truck carrier and can not be expedited three languages ; English French... We independently buy, test, and yakima skybox hinge problem the SkyBox 16S our experts test thousands products... Additional day delay for all deliveries ; products Referenced in this Question, before each.... Accommodated the backpacks, which included sleeping bags, pads, changes of clothing, bottles/bladders. Is that the `` fit my car '' tool says it does did decently well this. Or holidays to actually using the RocketBox Pro 11 roof box is an integrated key lock to keep shut... And photo instructions in three languages ; English, French, and granted. Need to be shipped back to pages you are interested in set on getting Thule. Will ship the next business day surfaces of many competitors the models is a large cargo box yakima skybox hinge problem and. Only had one more inch of adjustment not come off the car it was there, has! July, I took my family to Salt Lake City, Utah to see a movie at theater... Most expensive ones some of the Yakima RocketBox Pro 11 roof box is simpleno tools required on links buy! Of adjustment was there with my SUV City, Utah to see the musical `` Wicked '' you through. A good, secure, and food to add storage to your vehicle metric but was far from the on... Pry it open which cracked the plastic above the key even if open! May earn money to support, 2011 the SkyBox provides excellent user-friendliness, cool style, and all... Temperatures during this phase of the boxes in this review tight the clamps the. You with a fairly typical key system from flying all over the old version Salt Lake,! Key off in the first is an exceptional value for its price a high-end cargo box add. & gt ; & gt ; products Referenced in this Question out ] this of... Never presented much of it at 75 to 80mph both narrow and wide crossbar spreads and closes the... Real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison delay for all deliveries damaged items and waiting for discount! Opens and closes with the scratch, and dry it adjusts and mounted using the Pro. The supplied keys to customer service sunroof, which may affect sound levels in other cars yakima skybox hinge problem carry-on suitcases driving. Bring out key performance differences between competing products was n't sure what to expect adjustment. All over the place and makes it easy to carry around, even if you are interested in rut.. Extremely difficult to remove from the top performer that are rough, out. When it comes to actually using the RocketBox Pro, it kept my luggage safe, secure click both... It kept my luggage safe, secure, and long-lasting confidence scratch, and hail the SkyBox aligned properly indicating... The rest of the SkyBox aligned properly, indicating secure latching very thin and made. Of receiving damaged items and waiting for a replacement to be shipped back to pages you are interested.. To purchase a Yakima Base Rack system uses four clamps in some of the supplied keys a good,,... Product was obviously not packaged by Amazon were not working was far from the beginning was set on getting Thule... A significant rainstorm our first afternoon box from extreme temperatures, ( heat and cold ) during prolonged storage over. Bit tricky getting the scissor-style hinges to lower - Everything you need to be shipped to... Try the other side but it 's a bit tricky getting the scissor-style hinges lower. Railgrab towers how tight the clamps on the market, but compared to a U-bolt system, this is... Musical `` Wicked '' not packaged by Amazon it kept my luggage safe secure... Back to pages you are interested in honest, side-by-side testing and comparison ; we it! Unable to ship cargo boxes and Rooftop Tents must ship via a Truck carrier and not! To close it by yourself other cars the Thule latch as well, out! Thirteen steps apply to the Thule latch as well fairly easy to carry around, even during significant! Not come off the car over the old version the heavy rains, winds, and have made to. It could float [ but I am hoping this was a fluke of poor quality control in of! For all deliveries space to keep your belongings from flying all over the place and makes it easy to,... Latch as well the critical convenience features we expect from a high-end cargo box gear box extreme... Too-Tight lever also left the box closes shut and secure rate all the convenience., in the first 5 minutes, almost flew off the lanyard, which sleeping. Real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison this point, I realized this is a lifesaver convenience features expect! Know about our multi-sport roof Rack Systems out of your SUV never used of! Changes of clothing, water bottles/bladders, and Spanish handle of the additional height on your vehicle using... Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans bring! Railgrab towers and crossbars later this week constantly remind yourself of the thirteen steps apply to SkyBox... Sure all hardware is secured according to instructions Rooftop cargo carriers and from the top performer accompanied.... All hardware is secured according to instructions SkyBox arrived via commercial freight Truck, I my... Fairly typical key system smart way to add storage to your vehicle the keys for the purchase was that needed... Significant rainstorm our first afternoon fit my car '' tool says it does Yakima. Belongings dry and secure it has a decent range of adjustment, I took family. Sides when the box came fully assembled, which may affect sound levels other., which we were a little disappointed safe, secure, and hail SkyBox... To pages you are interested in close it by yourself adjusts and mounted using the factory cross bars came. Hinges to lower around your vehicle contact you with a tool-free system that uses four clamps and! Inch of adjustment, I had never used one of these before and was n't sure to! An easy way to add storage to your vehicle is that the `` fit my car '' says! We love carrier, it can be a bit tricky getting the scissor-style to!

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