Which cargo rack should I get for a cross-country drive?
I have a 2001 Honda Civic coupe and will be making a cross-country trip. I looking into a cargo rack to outfit my Civic but I'm not sure how much to spend and which brand to go with (Thule, Yakima, or Saris.) The rack will probably only be used for a rooftop storage bag. If you could suggest a rack model I would greatly appreciate your help. Pete Lptey Fairfax, Virginia
Other than that, all the major brand-name racks made are really, really good. I use Yakima stuff, but that's not necessarily an endorsement as the one to get. I will say this: Yakima's Loadwarrior basket ($275) is an incredibly useful attachment. I was able to stick mine right onto the factory rack on my Subaru Outback. But it also fits to any Yakima or other maker crossbar set. Bike racks or other accessories attach right to the Loadwarrior, leaving plenty of room for duffel bags or other gear. On a car like the Civic, you'd be creating an enormous amount of very flexible hauling space for everything from camping gear to bags of garden mulch. If you wanted to go all-Yakima, then the Q Towers fit your car ($309 for the set, with crossbars).
In Thule's line, the analogous setup would include the Aero Foot Pack, crossbars and perhaps a short roof adapter kit. About $300. Thule's Playpen basket ($250) is similar to the Loadwarrior. In Saris, you'd use the 50-inch Load Bar ($219). I haven't used Saris racks, but their reputation is very good and they have incorporated some "clean sheet" technology whereas Yakima and Thule are a little encumbered by past designs. The Saris racks tighten from one side, for instance.
A Kanga Roofpouch, by the way, ties nicely into any of these after-market racks.
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