Best Honda CR-V Roof Box For Hauling Your Gear

If you are considering getting a roof box for your CR-V, we recommend the Thule Motion XT Rooftop Cargo Carrier as the best Honda CR-V cargo box on the market.

While many assume that the Honda CR-V’s trunk space is generous, that may be true until you need to stick a stroller or a few suitcases in it. Once you’ve got the kids and all your precious cargo to consider, that 39 square feet of trunk space in the Honda CR-V doesn’t go far; putting the second row down isn’t an option when you’re traveling with family.

A rooftop cargo box is the best solution to the problem. Cargo boxes come in different sizes, and with different features, so we know buying one can feel overwhelming if you don’t know what you are looking for. 

There are many cargo box brands on the market, but the most popular are Thule and Yakima. In general, they make very high-quality and practical cargo carriers.

After carefully evaluating and reading all the positive and bad reviews from the actual owners, we have picked the five best cargo boxes Honda CR-V owners should get on their shopping list.

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See also the best cargo boxes for Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot.

The Honda CR-V Cargo Box Review

Check out our top picks for Honda CR-V. You can click on the link to learn more about the features and their latest pricing.

Best Cargo Box for For Honda CR-V: Thule Motion XT Rooftop Cargo Carrier (Large)

With a storage capacity of 16 cubic feet, the Thule Motion XT has more than enough space for your family’s road trips. It looks sleek and stylish for your Honda CR-V. The Glossy Black color looks great, especially when combined with the silver color CR-V.

The cargo box measures 77 inches long and easily accommodates your longer skis or snowboards (maximum 175 cm). Moreover, the wide and tall cargo box provides ample storage space for bags, luggage, camping gear, and other stuff.

Specifications:

• Capacity: 16 cu ft
• Opening: Dual-Side Opening
• Weight Limit: 165 lbs
• Dimensions: 77 x 36 x 17 inches
• Item Weight: 42 lbs

The cutaway design at its back and forward position on the car roof will help minimize the risk of interfering with the tailgate when fully opened. The cargo box is very easy to install and clamp down.

The locking mechanism of this box is intuitive and easy to use. You can hear audible clicks showing that the box has been latched properly.

The key cannot be removed until the box is properly latched, ensuring that you do not accidentally drive the car while the box still opens.

The Thule Motion XT cargo carrier is sturdy and high quality with gloss finishing. It’s pricey, but it’s worth the investment. The box will survive a 2,000 miles trip in all weather with no issue.

Best Large Cargo Box: Thule Force XT Rooftop Cargo Box (X-Large)

Specifications:

• Capacity: 18 cu ft
• Opening: Dual-Side Opening
• Weight Limit: 165 lbs
• Dimensions: 82.75 x 33.75 x 17.25 inches
• Item Weight: 47 lbs

The Thule Force XT might be too long, limiting how much the trunk door can be opened on the CRV, but if you’re looking for a bigger space than 16 cu ft, this could be your choice.

This 18 cubic feet cargo box is so roomy that you can easily accommodate at least 5 to 7 duffel bags or suitcases, freeing up some space in your trunk.

It measures 82.75 inches long that can easily haul a couple of your skis or snowboards up to 195 cm. Being a long carrier, opening and closing it can sometimes feel a bit wonky.

It uses a sturdy central lock system that will latch your box securely, and the box can be opened from either side.

The cargo box uses the same Power click mount hardware as the Thule Motion XT for easy installation. It weighs 47 pounds which is a bit heavier. It could decrease your car’s MPG and increase the wind noise, but that’s the trade-off.

The Thule Force XT cargo box is made from durable ABS plastic construction and is only available in a Black matte finish. It’s not cheap, but it has a lifetime warranty from Thule for your peace of mind.

Most Lightweight: Goplus Cargo Box

Specifications:

• Capacity: 14 cu ft
• Opening: Dual-Side Opening
• Weight Limit: 165 lbs
• Dimensions: ‎63 x 31 x 15 inches
• Item Weight: 25 lbs

If you think the Thule and Yakima are overpriced, the Goplus Cargo Box is a great alternative at an affordable price.

Those having difficulty installing the CR-V roof rack due to its weight will appreciate how lightweight this cargo box is.

It weighs about 25 pounds, makes it easy to attach to the crossbars, and can open on both sides for easy loading and unloading. It has a decent amount of 14 cubic feet for people looking for extra storage. 

This cargo box has an aerodynamic design to cut the wind drag and noise, and it also looks sleek and blends with the CR-V line perfectly. Although it is made from robust ABS plastic material, the top part is not reinforced, probably to save some weight. 

Although the top can be flimsy, the cargo box works great, keeping the items inside safe and dry from any element.

If all you need is a cargo for additional stuff, super easy to install, and you don’t care about the brand, the cargo box from Goplus is the best bang for your money.

Best Narrow Cargo Box: YAKIMA RocketBox Pro Cargo Box

Specifications:

• Capacity: 11 cu ft
• Opening: Dual-Side Opening
• Weight Limit: Gears up to 2 campers
• Dimensions: 89.5 x 25 x 16 inches
• Item Weight: 46.8 lbs

The YAKIMA RocketBox Pro is the narrowest cargo box alongside Thule Sidekick but has a slightly larger volume storage of 11 cubic feet. If you’re into biking or kayaking, it will leave some spaces on the roof rack for your bikes or kayaks.

It is one of the longest cargo boxes that can easily accommodate longer loads like skis. However, you must watch out when positioning it on the roof rack without interfering with the rear hatch. 

The box is made from 80 percent recycled ABS injection-molded plastic, lowering the overall cost and saving the planet. Although not as premium as the Thule cargo boxes, the YAKIMA RocketBox Pro’s overall design is sturdy and solid.

One of the issues that many owners complain about is the poor-quality hinges not sturdy enough to keep the lid open. Sometimes one of them occasionally would fall off the ends. 

The Yakima is a well-known brand, and for this entry-level model, it is a good alternative for additional storage for road trips or everyday use. It opens on both sides, allowing for easy loading and unloading.

Best Bargain: Thule SideKick Rooftop Cargo Box

Specifications:

• Capacity: 8 cu ft
• Opening: Passenger-side opening
• Weight Limit: 75 lbs
• Dimensions: 54 x 25 x 15.5 inches
• Item Weight: 19.85 lbs

The Thule Sidekick is the most basic and one of the oldest cargo boxes since it was introduced in 2003. It is still very popular and has been a favorite choice for first and second-generation CR-V owners. It is one of the cheapest cargo carriers that you could own.

By today’s standard, it has the smallest cargo space (8 cubic feet) and is suitable for keeping small items like camping gear, golf clubs, or backpacks – not for skis.

It can’t handle any load of more than 75 pounds. You can open it from the passenger side, away from traffic.

It is made from polyurethane material, and the overall built quality is acceptable for this price range. The cargo box has a very simple lock mechanism and cannot be latched without a key. The assembly is required, and the installation of this box might take some effort. 

It might not work with some of the roof rack systems. Sometimes, you must drill the holes to attach them to the roof rack. It would be better to check with the manufacturer’s manual before committing to this cargo box.

Should you buy a Thule Sidekick cargo box? If you have a small budget, don’t mind the installation process, and don’t need ample storage, you should consider it. 

Important Things to Consider Before You Buy

When shopping for a range of cargo carriers for your Honda CR-V, you should know that all cargo boxes require a roof rack with crossbars already installed on your CR-V. 

Cargo boxes come with universal mounting hardware that can attach to any crossbar. There are four common types of crossbars:

• Round type
• Square type
• Aerodynamic type
• Original factory crossbars

All Honda CR-V models (LX, Special Edition, EX, EX-L) except the Touring version don’t come with roof rails installed. You can get a genuine Honda roof rack system installed at any Honda car dealer.

If you want more options, there are many aftermarket roof rack systems, but make sure you buy the right one.

How to Install Honda CRV Cargo Roof Rack

Watch the helpful video below if you opt to install the roof rack yourself and have never done it before. Your Honda CR-V model might be different from this video’s, but you get the idea.

FAQ – Honda CR-V Cargo Carriers

Here are some common frequently asked questions about the Honda CR-V cargo box.

Our Verdict- The Best Honda CR-V Roof Box

The combination of large storage, excellent built-quality, and trusted brand makes the Thule Motion XT Rooftop Cargo Carrier our top pick for the best Honda CR-V roof box. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for in this robust cargo carrier, ideal for a family road trip. 

© Family Road Trip 2024