Luggage on the roof?

[LaOutbackTrail]

So, Instead of buying a fancy rooftop luggage carrier thing...that just sucks the life (gas mileage) out of you rig. What otherways have you carried your luggage on the roof without it getting wet?

I am entertaining the idea of getting a brand new tarp (8x10 or smaller) laying it where the extra is towards the hood, putting the bags (likely clothing) starting below the halfway point of the tarp and then folding the extra back over the top of it and then rolling the edges under. Hold everything down with cam straps and rope. This would be on the roof itself. Below the Xterra roof rails.

Has anyone done this with an off the shelf heavy duty tarp with good results?

Share your ideas.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Moody]

Has anyone done this with an off the shelf heavy duty tarp with good results?

Share your ideas.

Thanks,
Scott

I had good luck with my first tarp until it rained, and then turned to snow. All of the gear was wet somewhere, and some was soaked...

Check these out:

http://www.springbar.com/shop/products.php?cat=18

A local company here in town makes them. You would probably just want the smallest one.

 

[paulj]

A streamlined hardbox may be better for gas mileage than a lumpy load wrapped in a flapping tarp. It certainly does a better job at keeping gear dry.

paulj

 

[grahamfitter]

FYI you can get completely waterproof duffel bags you could strap to the roof: Link to item on Sierra Trading Post. There are other manufacturers too.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[HMR]

FYI you can get completely waterproof duffel bags you could strap to the roof: Link to item on Sierra Trading Post. There are other manufacturers too.

Cheers,
Graham

Those bags are made by Seattle Sports and work great. I have many thousands of miles hauling them on my motorcycles and rooftop.

 

[BriansFJ]

Check out these: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20131&hasJS=true

I haven't tried them but it looks like what you might find useful...

Brian
Woodland Park, CO

 

[HenryJ]

A streamlined hardbox may be better for gas mileage than a lumpy load wrapped in a flapping tarp. It certainly does a better job at keeping gear dry.

paulj

Comes in handy for the dry desert too. No grungy dirty stuff.

Under $200 from Sears.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Comes in handy for the dry desert too. No grungy dirty stuff.

Under $200 from Sears.

What was the MPG impact?

 

[adrenaline503]

I would would suggest a few large dry bags used for kayaking. I have had a few Seattle Sport ones for years now, never a leak or failure. Worth their cost the first time you use them. Another great feature is you fill it up with some water, camp suds and dirty laundry. Shake and soak. Then rinse. I usually keep one with clean clothes and one with dirty. Anyways, here is a link to what REI carries:

http://www.rei.com/Search.do?query=...+Canoeing^cat,4500274:Paddling+Bags+and+Packs

 

[Bergger]

I've been looking at these BigFoot Bags. It looks like you can get more use out of it than an ordinary bag.