How to Safely Pack and Use a Rooftop Carrier
Install the car top carrier on the roof of your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s directions before packing any items into the carrier. Double check to make sure the carrier is secure before loading. The Product Support section of our website has a Roof System Mounting Guide that will help you with the installation.
Do a bit of advance planning by laying out the items to be packed on the ground next to your vehicle. Sort the items by weight and size. In general, place lighter items in the carrier and heavier items like coolers in the trunk or inside of the car. Not only does this help reduce the risk of a back injury, it also protects your stuff.
Be aware of the weight limits of your cargo carrier plus the weight limits of your vehicle’s rooftop rails and crossbars. Never exceed the manufacturer’s limits as this could result in serious personal injury.
Use a sturdy stepping stool or ladder when loading or unloading the car top carrier, especially when handling heavier items. Don’t risk a back injury or some other personal injury by using unsafe loading techniques. Lighter items may be loaded by stepping on the side running boards or the inside of the car door opening.
Pack the larger and heavier items first into the cargo carrier. Place lighter items on top. Wedge softer items that can’t be damaged (blankets, clothing, linens) around the edges to fill in empty spaces.
If possible, don’t leave empty spaces in the rooftop carrier. Otherwise, your items will shift during travel and this could cause damage to the contents. Heavier items could push against the smaller items and fragile items may get damaged. Excessive shifting could also gradually loosen the rooftop carrier from the vehicle.
Don’t pack glass or other breakables in your carrier.
Is your car top carrier waterproof? Consider this when decided which stuff to pack in the car.
Lock your car top carrier! This reduces your risk of loss of property. You’ll appreciate not needing to worry about your stuff when you’re parked overnight in a hotel parking lot.
Re-check and secure your rooftop carrier at frequent intervals during your trip.
Take care when parking your vehicle to ensure that the car top carrier won’t brush against low-hanging tree branches or bump into a garage door opening.
Enjoy the convenience of your new car top carrier! The more you use it the more comfortable you will be with it, just like installing a bike rack or setting up a tent.
Off-Season Storage? You may want to consider the THULE Storage Lift which provides a handy way to store your cargo carrier up and out of the way in your garage. Find it in our Car Top Carrier Accessories section of our website. Protect the finish of your car top carrier by cleaning it according to the manufacturer’s directions after each use. |
