Clam Shell things for the top of Van

[Tweevil]

Hi Guys!
I am getting ready for our Oct trip and thought that extra room in the van would be great as there are 5 of us going.

Does anyone drive and use one of those clam shell luggage holders or know of something else we could use to put some cargo up top? We are staying at the POP so I need to bring a fridge/coffee pot so I need the extra space inside for those.

I thought about putting one of the kids up on top and strapping my dear coffee pot in their safety seat but I think it may be frowned upon.

Are they easy to secure and about how much are they?

Thanks for your help!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

We have a Thule, which is top of the line. We paid about $350 for it 8 yrs ago, and it worked great on our Escape. It was roomy enough for our luggage and 2 pack-n-plays, a stroller, and some misc scrunchable stuff. We didn't need it for the Expedition, but I'm going to try it on our Vue this next trip.

It's much, much cheaper to buy a vinyl or cordura one, and they work well, too. Mom and Dad had one of those for the top of the station wagon when we were kids. It's not quite as secure, as it could be slit open with a knife, but really, it's luggage. How many people are going to be desperate enough to steal your clothes and toiletries? Seems like you can get cordura at Walmart for around $40-50.

Before that, they wrapped the suitcases in plastic garbage bags and closed them with duct tape, then put them straight on the luggage rack, which is also a good option.

 

[LWatson]

I still see plenty of the tarped over and duct taped luggage today.

I have one I got at Target for like $30 that is really good and its canvas. I used it for a 3 day trip from Nashville to El Paso. I did have to buy the cross bars to use since our Sorento didnt have them, and that was the most expensive thing at $180. But, I fit a lot into that. It also stores easily...just fold it up and put it away. You dont have a big thing to store. It rained every day of the trip back too and the stuff on the inside was still dry even though it was just canvas.

We have a Thule, which is top of the line. We paid about $350 for it 8 yrs ago, and it worked great on our Escape. It was roomy enough for our luggage and 2 pack-n-plays, a stroller, and some misc scrunchable stuff. We didn't need it for the Expedition, but I'm going to try it on our Vue this next trip.

It's much, much cheaper to buy a vinyl or cordura one, and they work well, too. Mom and Dad had one of those for the top of the station wagon when we were kids. It's not quite as secure, as it could be slit open with a knife, but really, it's luggage. How many people are going to be desperate enough to steal your clothes and toiletries? Seems like you can get cordura at Walmart for around $40-50.

Before that, they wrapped the suitcases in plastic garbage bags and closed them with duct tape, then put them straight on the luggage rack, which is also a good option.

 

[tnkr mom]

They are easy if you have a luggage rack already! We use ours for our gang of 5 in a Suburban for our family shore and mountain trips. We have not driven to Florida yet. Bunch of friends have also borrowed it to get their kids to/from college!

 

[PrincessMickey]

I have one and we love it. I let my parents borrow it awhile back but they haven't been able to get it back to me yet. They are in CO we are in PA. I was really hoping I could get it in time for our trip but that is not happening. Instead of buying a new one we ended up getting the canvas one. It holds alot more than it looks like and the more that's up there is less stuff in the car. There's lots of options when buying one. You can get it to open on the driver's side or on the passenger side. We chose passenger side in case we had to stop on the side of the road or something it would be easier to get into without being close to traffic. Ours uses a padlock thing to keep secure so we usully carry one key and leave another one in the glove box in case the other gets lost.

 

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

Its funny you ask about that.....we are having one put on our venture van tomorrow. Getting it for our trip to Florida next Sunday!

We have the rack up there already, we are just missing the crossbars which they will install tomorrow.
Ours is called the Thule Ascent 1700 cargo box. It is a hardcovered one. $430. It opens on both the driver and passenger sides and is weatherproof.

We have a family of 7, so the back end of the van is always stacked to the ceiling. Definetaly needed the extra room. Plus we travel alot, so it will get alot of use.

 

[Tweevil]

Crossbars....hmmm.... I am actually renting a van for the 5 of us. Does the canvas one need those?

Is this something that will mess up the top of the van? I usually get a Kia something or other and it has the metal bars on the top. Is that good to strap things to or no?

I think I am going to have to get one of the canvas ones - well... if you guys tell me the metal bars are good to secure it with.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[LWatson]

The one we have does require them.

Crossbars....hmmm.... I am actually renting a van for the 5 of us. Does the canvas one need those?

Is this something that will mess up the top of the van? I usually get a Kia something or other and it has the metal bars on the top. Is that good to strap things to or no?

I think I am going to have to get one of the canvas ones - well... if you guys tell me the metal bars are good to secure it with.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[mjkacmom]

Ours is on our van right now (just got back for camping). It's an old, old model, $25 10 years ago at a garage sale, and is still going strong. However, I might have to get a trailer, because when camping, the kids are still buried under blankets and pillows!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

It depends on the model you get. Some of the canvas ones don't even need a luggage rack on top - they have clips that go on the door frame to hold the canvas in place.

With that type of arrangement (ie, no bars to take the weight) you will be limited to under 100# of luggage on top, maybe less.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

double post

 

[disneymarie]

We flew about 11 days ago and ds family went auto train. TO drive back with them I had a cordura type UPS from the dealer sent down to the resort. It had 8 straps to tie down. Only issue I had for the $53 i spent it held the huge suitcase, the two duffles about 20 " and dirty clothes. If I did not use the large case and had everything in duffels it would have been better. It did free up enough room for the drive back to PA. I put plastic over the cases just in case the zipper leaked.

I was disappointed in how small it was about 3 ft buy 42 inches by 13 :" high. 13 cubic feet.
So to do it with more planning I would have gotten something 21" high, 3 ft by 5 ft. I saw SAMS club, or the better price was at Uhaul online store for a great size one.

The good thing was, it was only about 8 lbs total weight.
I have no use to keep it though. It is way smaller then the one online I wanted, the smaller one shipped is far too small except to free up for a couple or putting baby items in out of the way.
dianne

 

[DonnaBelle06]

I am glad I saw this post...(sorry to jump in with a question)...

I am thinking of buying one of those canvas ones for our Aug trip (even though there are just 4 of us in our 3 row Explorer - it would be a lot less stored IN the car if we could put certain items "up", and we too are bringing our own fridge to use while we are there and not renting one (for the price of renting - we could buy our own).

My biggest worry is leaking.....any input greatly appreciated!

 

[bch044]

I guess this makes me cheap but I just take the truck and throw all the stuff in the bed including refridge and micro and kids if they act up!! and if i drive fast enough nothing gets wet or it dries right away.

 

[disneymarie]

I am glad I saw this post...(sorry to jump in with a question)...

I am thinking of buying one of those canvas ones for our Aug trip (even though there are just 4 of us in our 3 row Explorer - it would be a lot less stored IN the car if we could put certain items "up", and we too are bringing our own fridge to use while we are there and not renting one (for the price of renting - we could buy our own).

My biggest worry is leaking.....any input greatly appreciated!

I did not have anything get wet/soaked and we had heavy rain.....
BUT,I did use the big ZipLock XXL bags and XL for the suit cases and duffles.
I did have my biggest case did not fit and had a big bag they brought extra pillows to my room in I kept to put that case in. But the carrie was to be water proof, not water resistant. It was very water proof I think the zipper area took some water in, not much. So some dampness, on out bags in that area. No clothing inside was wet.

The best case I would buy is the one from the Uhaul site....
I did not have time to wait for it, but size and water protection areo dynamics it is the best for $$$.

I had room in my $50 one for a lg suitcase, roll on 20" and totes, laundry, wet shoe bag.
The U Haul Platapus is more for few suitcase full size, duffles and xtras. Plus very water proff and affordable.

I only had 13' feet storage, 13 inches high....NOT BIG ENOUGH!!!!!!

 

[alexb]

We bought a hard shell car top carrier from Sears about 10 years ago, I think we paid about $125-150 for it and have gotten a lot of use from it. It was the biggest hard shell that anyone made (I think ~20 cubic feet) and was a lot less expensive than some of the other brands. It has a key lock and we've never had any problems with security. It's light enough that I can put it on and take it off by myself (I'm 6'4" so that helps) and we've used it on an Explorer and our Odyssey. It does require crossbars. We have driven through rainstorms and everything has stayed dry. I've find that duffle bags or soft luggage works best in them.