Rooftop storage?

[brian_r_baker]

Has anyone looked in to rooftop storage options for their Vibe? I looked at Yakima's website. The only thing they suggest is a "basket" ( http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8007012_6.html). The down side is that the gear wouldn't be protected against the weather. You'd have to use on of the soft-sided bags for that, I think. If I was going to do that, I would think I could use a soft-sided bag (like http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8007073_6.html) directly on the standard roof rack.Thoughts?
[Modified by brian_r_baker, 6:39 PM 8/9/2002]

[NSimkins]

quote:Has anyone looked in to rooftop storage options for their Vibe? I have not looked into rooftop storage particularly for the Vibe yet, but I am mostly used to dealing with those hard-shelled type cargo rooftop storage containers. I guess it depends on what you are going to put up there, whether it can be exposed to the weathter elements, needs to be locked down securely from being stolen, etc...Here is a link to a thread already started on this forum pertaining to this topic. It may or may not help you but at least it's a start. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=513
[Modified by NSimkins, 11:59 PM 8/9/2002]

[brian_r_baker]

Thanks for the link; the item from Cabela's looks like it might be a good option.I think the biggest trick for rooftop storage on the Vibe is it's small amount of usable roof space. Leaving room for the antenna and hatch clearance cuts down the space by several inches.

[Chris]

Can't you just pick up accessories from a roof rack manufacturer (yack, thule,etc) and 'bolt' them to the oem racks? I was planning on testing some simple bike racks that simply attach to the existing cross bars... is there a problem with this assumption?

[brian_r_baker]

I'm not really sure on that... When I checked at the Yakima web site, they had a little "wizard" where you select the year, make, and model of your car, and then they show you what is availabe / required for your model. When I looked at items for the Vibe, they said I would have to get some additional hardware and crossbars to go on top of the factory rack...

[Chris]

Hmmm, oh well. When I get my Vibe (1st week in Sept???) I'm going to take it to our Mountain Equipment Coop where they have demo racks. I'll just take a few and try to 'bolt them on' outside the store and see if anything fits!Many racks and storage containers attach using a 'U' bolt... hopefully this makes them generic enough to fit on the Vibe's stock crossbars.If anyone has any experience with Vibes and roof rack attachments, please let us know!

[vibenorth]

I ended up buying a pick-up stotage container that normally would sit on the cab of a pick-up truck. Other containers seemed to big. You can't use the existing straps so I intend to secure it to the roof rack with metal ring clamps. I'll post a photo when it's done. I think it actually doesn't look too bad.

[wrench79]

I don't really plan on using the roof rack, but I did notice something today. The antenna is pretty much right under the roof rack, how stupid is that.

[NSimkins]

quote:I don't really plan on using the roof rack, but I did notice something today. The antenna is pretty much right under the roof rack, how stupid is that. You could always unscrew the antenna temporarily if it was really in the way. You would only lack radio reception in the process.