Rooftop cargo bags are handy for hauling all the luggage and gear you need. Whether it be to have more room inside your vehicle or simply to pack as much gear as you can, cargo bags have you covered.
Cargo bags are great for all vehicle types, even those that don’t have a roof rack of any kind! So, you may be wondering if you can equip a cargo bag for your particular vehicle.
You can mount a rooftop cargo bag without a roof rack. There are many models specifically made for this type of installation.
Let’s get into which specific cargo bags are best for your vehicle that doesn’t have or need a roof rack! I will also give some helpful tips and best practices to make sure you don’t damage your vehicle in any way.
Best cargo bags without a roof rack:
While there are many roof bags out there that don’t require a roof rack, not all of them are good picks. The reason being is that a poor quality bag that sits in the sun will begin to fray and crack, in effect making it not waterproof.
Low-quality materials may also scratch the roof of your vehicle. Keeping your vehicle and luggage in good condition is the sole purpose of this item!
Now with that said, here are my top picks for cargo bags not needed a roof rack to be installed or used!
Roofpax
This is the granddaddy of them all and here’s why, if you plan to get a lot of use for years to comes you don’t want to continuously buy a new cargo bag every time a buckle or zipper breaks.
Roofpax offers a lifetime warranty on all of the zippers and buckles. If you need size options, they offer a 15 and 19 cubic foot model.
Safety is at the top of mind for everyone, Roofpax backs that up by doing away with the typical straps the run through your vehicle. They claim that it is a safety hazard and can interfere with airbag deployment! So, they offer door hooks instead!
It also comes with a TSA approved lock to secure all of your items and a high-quality storage bag with handles, which is much nicer than other brand’s storage bags.
The bag has a light reflection logo at night which I think is a really smart feature too. The quality of this bag is military-grade and the specs all around are very compelling.
I love the emphasis Roofpax put on safety and quality in this particular rooftop cargo bag. To see the price of this item click here!
Roofbag
The Roofbag rooftop cargo bag carrier is made in the USA and comes with a 1-year warranty. It is completely waterproof, has heavy-duty straps, and has YKK buckles.
The YKK buckles may not mean much to you, but they essentially ensure great quality that won’t stop working after a couple of uses.
With the purchase of this cargo bag comes a non-slip mat that is a must in my mind. Adding all of the heavy luggage on your roof is asking for scratches, so this will help avoid that. It also comes with a bag to store the cargo bag in when not in use.
This bag can be used with or without a roof rack, has 15 cubic feet of cargo space, and can fit five medium-sized suitcases. Over time, the strap and bag won’t deteriorate since they are UV-protected and can handle all weather types.
To see the price and more features about the Roofbag cargo carrier click here.
Tool Guards
The rooftop cargo bag made by Tool Guards is similar in size to the Roofbag with 15 cubic feet of space but it has some different features that make it a very attractive option!
One thing you may or may not have given much thought is the fuel economy of your vehicle when you add a bulky roof bag to it. The added wind resistance will likely drop fuel efficiency by multiple miles per gallon.
Tool Guards design account for this problem by making one side of the cargo bag more aerodynamic which will reduce fuel consumption.
This roof bag fits all vehicle types with a rack or no rack! It comes with the clips for both setup, a mat, and a storage bag. It is completely water and dustproof as well.
I like the look of this bag and the quality is on par with other competitors in the market, but I really love the aerodynamic design on this bag for a smoother and more fuel-efficient ride.
Click here to see the current price of the Tool Guard roof top cargo bag!
Best practices
Installing the cargo bag is very simple. The installation may differ slightly depending on the model and brand you buy but more times than not it will be the same.
You just need to place the cargo bag on top of your vehicle’s roof and then run the straps on top of the bag. You will take one end of the strap, open your car door, and run it to the opposite side of the vehicle. You then open the opposing car door and clip the straps together. Lastly, you will tighten the strap for a secure hold.
It is extremely important to check how much weight your vehicle’s roof can handle. While the frame of your vehicle’s roof can handle the weight of the car, the soft spots on the roof are only supported by a thin piece of aluminum.
Roof damage is shockingly expensive to fix so save yourself the headache by doing your research beforehand!
To avoid scratching the roof of your vehicle, you should also get a blanket or mat of some sort to lay between the cargo bag and the roof. No matter how snug you tie down the bag, all of the luggage inside and abrupt stopping will wear down the paint on your vehicle.
Wrapping Up
Which rooftop cargo bag is best for you really comes down to how much use you plan on getting out of it. If I were to be driving a lot and long distances, the Roofpax would give me the most peace of mind with all of its safety features.
But each individual is different in their preferences towards what matters. These are all great options depending on what exactly you need. I hope you found this information helpful, thank you for reading!