Taking a long road trip can be a great way to see the country and spend time with family or friends. But if you’re not properly prepared, it can also be a recipe for disaster. One of the best ways to be prepared for a long road trip is to have a roof rack installed on your car.
If you’re like me, you probably pack your car pretty full when you go on a long road trip. I confess packing light isn’t a skill I possess. Even for a long weekend away, I seem to pack a lot of “stuff” just in case. So, when we go on longer trips in the car, space quickly becomes an issue.
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A roof rack gives you the perfect solution to this problem. You can store all your extra gear on the roof of the car, freeing up valuable space inside for people and luggage. But once you have a roof rack, you’ll wonder how you ever went on a long road trip without one!
Why Install A Roof Rack For Your Next Road Trip?
A roof rack is an essential car accessory that can come in handy in a number of ways on a road trip. It maximizes car function and keeps your vehicle adventure-ready.
There are a few different types of roof racks to choose from, so you’ll want to pick the one that best suits your needs and the type of recreation you enjoy (water sports, snow sports, rack camping, biking, etc.)
Types of Roof Racks
Before you can choose the right roof rack for your car, you need to know the different types available. Here is a quick overview of the most popular roof racks on the market:
Towers
The most common type of roof rack is the tower. Towers are designed to work with specific vehicles and mount to factory roof rack mounting points or tracks. Towers are available in a wide range of sizes, so it’s important to choose one that is compatible with both your car and the size of your gear.
Crossbars
Crossbars are the horizontal bars that attach to the towers and provide a base for attaching your gear. Crossbars come in a variety of sizes and materials, so you’ll want to choose the ones that best suit your needs.
Baskets
Baskets are a great way to increase the storage capacity of your roof rack. They attach to the crossbars and provide a base for storing larger items like coolers, duffel bags, or camping gear. Baskets come in a variety of sizes and materials, so you’ll want to choose the ones that best suit your needs.
Now that you know the different types of roof racks available, you can start shopping for the one that’s right for you. But before you do, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Here are five benefits of having a roof rack on your car for long road trips:
Enhance Your Cargo Capacity
A roof rack gives you the ability to pack even more stuff without having to worry about fitting it all in the car. Sedans and SUVs can be spacious, but they still have their limits when it comes to packing for a long road trip. If you’re going on a camping trip, for example, you can pack all your gear on the roof rack and free up space in the car for other things.
Some vehicles come prefixed with compatible roof racks, while others require that you purchase a roof rack separately. You can find a variety of roof racks available at auto parts stores, outdoor gear retailers like REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Walmart, and online at Amazon and Backcountry .
Installing a roof rack basket is a quick and easy way to add more storage space to your vehicle. You can find roof rack baskets made of steel, aluminum, or plastic. They come in a variety of sizes, so make sure to choose one that’s compatible with your car and the type of gear you’ll be carrying.
Have Space For Large Gear
A roof rack can give you the extra space you need to pack everything you want without having to leave anything behind. It’s also great for storing larger items that wouldn’t fit inside the car, like bikes or kayaks.
We do a lot of kayaking and always bring our kayaks with us when we go camping at the lake. A great kayak roof rack is the Thule Hule-A-Port Xt Kayak Car Rack (Amazon || REI Co-Op). It’s easy to install and can carry up to two kayaks.
If you’re into mountain biking, I recommend the Saris Superclamp hitch mount bike rack. It can carry up to four bikes and is easy to install. Saris also makes a swivel accessory that attaches to Superclamp the allows you to carry up to four bikes and still have access to the rear of your vehicle.
Note: Before loading extra luggage or gear onto your roof rack, you must consider your car’s payload. The payload is the total weight your vehicle’s manufacturer intended it to carry, including passenger weight and cargo. Exceeding your vehicle’s payload puts additional strain on vital parts, including the engine, tires, and brakes, accelerating wear and tear and inflating maintenance costs.
You can find your car’s payload capacity in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s door.
Save You Money on Gear
The additional cargo room created on a roof rack saves you money on renting gear or trailers, and improves fuel efficiency. Let’s say you want to go camping but don’t have a tent or sleeping bags. You could rent gear from an outdoor retailer or borrow it from a friend, but that can become expensive if you plan on going camping often.
If you have a roof rack, you can invest in your own gear and save money in the long run. The same goes for things like bikes, kayaks, and other sports equipment.
Roof racks are customizable and allow for flexible functions when packing your outdoor gear. Therefore, you can get roof racks suited for strapping specific outdoor gear, including bicycles, surfboards, and rooftop tents, making your travel costs more affordable.
Improve Fuel Efficiency
A roof rack can actually help improve your car’s fuel efficiency by reducing drag. When you add a roof rack to your car, it creates an aerodynamic profile that cuts down on wind resistance. This, in turn, can lead to better fuel economy, especially at higher speeds.
If you’re looking to improve your car’s fuel efficiency, it’s best to invest in a low-profile or streamlined roof rack. These types of roof racks are designed to minimize drag and improve fuel economy. Two examples are the Inno Shadow and the Yakima Skybox.
Protect Your Gear
Roof racks make protecting your travel gear from harsh weather elements easier because most racks come with weatherproof cargo carrier bags for protective purposes. Alternatively, you can also modify weatherproof protection by covering your gear with a weatherproof tarp.
Second, car racks feature functional designs with crossbars for holding fastening ropes, bungee cords, and cargo nets that hold your gear in place. The crossbars and fastening apparatus prevent constant movement resulting in dents and other forms of damage that can compromise your gear’s functional integrity.
Third, some car racks come with locking mechanisms that secure your gear to the rack and prevent theft. There are also car racks that lock to your vehicle’s hitch receiver to further secure your investment.
It Makes Road Travel More Comfortable
The most distinctive feature of road trips is that they are lengthy, implying you’ll be sitting for hours. It’s unpleasant as well as unhealthy to sit in the same posture with little wriggle room for hours on end.
According to one expert review, staying seated in cramped and awkward spaces for extended hours while traveling causes muscle tension. Moreover, it also puts you at risk of developing blood clots in your legs. Packing bulky luggage that spills over into the car’s passenger cabin reduces legroom and forces you and your traveling companions to adopt awkward postures while traveling, which makes matters worse.
However, you can make your road trip journey much more comfortable by using a cargo carrier. A roomy passenger cabin without luggage under foot gives you the leeway to change posture and adjust your body position accordingly, reducing your risk of health issues related to poor posture.
It Enhances Your Safety on The Road
Having a roof rack allows you to distribute the cargo evenly on your car, giving you better directional control while driving. By keeping the cargo away from the passenger cabin, you also reduce your risk of injuries in case of an accident.
Conclusion:
Roof racks provide a cost-effective tool for ensuing safe yet comfortable road travel. Moreover, the car accessory is affordable and easy to install, so consider purchasing a suitable carrier for your car and making road travel positively memorable.
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