A cheap roof box is the most expensive accessory you will ever buy.
You might save $300 upfront buying a “budget brick,” but you will pay it back in gasoline within two road trips. A non-aerodynamic box acts like a parachute, dragging your MPG down by 15-20% at highway speeds.
Then there is the noise. If you have never driven 6 hours with a cheap cargo box, you cannot imagine the headache. It screams. It whistles. It vibrates the entire roof of your car until you want to pull over and leave it on the side of the road.
We analyzed the forum consensus to find the boxes that cut the wind (and the noise) versus the ones that are just expensive plastic wind sails.
Thule Motion 3
The Brutal Verdict: The only box aerodynamic enough to barely impact your MPG. It mounts in 30 seconds with “PowerClick” claws and doesn’t scream at 80mph.
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JEGS Cargo Carrier
The Brutal Verdict: It is a giant plastic brick. It holds a ton of stuff for cheap, but it requires 4 hands to install (U-Bolts) and whistles loudly on the highway.
Check Price on Amazon →1. Thule Motion 3
Thule Motion 3
- Silent: Aerodynamic nose reduces highway whistle.
- PowerClick Mount: Claws click when torqued correctly (No tools).
- Dual Side Opening: Load from driver or passenger side easily.
The Consensus: The Thule Motion 3 (and its predecessor, the XT) is the only box that users consistently report “forgetting it’s even up there.” It is engineered with a dropped nose that forces air over the box rather than hitting it flat, which saves you 2-3 MPG compared to cheaper bricks.
The Flaw (Marketing vs. Reality): The glossy finish is a magnet for scratches.
- User Quote: “I looked at it wrong, and it scratched. I stored it in my garage leaning against a cardboard box, and even that left swirl marks.”
- The Reality: It looks like a spaceship when new, but if you drive through a forest or store it carelessly, it will look beat up within a month. It’s a “pavement princess” box.
The Verdict: Buy this if you do long highway road trips. The gas savings over 5 years will actually pay for the price difference, and the silence is priceless.
2. JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier
The Consensus: This is the “Brute Force” option. For a fraction of the price of a Thule, you get a massive plastic tub that holds just as much stuff. If you only use a roof box once a year for a camping trip, this is the logical financial choice.
The Flaw (Marketing vs. Reality): The mounting hardware is medieval. It uses U-Bolts that you have to thread from the bottom while someone else holds the box from the top.
- User Quote: “Installing this is a relationship test. My wife and I screamed at each other for 20 minutes trying to line up the holes while the U-bolt scratched my car’s roof rails.”
- The Reality: It is a wind sock. The front is blunt and high. Above 65mph, it howls. Users report losing 4-5 MPG because it catches so much air.
The Verdict: Buy this if you are on a tight budget and drive an SUV that already gets bad gas mileage. If you drive a sedan or care about silence, stay away.
3. Yakima SkyBox
The Consensus: Yakima is the rugged rival to Thule. The “Carbonite” texture is the specific feature everyone loves—it’s a rough, dimpled plastic (like a golf ball) that hides scratches and abuse much better than Thule’s glossy piano black.
The Flaw (Marketing vs. Reality): The latch handle is stiff.
- User Quote: “You have to really slam it to get the red safety latch to engage. In winter with cold fingers, the latch is brutal to operate compared to Thule’s smooth slide-lock.”
- The Reality: It is slightly taller than the Thule Motion, which makes it better for bulky items (like strollers) but worse for garage clearance. Many users report smashing this box into their garage door header because it sits 2 inches higher.
The Verdict: Buy this if you are an “Off-Roader” or camper who drives through brush. The textured finish will stay looking new long after the Thule looks trashed.
4. Pro-Tip: Silencing the Whistle
Noise Hacks: The “Tape Trick”
Even a Thule will whistle if you leave the unused mounting slots open. The wind blows over the holes like a flute. Here is how to make any box silent.
🛡️ Car Protection Guides
Keep your vehicle safe from the elements, both parked and driving.
Final Verdict
For 90% of Users: Buy the Thule Motion 3. It is expensive, but the “PowerClick” mount and silent aerodynamics make it the only box you won’t regret buying 500 miles into a road trip.
For “Rough Use”: Buy the Yakima SkyBox. The textured Carbonite finish handles tree branches and abuse better than Thule.
For Pure Utility: The JEGS Carrier works, but be prepared for the noise.
