Weatherproof Hard Cases On Roof Rack

I have a Prinsu rack on my camper shell but I honestly find that there are very few things that make sense to carry up there. Accessibility is one issue. I can reach things carried toward the back of the rack by standing on the tailgate. For anything further forward, I would need a ladder. And a ladder is one more bulky thing to carry.

Anything heavy, like a spare tire, is out of the question. So is anything valuable that might be stolen.

Not a fan of roof top tents or attached awnings. With these things deployed, your vehicle is no longer a vehicle. It's a fixed base.

On the other hand, something that makes a lot of sense to carry on a rack (while camping) is a water tank, like a WaterPort or a Yakima RoadShower.

I would never carry gasoline on a roof rack. This is practically suicidal in case of a rollover accident.

 

In the future if I ever feel the need for a roof rack, I'd probably do the same like said in this thread. Dirty/wet/tools/recovery stuff. For now, i just have a seperate storage tote in the bed for that stuff.

 

I put all my dogs food, treats, bowls, brush etc mine LOL.

 

Well, there’s 4 of us that go, so we use it for everything. Clothes, recovery, chairs, ect. It’s 95L and waterproof. I also remove it between trips.

 

I have 2 Plano 52” cases and on the passenger side it’s recovery and essentials like tools, gloves, duct tape, rope, mallet. Driver side is go bags for my family but used for clothing during a camping trip.

 

What makes it suicidal on the roof rack, but just fine behind the rear door?

 

Yeah I keep 2 plano cases full of all our camping gear in the garage. One is the good stuff so I only have to grab it if I'm going without the fam or with buddies. Other one has kid's camping stuff, larger cookware, dog stuff, hammock... more for drive up camping. It's nice to just throw big stuff (tents, chairs, bedding) and the dogs in the back and go. Eliminates prep time. Toss the plano cases up top and you're ready!!

 

Eventually I'll run two pelican 1650s up top.

One will house recovery gear and tools. So stuff like my bubba roap, snatch straps, tow straps, shackles, air hoses (not recovery but whatevs). I also have a tarp up there, and other shit like duct tape and extra cordage. Id like to eventually get a spare CV axle to put up there too.

The other will eventually house the chainsaw and various other fluids and maintenance items that don't get broken out as often.

Been also thinking about trying to convert the lids to have hydraulic struts, and putting solar panels (obviously ones that would fit the profile).

 

Bad idea to have that much weight up top, plus ruins MPG...unless you are just staying on flat roads and service/fire roads...I would stuff that stuff in the bed.

 

Before I sold my Tundra and got into the Taco, I had a one-off roof rack based off the Prinsu rack. Mounted a 42" Plano case for tools and recovery gear. Buried the rear end one time and couldn't open the tailgate or topper so I'm glad I moved all that stuff up top when I did.

1/4 20 carriage bolts fit perfectly into the 80/20 aluminum cross bar slots. I just drilled holes in the bottom of the case, threw down a fender washer, and used wing nuts for easier removal. Didn't do any kind of waterproofing as the holes were on the bottom and I never had any issues with it.

 

I would worry that those bolts would tear apart anything soft packed in that box.
If it were me I would use nylock nuts and cut the bolts flush to the top.

 

They just look cool that's all. Ruining a perfectly good pelican case by driling holes in them.

 

I kept the lower foam layer in place. Trimmed holes so it would still sit flush and the bolt heads never came through.

 

I'm looking to get one of these for my roof rack

$150 Rubbermaid 48 Gallon Black Action Packer Lockable Latch Indoor and Outdoor Storage Box Container for Home, Garage, Backyard, Single

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CFRDWH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_HG3SJ26Y9T7RFRDZZW6X?_encoding=UTF8
Its big but it would fit all my camp sleeping gear in it, pads, sleeping bags and stuff like that. The dimensions fit the bravo roof rack from uptop, which is coming in a few weeks. Im trying to eliminate gear in my bed as much as possible so I can bring bikes and other "toys" while we camp. Any thoughts on this set up? I like the hard cases in this thread but those don't seem big enough for my family of four and all our gear

 

Is that an awning on the side? What size is that?

 

2000mmx2500mm

 

What is the best setup?

So far I am thinking:
-a roof rack, which I have, because you can find them used
-no shell rack, because I'm up in the air if I want no shell, level shell, softopper, or high rise
and $1100+ to put a rack on a shell new is kind of insane

Center maxtrax, sherpa mount. Tan
-dual apache 9800's in tan\
-driver, cheap awning, maybe $100 NAPA
-passenger, figure out a dual holder for an axe and shovel; there's basically no solution on the market

I ask because I see Roam used sometimes, still expensive and faraway. Just found out about 23Zero
the Roam looks nice, but also thick and no space inside.
No idea which size is best. I do like their mounting comparability with Sherpa; they have brackets.
But, that is probably not very different from Harbor Freight's Apache

For one used Roam, alone, without brackets
you can probably have two Apache's on there

IDK if a different orientation/gear combo is better
like one box only, sideways, and maxtrax sideways
but two facing forward would look good, and add more storage
kinda more accessible from the sides

I also found a DIY on how to add shocks/struts to Apache's, and I bet they're also waterproof. They look roomier and less bulky at the same time

IDK if Roam is made thicker, but I do not plan to have people doing a breakdancing competition on my roof

 

This is a very flush way to mount a RTT and boxes onto a Prinsu Rack:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mounting-rtts-to-prinsu-racks.545548/#post-17674928

 

baldridge: where did you get two of the 'Front Runner Typhoon bags' for the price of one. I've been looking to buy but can't justify the retail price. Thx

 

Another Plano