Weatherproof Hard Cases On Roof Rack

Pelican cases for the win, but not for display. keep shit stealth so nobody knows what you have. You’re basically showing the world you have stuff, money, or both.

 

Doesn't say which Pelican. Nice.
Not to mention, Apache is the same but cheaper
Roam and 23Zero are potentially better, made specifically for this application
with direct fit mounts only available for Roam from Sherpa

You know what, you're right.
I can totally see it now.
My old high miles faded paint Tacoma that I bought on minimum wage, opposed to the Maybach that just drove past me, appears filthy rich if I have a cheap knockoff plastic box holding a rope. And a WalMart cooktop that I ran out of room for sleeping in the bed with the same 7 pairs of clothes under me, carrying less cargo/room than those $80k vans everywhere.

Out of the 100 4x4's nearby also running boxes, surely a crackhead without a dollar has $40 bolt cutters in his pocket aiming straight for my lock, to obtain himself my rope, to assist in offroad shopping cart adventures. Surely the crackhead will opt to use $40 bolt cutters on a small box's lock, than a nearby rock thrown into cab or shell.

 

I personally think this is a bad idea entirely. It looks cool but it greatly increases rollover risk and wind drag.

 

Dual Pelican v800's driver side is all recovery gear passenger is all tools and spares

 

Wow I didn't know light objects increase rollover risk

Those of us who find ourselves in need of additional room necessitating this consideration; drag is no longer relevant

 

The cases are light but what you generally fill yhem with isn't. I get the point about additional roll over risk and you would be foolish to think you don't feel it. Mines quite loaded once you consider rack weight+boxes+lights+awning and I feel it but that's also with no swaybar. But the flip side is my truck is damn near 7" wider than stock so that also helps alot.

 

my plan was to put my lightest items in my bed,
heaviest up top,
and do Nurburgring

I know a guy who I haven't seen in a while
most of the time, he carried full spare on his roof rack
Seems I should assume he died

side note, if anyone is on topic
what's the best case?
Research is telling me it is either Roam 83, or 95
slightly different dimensions
I'll mock up a ruler on my rack to see how it corresponds

from what I understand, Roam > 23Zero > Pelican > Apache

the 83 looks nice, like a better version of Pelican 1750 or Apache 9800


the 95 looks kinda too tall

 

I went with the Plano 42".

$117 Plano All Weather 42” Tactical Gun Case with Wheels, Black with Pluck-to-Fit Foam, Watertight & Dust-Proof Shield Protection, TSA Airline Approved for Travel

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B7SB486?ie=UTF8&th=1







A little more friendly on the wallet. Plus it was easier on my brain to drill into that than the $300 Roam case. I've had mine for about 3 years now. Put all my recovery gear in there. I have no problem running it through the car was either.

And then I added some struts to the lid so it opens on its own and doesn't flop over.

$21 Vepagoo ML1510 12" 10Lb/44N Gas Shock Struts for Truck Pickup Tool Box, Weatherguard CSPS Aluminum Toolbox are Topper Camper Shell Side Window, 2pcs (1 Pair)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WDTPQD8?ie=UTF8

 

Some people might just need to learn the hard way I guess.

Roof rack :45 lbs
Cases: 10+ lbs
Gear: 20+ lbs

You’re adding almost 100 lbs at the highest point on the vehicle. Think of the truck like a fulcrum. The farther the weight is from the center of gravity, the greater leverage it has. ~100 lb may not seem like much, but when it’s above the roof that can make a HUGE difference when in an off-camber situation.

 

And yet lots of us have bed racks with tents that weigh over 150lbs on the back and raising the center of gravity. Plus a bunch of us run without sway bars...

 

All the more reason to keep stuff off the roof.

 

I have ROAM 83L and I recommend Pelican V700 Vault. Roam containers are overpriced trash IMHO. They finally revised the gas struts in their gen2 so maybe they wont warp after a few trips, but I doubt it. Moreover, ROAM cases can only be locked with one of those tiny rinky dink locks. You can put some beefy locks on Pelican cases

 

I have 3 locks on each of my v700 cases to determine someone from trying to pry the center. I carry one of those door jam step devices in the cab to acess the boxs.

 

For those of you with a rifle type storage case (Pelican V Series or Plano, etc.) up top permanently, how long have you had it up and have you had any issues with the plastic getting sun damaged to the point of it getting brittle?

I only put mine up when I plan to use it. I called a few of the companies including Pelican and everyone of them stated the plastic has no UV prohibitors in it.

 

I've had mine (Plano) on the roof for about 3 years. LOTS of off road miles with zero issues. No leaks, no warping, nothing. Locks even still work. The truck is stored in a garage most of the time so that helps.

 

Ya mine is parked outside. If it was garaged I'd be less concerned.

 

Roughly two years w/ my Pelican Vaults w/ no issues other than one of the Vault decals going missing. I live in Phoenix, so you know the heat/sun/UV is absolutely brutal.

One could simply apply a UV inhibitor to the plastic if it is a worry.

 

Was thinking about an spray inhibitor as well. But of course the paranoia in me then thinks, well what if this spray causes some other chemical reaction to the plastic they use! Good to hear on the Phoenix sun, for sure brutal. I am in SoCal. Not as bad but can still get pretty bad in summer.

 

This is the nicest layout I've seen yet.. I'm trying to figure out how to space the crossbars on my sherpa to get this type of spacing. How did you mount your maxtrax pin?

 

Cool? - Marginally at best. Especially when permanently mounted on a daily driver. There is a 4 runner in my neighborhood that runs around with every rack possible. Carrying water & fuel tanks, an RTT, and a whole garden shed worth of hardware implements EVERY Day. I do not think he's been off road... or cracked open the RTT.
the 4R is so tall, he cannot fit in the garage - so he parks it outside.


That is NOT quite in the 'cool' range of the spectrum AFAIK...

^ This.
I do not have a rack on top of the cab. I do not like that Taco Racks are essentially un-removable...

Instead, I have 3 Load Bars on top of the cap for better dynamic load distribution. The cap has a much, much better load rating than the cab.

My load bars still don't get installed or used unless the gear volume needs of a trip warrant it. And are removed afterwards. I put pillows, sleeping bags and very light / high volume items up there.
- Compressors, recovery gear, spares, and tools can get quite heavy. Fast.

I'd worry about the flimsy attachment points on top of the taco cab mostly. The Dynamic loads (due to impact / inertia) are much greater than the static loads when running off road (not so much on the freeway on the way to the mall.).

On other vehicles, and now on the Taco, I try to pack everything inside and put things up top only when wind resistance is not an issue (e.g. once I am running off-road as these tend to be lower speeds.).

Tacos are not spacious. It is excellent for solo trips. The boys and I manage pretty well... But if my wife comes along - we'd need a second vehicle!