A weekend trip around the Australian outback or into the wilderness with your family or friends can be one of the most exciting and fun experiences that unfortunately, not many Australians get to do. One of the biggest challenges most people face when they start packing is they end up having to carry far too much luggage, and not having enough storage space in their 4×4. If that’s the case for you, don’t worry. There’s an affordable, yet effective solution – roof cargo bags.
Roof cargo bags are one of the most popular 4×4 accessories, and they allow you to free cabin room so that you and your passengers can comfortably ride in the vehicle during the trip. Nowadays, most roof cargo bags are waterproof, so they’ll make sure your belongings are safe even if the weather doesn’t favour you. An alternative to roof cargo bags are roof racks, but they require you to install crossbars. On the other hand, cargo bags just need some strapping and they’ll be safely secured on the roof. That being said, here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for cargo bags in 4×4 accessories online stores.
Before even browsing a 4×4 accessories online store, measure your roof. Two bags that have a similar capacity can be completely different in size and shape. With that said, the bag’s width and length shouldn’t extend the distance of the roof. Cargo bags that are too wide are more difficult to strap securely, and you don’t want your belongings falling on the road. Then, you have to think about your preferred attachment method. You can either go for straps on crossbars (if you have them) or side rails, loop the straps under the roof, or use hooks to attach it to the window frames. This is mostly up to personal preference and what feels best for you.
And lastly, worth noting is that buying a bag that’s too small is more annoying than buying a cargo bag that’s too big. Imagine packing 3 big duffel bags with all your equipment, gear and clothes, but the cargo bag is a couple of centimetres too short to fit them all. You’ll have to decide on what you’re going to leave behind or whether you should squeeze everything in forcefully. That being said, the best thing to do is get a bag that’s as big as your vehicle’s roof.