Your Guide to Shopping for Cargo Baskets

Your vehicle transports not only you and your passengers but also a plethora of cargo that ranges from groceries to traveling gear to work-related goods. This is especially true for long road trips. It’s also likely that there are times when you’ve packed everything you can possibly need the night before, only to discover that there isn’t enough space in your vehicle to bring everything.

Installing one or two cargo baskets can increase your vehicle’s capacity to store various items. While they are functional accessories first and foremost, they can also improve your vehicle’s looks or at least not detract from its exterior.

What Is a Cargo Basket?

Cargo baskets increase your vehicle’s cargo capacity by offering additional storage.

The earliest cargo baskets started out as modified cargo carriers without the familiar hard shell. Their simplified design made them lighter and more affordable, and they also took less effort to load and unload. On the downside, their contents were exposed to the elements.

Many decades later, modern cargo baskets bear a strong resemblance to their predecessors. A typical basket is an open-air cargo carrier designed to be mounted on top of a vehicle. Depending on the basket’s size and location, it can handle large luggage and equipment that won’t fit in the trunk or rear cargo area.

Types of Cargo Basket

Cargo baskets are divided into two groups according to their location on your vehicle: the roof and the hitch. Both locations have advantages and disadvantages that you should keep in mind when choosing what type of basket to get.

Roof-Mounted Cargo Baskets

As their name indicates, these cargo baskets go on your vehicle’s roof. Roof-mounted cargo baskets can fit large items, like camping gear, coolers, hi-lifts, jerry cans, roll-out canopies, and spare tires. Because they’re not constrained by a hard shell, they can accommodate things that won’t fit inside storage boxes.

To install a cargo basket on your vehicle’s roof, you will need either a roof rack or a mounting rail and cross bar. Some vehicle models come with storage racks on their roofs straight out of the factory, making it easy to upgrade them. If your vehicle isn’t one of those, you can invest in aftermarket roof racks.

One disadvantage of roof-mounted cargo baskets is that they’re heavy, even when they’re unloaded. It can be hard to lift the basket onto the roof rack for installation. So you probably won’t want to remove it once it’s there.

Noise is another drawback. When you’re driving at higher speeds, you can hear the wind passing through the cargo basket, even when it’s empty. These off-putting sounds can take some getting used to. An improperly secured basket can also vibrate and rattle around.

Moreover, a roof-mounted cargo basket raises your vehicle’s height. It’s nowhere as tall as a hard shell cargo carrier when unloaded, but it can still keep you from accessing areas with low ceilings.

Hitch-Mounted Cargo Baskets

Put your vehicle’s hitch to good use when it’s not towing a trailer by attaching a cargo basket to it. Hitch-mounted cargo baskets offer another way to expand your vehicle’s storage capacity if the roof doesn’t have the space to fit a basket or cargo carrier.

This type is easier to access compared to the roof-mounted cargo basket. You don’t need to balance on the bumper, running boards, or ladder to load and unload the basket.

The hitch-mounted cargo basket also makes less noise than the roof-mounted one because its position at the back keeps it out of the wind.

However, the hitch-mounted cargo basket usually carries smaller loads than the roof-mounted basket. The hitch that bears it is strong, but not as strong as the roof.

Keep in mind that hitches come in different sizes, so it’s a good idea to check if the hitch-mounted cargo basket can fit on the hitch on your vehicle.

Tips When Using a Cargo Basket

Use Cargo Straps

When you load objects on a cargo basket, tie them down with cargo straps to prevent them from shifting around or falling off the basket. Distribute the weight evenly to avoid affecting your vehicle’s handling.

Use a Cargo Net

Another recommended accessory is the cargo net. This accessory stretches over the cargo basket and its contents. Hooks keep the cargo net attached to the basket, and they’re designed to withstand the jolts of bumpy rides.

Best Cargo Basket Brands

To help you narrow down your options, we identified the best cargo basket brands in the market:

Go Rhino

If you want a cargo basket that blends good looks and usability, look no further than Go Rhino. Made from heavy-duty steel and sporting an anti-corrosion finish, Go Rhino products are built to last. The brand doesn’t skimp out on looks, either. Its cargo baskets feature aggressive lines that can make your vehicle look more rugged.

CURT

CURT is one of the best manufacturers and distributors of towing parts and accessories, trailer products, and specialty equipment like cargo baskets. Its products are made in the USA, so you’re supporting an American company that produces world-class baskets. In addition to the storage units, CURT also offers sturdy cargo straps to help you secure your gear to the basket.

Yakima

Yakima products are designed with compatibility in mind. Its universal mounts can fit most crossbar designs on vehicles and most gear mounts produced by the company. Likewise, Yakima doesn’t slack on capacity and durability, so you will have lots of options to choose from.

The Bottom Line

The cargo basket is a long-term investment, so you should always get the biggest bang for your buck. Don’t settle for anything less than the best your budget can allow.

Mounted outside your vehicle, the cargo basket is constantly exposed to dirt, moisture, and weather. Both roof-mounted and hitch-mounted baskets are subject to vibrations, especially if you take your vehicle off-roading.

By choosing from the trusted brands listed above, you can be sure that your cargo basket can keep all your gear safe and secure.