No matter what type of vehicle you have, chances are you could always use a bit more storage space. A roof top cargo box is one of the most popular options to gain extra storage for your car, truck, or SUV. By adding a cargo box to your vehicle, you'll gain additional storage space for things that won't quite fit in your trunk or cargo area.

Enthuze offers a nice selection of cargo boxes with a total cargo volume between 14 cubic feet and 18 cubic feet. Before you invest in a roof cargo box for your vehicle, it's important to know what size you need. Let's take a look at how to figure this out.

Consider What You Want To Pack

A roof box is commonly used to store awkward items that are difficult to stuff in a trunk or might take up too much room in an SUV's cargo hold. Outdoor enthusiasts typically use cargo boxes for things like tents, sleeping bags, ski equipment, camp furniture, strollers, and the like.

Bulky items that don't weigh much are a good choice to pack in a cargo roof box. These include items such as sleeping bags, pillows, camp chairs, and similar products. If you plan to pack long items then you'll need a longer cargo box. For example, the Enthuze Touring cargo box can fit skis of up to 190 centimeters in length. This is enough for most downhill skis and snowboards.

Heavy items are better to store inside your vehicle. The average roof top cargo box is designed to hold between 150 and 165 pounds. In general, you should avoid maxing out the weight capacity of your roof box.

Cargo Box Dimensions

Once you've figured out what you'll use your cargo box for, it's time to consider the dimensions of different cargo boxes. Enthuze cargo boxes come in different dimensions to achieve certain lengths and total cargo volumes. For example, our most compact cargo box is the Commute model. It can carry 14.12 cubic feet of cargo and the size profile is 55"L x 35.4"W x 15"H.

Most cargo boxes are around six feet in length. This makes it easy to fit most types of skis and snowboards. You'll also want to consider the width of the cargo box. The wider a cargo box is, the more flexibility you have for carrying a variety of items. However, a wide cargo box will reduce the space on your roof for other things.

Height is another feature to consider. A taller box provides more cargo volume, but it might also reduce your clearance if your vehicle is already on the tall side. It's a good idea to measure how much height the box will add to your vehicle.

Box Capacity

Another way to look at the size of a cargo box is based on the box's gear capacity and the number of people in your party. For example, camping gear for two people can typically fit into a cargo box with 12 cubic feet of capacity. If you have four people, it's better to have a cargo box that fits up to 18 cubic feet of gear.

Camping gear is likely to include things like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and perhaps extra clothes or shoes. Snow gear might include a pair of skis, poles, a snowboard, helmets, gloves, and other cold-weather gear. Visualizing these items can help you figure out what size of cargo box you need.

It's worth mentioning that you shouldn't get the largest cargo box that can fit your vehicle, but instead, look at the smallest box that can fit your gear. A large cargo box will put a hit on your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Large boxes are also heavier and more cumbersome to move and pack.

Check What Fits Your Vehicle

At this point, you probably have a good idea of what size box will best suit your gear. But there's one more important size factor to consider. Will the box fit on the roof of your vehicle? To figure this out, you'll need to measure the roof of your vehicle and make sure the box will have hatch clearance if you have an SUV or hatchback.

If you have a truck or a regular car with a trunk, then all you need to do is measure your roof space. But if you have a vehicle with a hatch that lifts up, then you'll need to measure with the vehicle's hatch up. For example, if you're looking at a roof box with a minimum clearance of 57 inches and you have 60 inches on your roof with the hatch lifted, you're good to go.

If you're looking for a roof top cargo box to aid in your adventures, Enthuze has you covered with five cargo boxes to choose from. Just follow the above tips for choosing a size and you'll be on your way with a new cargo box in no time!

Related articles:

• Rooftop Cargo Box Q&A
• A Look at Enthuze Cargo Boxes