How to Install an X-Cargo Car Top Carrier

Much as manufacturers intent on selling high-profit, 8,000-pound gas guzzlers would have us believe otherwise, you don't actually have to buy a school bus-sized SUV for the occasional road trip or cargo haul. Roof-top cargo carriers like the X-Cargo have been proving so ever since that first farmer strapped a chicken coop to the top of his Model T. Granted, technology has certainly made these cargo containers easier to mount and more efficient to use than ever before, but they continue to offer the same practicality and versatility that they always did.

Things You'll Need:

• X-Cargo Roof-Top Carrier and hardware
• Vehicle with cross-roof rails

1. Place the carrier on the roof with the help of another person

Place the carrier on the roof with the help of another person. Set it on the cross rails of the vehicle. Adjust the roof rails. Set the cross rails (if adjustable) to the widest setting that will line up with the mounting slots in the carrier.

2. Set the carrier as far to the rear of the vehicle as possible

Set the carrier as far to the rear of the vehicle as possible to reduce wind resistance. Leave room for the rear hatch (if applicable) to open.

3. Place the U-bolts around the vehicle’s cross rails and up through the carrier

Place the U-bolts around the vehicle’s cross rails and up through the carrier. Place a metal reinforcing plate between the roof rail and the carrier. Secure them with the threaded knobs. Tighten by hand until tight. Repeat this step for all four U-bolts and secure all four corners of the carrier to the cross rails of the vehicle.

4. Cover the extra holes

Cover the extra holes. Place the vinyl patches included with the carrier over any unused mounting holes in the bottom of the carrier. This will help keep water out of the carrier. Close the carrier. For safety, the lid of the carrier must be closed and locked while the vehicle is in motion.

Tip

Your vehicle must have a roof rack with cross rails for this carrier to work.

Video: X-Cargo Car Top Carrier - U-Bolt Mounting Installation

Helpful comments on this video:

• I'm on my second one. I bought both of them used. The first was probably made around 2000. It had some thin areas on top that cracked a little and had to be patched. Poor QC in the factory. I made some patch putty with pvc cement paste and some ground up plastic with some fiberglass screen as reinforcement. Held up well until I backed into a tree branch. The second is holding up well. It does look and feel flimsy. That is why it is so light. I can put it on the car singlehandedly. As for the vinyl stickers to keep rain out. Don't bother. I don't have those and have never had any rain get into it unless I left it open in a rainstorm! And for this reason, I drilled drain holes in all the low spots. (The knobs have never bothered me. If you don't like them, cut off the threaded shaft and put acorn nuts on.) It's the biggest cargo box I've seen, but it fits well on my Subaru Forester. Makes it much easier to find my car in a parking lot, too!
• I have never noticed a lack of space from the knobs or any sort of hindrance from the knobs?? The unit has held up just fine for me and it is going on another trip next week to Canada on the top of a friends rig. All of my trips have originated from WI to.... MT, WY, NM, FL, MA, MI U.P., MN, Canada, CO. I believe I bought it in 2004. NO ISSUES. Also, I have traveled through many rain / snow storms with this unit and all I can say is dry, dry, dry.