Should You Rent or Buy a Roof Box

4 min read
Last Updated: Mar 8, 2024
BY: Matt Keepnes
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Having a roof box for your vehicle makes a big difference in how much you can take with you on your next vacation. When it comes to roof boxes, there are so many to choose from that you’re all but guaranteed to find one that you love. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when researching roof boxes is whether to rent or purchase one, but that question is easily answered once you learn a few tips and recommendations.

The truth is that there are numerous things to consider when deciding whether to buy or lease a good roof box, and you can start by considering the following questions.

How Many Trips Per Year Do You Take?

This is a great question to ask yourself because even though price shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing a good roof box, it should definitely be in the back of your mind. Most roof boxes are reasonably priced, especially the soft carriers that are usually found in the $100 to $150 range. The hard-shell carriers can cost anywhere from $200 to around $700, so they are a little more expensive than the standard carriers.

Nevertheless, if you take numerous trips a year, the costs associated with renting a roof box might prove prohibitive. If the roof box costs $50 to rent, for example, but you only take one trip a year, then leasing the carriers might be more prudent for you. On the other hand, if you take numerous trips every year and you prefer a standard carrier that costs around $100, it’s usually better to go ahead and purchase one.

Taking into consideration both the rental price and the purchase price of a good quality roof-box is what you’ll need to do to make sure that you do what’s best for your family. And this always starts with determining how many trips you’ll be taking per year because it’s a good way to average out the costs of both options.

How Is the Carrier Attached to the Vehicle

How Is the Carrier Attached to the Vehicle?

Roof boxes can be attached to your vehicle one of two ways. The first are the roof boxes that can only be attached to a roof rack, but if you don’t have a roof rack or you’re not interested in installing one, you have to consider the second type of roof box instead. This type is one that you attach to your vehicle with a rope or a strap.

Whether you lease or purchase a roof box, the way that it is attached to your vehicle makes a difference. If you simply don’t want a roof rack installed on your vehicle, you’ll have to make sure the company leasing these carriers can provide you with one that attaches via a strap or rope.

How Much Stuff Will You Be Bringing with You?

Why does it matter how much stuff you bring with you on your trips? Because roof boxes come in tons of sizes to suit everyone’s needs. Carriers can accommodate 9 to 10 cubic feet of items or 30 to 40 cubic feet. If you need a roof box that can carry 30 cubic feet of stuff, you have to make sure that the company renting the carriers has one that size.

Depending on your needs and your budget, it may be better to purchase a carrier if you feel like you’ll need a lot of space every time you travel and you find it difficult to find a carrier for rent that is big enough to meet your needs.

Final Thoughts

Deciding whether to rent or buy your next roof box isn’t that difficult once you take all of the important things into consideration. If you’re still unsure which one to choose after answering a few questions, you can do some research online to help you make your decision. All in all, it has to start with determining what your specific needs are because this is the only way to ensure that you make the right decision in the end.

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creator of RoofboxTop.com

Matt Keepnes

Matt Keepnes, travel enthusiast and creator of RoofboxTop.com. I share expert tips on car storage solutions for seamless travels, combining personal experiences with practical advice.

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