Cargo basket on truck cap?

[Mosby]

I have a Chevy Colorado with a short bed and a cap with a roof rack. Thinking about adding a cargo basket up on the topper for longer trips. I know they add wind noise and reduce fuel mileage but thinking the extra storage might come in handy. Are you guys using cargo baskets on your hunting rigs?

 

[rbljack]

I have one on top of my avalanche using the factory luggage rack cross members. It does create more wind noise in the cab. It probably decreases fuel mileage slightly, but I cant quantify it. If you put the rack on the topper not sure how much noise increase you would notice. I hope to mount lights, high lift jack, shovel and max traks to my rack, but just haven't got to it yet. I have carried the shovel, folding chairs, folding table, and misc other items up there though. I don't put heavy items like coolers up there. Comes in handy though...hopefully I can finish it out with the lights, shovel jack, and max trax in 2020. Those items could certainly become useful on a hunting trip if the roads get bad or snow comes in. Not to mention, if they are mounted up there, I wont forget to pack them and they don't take up bed space or room in the truck.

OH, I also saw a guy that mounted/used a solar panel on the bottom of the rack, and then had the ability to recharge batteries as well for lighting within the topper, etc (as long as the panel isn't being covered with cargo. I guess he loads it up for the trip, but once at a destination, the items are removed from the rack and the panel is then exposed to more light/more efficient charging of batteries.

 

[W1bowo]

I have one on top of my avalanche using the factory luggage rack cross members. It does create more wind noise in the cab. It probably decreases fuel mileage slightly, but I cant quantify it. If you put the rack on the topper not sure how much noise increase you would notice. I hope to mount lights, high lift jack, shovel and max traks to my rack, but just haven't got to it yet. I have carried the shovel, folding chairs, folding table, and misc other items up there though. I don't put heavy items like coolers up there. Comes in handy though...hopefully I can finish it out with the lights, shovel jack, and max trax in 2020. Those items could certainly become useful on a hunting trip if the roads get bad or snow comes in. Not to mention, if they are mounted up there, I wont forget to pack them and they don't take up bed space or room in the truck.

OH, I also saw a guy that mounted/used a solar panel on the bottom of the rack, and then had the ability to recharge batteries as well for lighting within the topper, etc (as long as the panel isn't being covered with cargo. I guess he loads it up for the trip, but once at a destination, the items are removed from the rack and the panel is then exposed to more light/more efficient charging of batteries.

+1

 

[RAPTOR]

I have a Yakima megawarrior on my truck cap. Really nice to get stuff out of the bed and up on the roof to free up some space.

 

[Pigdog]

Do it. Basket or box, can’t go wrong. Basket is more versatile, box can be locked. Small trucks fill up really quickly on longer trips.

 

[ArrowForester]

Go for it. It adds a little noise but I really can’t notice it. And it does draw on the mileage just because of wind drag but it is not terrible. In my case it is a Yakima megawarrior basket with wind faring on a Silverado.

To to mitigate the negatives for times when I am in daily driver mode, or tripping but don’t need the extra cargo space, I just remove the basket and hang it on the wall. Get tracks installed on the topper instead of a more permanent bolted base. Honestly it only takes me 10 minutes to remove the basket and bars. Maybe 15 minutes to put it back on if I take my time.

This portability also allows me to and a temp clamp on bar to the cab and run the basket shifted forward, front on cab and back on topper. In this configuration I use the basket as a rack to transport a 16 foot cargo canoe centered on the truck rather than hanging 6 feet off the back.

 

[ArrowForester]

Also, consider the width of your truck bed when choosing a basket and get one that can fit inside. I’m in the east and head west to chase elk. I can get gear for basecamp and spike camps for two guys in the bed of the Silverado with the basket inside on the bottom or as a “shelf” for organizing. No basket wind drag for 2000 miles headed out. But if we get lucky and have to fill all the coolers with meat and carry monster antlers home it only takes 15 minutes to put the basket on top and pack appropriately. And if we don’t kill then better mileage on the return is our consolation prize.

I have also removed it and stored it n the back at the last minute when I needed clearance for a parking garage....I hate parking garages.

 

[Mosby]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to get one and hopefully can find one at a good price between now and Christmas. I go through my equipment this time of year and figure out how to improve or replace what I have.

 

[ChrisAU]

I decided to add mine before our last trip "just in case" and boy did that pay off. The plan if I killed an elk was to put antlers in the bed of the truck on top of coolers and then I had a weatherproof bag for all our stuff to strap to the basket. Well no way no how were the antlers going to fit in the bed of the truck on top of coolers with the camper shell. So we wrapped some sections of the antlers to keep them from rubbing and then went 1650 miles back home like this. I didn't mind lol.

 

[Fatcamp]

We use a massive Yakima Skybox 21. Exploring options for a full length roof rack, but they are pricey.