I really like this Yakima SkyBox Skinny, however you will not consider why

I’ve written loads of critiques about roof rack equipment or road-going gadgets at this level in my travels. In reality, I might go so far as to say that it is my favourite modification that I’ve ever made to any automobile I’ve owned. Nevertheless, for the previous week, a brand new toy has lived up there, and it did so throughout my most up-to-date 1,000-mile street journey to bay-fish in South Texas. Its identify is the Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny, and it is nonetheless there as we converse.

I’ve had different roof containers earlier than, however regardless of all the Yakima products I’ve indulged in over the previous few years, this one takes the cake as my new favourite for a purpose that I by no means actually anticipated — gas economic system.

My common MPG did not budge

Not even Texas velocity limits may make a distinction

After I first put in the field, which was a surprisingly simple course of (extra on that later), I assumed that I’d lose some gas economic system. That is the standard trade-off with roof containers, and has been the trade-off for my total time, proudly owning and utilizing them on completely different automobiles. You get the additional area, however not the gas economic system you are used to. Checks and balances, and so on., and so on.

This is because of the truth that you have now received an extremity protruding out into the air that was not current when your producer examined the automobile in its wind tunnel. These are apparent information that I beforehand regarded as unavoidable.

Therefore, I went with the Skinny SkyBox versus a bigger mannequin. In my head, I assumed “perhaps it will save me half a mile per gallon, perhaps even one if I am fortunate,” however nonetheless thought I’d stay within the low 20s-per-gallon and be stopping a number of occasions alongside my route. That was on no account the case, and I noticed the identical mileage that I used to be used to with out the roof field as I did beforehand.

I averaged round 28 miles per gallon coming and going, which was a shock to say the least, on condition that the Texas velocity limits did not see my common velocity drop under 75 miles per hour your entire journey.

How a lot does it really maintain

Spoiler alert: far more than you would possibly assume

I used to be capable of match three baggage the scale of airport carry-ons within the SkyBox, one small bag, some collapsible fishing poles and a collapsible plastic stool (which I extremely suggest discovering room for in case your automobile has a elevate package) very comfortably. In the event you journey with super-large baggage which are the identical dimension as checked baggage, they is likely to be too tall for the Skinny, however in the event you’re a bag particular person, the SkyBox Skinny would possibly simply be your jam.

The sleek onerous plastic lining inside appears like it could be simple for issues to slip round on, however with my rack loaded down nothing moved an inch. Even my fiancée’s onerous plastic-covered bag confirmed no indicators of scuffing or vibrating. I may see one thing sliding if it was saved up high by itself, however in the event you’re a fabric bag traveler like me, that should not be a giant difficulty.

Set up was a breeze

Hats off to whoever designed this technique, as a result of it really works

The SkyBox arrived in a single piece, and amidst the Texas warmth, I forgot to take images of the field itself, nevertheless it measured about eight toes lengthy. The product ships entire, so there is no extracurricular constructing after the actual fact.

It comes unlocked, with just one facet designed to open at a time. The keys are saved contained in the field throughout delivery, together with the round software pictured above. That is the one software you’ll want to take away or connect the field to your roof rack, which makes the method simple sufficient for only one particular person to perform. Compared to the universal roof rack I own, the field was simpler to put in than the rack itself.

You first must unscrew 4 clamps from contained in the field, which is what I am doing within the first photograph. This loosens the clamp and its sliding mount so that you could modify them to your wants and specs. Then, after you have positioned the field on high of your automobile within the desired place, tighten those self same clamps down till you hear a click on, after which it is hands-off. It truly is that simple.

I’ve put in containers earlier than that required three completely different units of Allen wrenches, and it was an hours-long affair typically if I used to be on my own. This took all of 20 minutes, and that was with a West Texas water break blended in.

Why would you purchase the Skinny?

For these of us who want to make use of their storage, it makes probably the most sense

I’ve already been requested by loads of pals why I’d reasonably have the thin than a bigger, much less compact roof storage field, and my reply is easy — hail. Imagine it or not, we get our fair proportion of it right here in West Texas, and as such, it is a gamble to depart any automobile parked on the street. I needed a field that may comfortably slot in my storage whereas mounted and would not make me sweat pulling out and in on my option to and from work or touring.

My 2022 Volkswagen Taos is a bit taller than it was from the manufacturing facility as a result of elevate package, and the tires do not assist in that regard all that a lot, both. Couple that elevate with the roof rack being elevated from the roof itself, and the bottom of the SkyBox Skinny is a good quantity greater than if it had been laying flat on the roof of a standard Taos.

Regardless of that, nevertheless, I nonetheless have loads of room to open the SkyBox and retrieve no matter is likely to be inside with out the worry of hitting my storage door when it is open and above me. On bigger containers I’ve had up to now, this was not the case, as I’d both must shut myself within the microwave that’s my storage to get something out, or unload outdoors earlier than pulling in. All in all, the SkyBox Skinny simply makes this entire course of simpler, and it earns critical brownie factors for that.

And in fact, that is in all probability what I like in regards to the SkyBox skinny greater than the rest — its ease of use. It was simple to put in, it is simple to stay with, and it is simple to make use of. Yakima merchandise won’t be the most cost effective available on the market, however they’ve hit one other residence run with this one.