When you set up a cargo box atop your vehicle, you have to be mindful of its carrying capacity. You should not overload the box. However, is it okay to drive when the rooftop cargo box does not contain anything? Usually, it is something you should evade doing.
Basics
The experts opine removing an empty cargo box from the roof of cars as it adds to fuel usage of the vehicle. Much like a heavily loaded cargo box, an empty container also adds to your car fuel bill in the long run.
The majority of car rooftop cargo boxes are simple to install and dismantle and so removing the box will not be hard when the need arises. The same logic is however not applicable for car roof racks as they are installed permanently atop the vehicles. These racks do not add much to your fuel bill.
Some Handy tips
If you want to keep the cargo rooftop box without putting anything inside, just tighten the fastening anchors. Use a zipper flap around the box so that rain or snowfall does not result in leakage later.
These tips are meant for hard-shell rooftop cargo boxes. The soft bag cargo carriers can be stored away with ease. The soft bag cargo boxes are lightweight, too. No matter what type of car rooftop cargo box you buy, read the company usage guidelines so that you can use it in the best manner. This will also help enhance its longevity.
What About Keeping A Spare Tire In Your Carrier?
You may have heard the advice of putting a spare tire in the rooftop cargo box if it is empty. The logic is the box will not wobble or make noise when you drive. It is a fact that empty car roof boxes make whistling noise especially when you drive at high speeds. However, it is even more logical to remove the cargo roof box if you do not need to carry anything atop the car for some days. If the box does not gel with the styling of your car, remove it when not in use.
What About Noise?
No matter how aerodynamic a structure is, it will always create some noise as it moves through the air. And that means, your roof pod will also generate noises and there is not much you can do about it. Things can get even worse if you don’t have anything inside the cargo box to act as a buffer. It will be battered badly by the wind and thus, more noise. Now, if you have nothing to put inside these empty roof pods, you can place some soft materials like clothes or towels to muffle the noise.
Fuel Economy
It does not matter whether the roof box is empty or full, the fuel economy of your car is going to get impacted in one way or the other. Now, a fully packed roof box will definitely increase the overall weight of the car but when compared with an empty roof pod, you will not find any such difference when it comes to fuel economy.
Even an empty roof box will increase the drag and thus, decrease your car’s fuel efficiency. So, if you are not carrying anything and don’t want the roof box to add any unnecessary weight or eat up space, it is better to take it off.
Height
Having a roof cargo box has its share of advantages and disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is the height it adds to your vehicle. This can be a problem while driving under bridges or into parking garages. With a roof pod attached to the roof of your car, you might not be able to use public parking garages as the height restriction might not allow you to enter. Moreover, when driving with a roof top box, you will have to be extra careful whenever you come across signs like – restricted headroom. Sometimes, people tend to forget that they are carrying a rooftop cargo box and end up damaging their cars in the worst way possible.
Wears The Box Out Quicker
If you leave the roof box on your car all the time, the roof box will degrade over the time (you can blame it on the UV rays of the sun or the extreme weather). This is the reason why it makes no sense to keep the box on the roof when you are not using it. It will just accelerate the process of wear and tear. So, whenever you are not using it, just take it off from the roof of your car and by doing so, you will be able to prolong its lifespan.
Easy Target for Thieves
Leaving an empty roof box on your car is like showing a red flag to thieves. An empty roof box will just tempt them and they might break into your car just to see what’s inside the box. So, it is better to take the box off when you are not using it. Buglers may try to open it (just to see what’s inside the box) or may even take the whole box away. So, it is better to be safe than sorry.
