Yakima CBX18 Roof Cargo Box – Adventure Diary

Have you ever heard of Tom Mix? he was a famous Hollywood stuntman in the 1920s and 1930s. I wrote about him for AJ a few issues ago. He suffered an astronomical number of injuries on the job, but what really stuck with me was how he died: He was in a single car accident and a safe full of money and jewelry flew from behind and hit him in the head, killing him instantly. Since then, I haven’t been able to drive with things in the back of my car and feel safe. Now, tying up your trash is task 101, but how many people actually do it? It’s a little annoying and then it’s a little annoying to access your stuff. But what’s also painful is having your neck broken by a flying French press.

After a long bike ride with my SUV loaded to the brim, I decided I needed a roof cargo box, so I contacted my friend Justin, who has some, and asked him what he thought. He loved his boxes and his only advice was to make me as big as I could.

It was solid advice. I chose the Yakima CBX 18 ($1,099), the second largest cargo box Yakima makes. The “18” refers to 18 cubic feet. On my first trip with it, I packed two giant camping chairs, firewood, two sleeping bags, a four-inch Exped sleeping pad, water, a shovel, an axe, my bike duffel bag, a cooking kit… I didn’t keep a complete accounting, but it was a batch. The only thing I kept inside was food and a cooler (which, yes, was strapped down).

There are many excellent cargo boxes on the market and I have owned Thule and Yakima models. I chose the Yakima for four reasons: it’s easy to attach to the crossbars, you can open it from either side, it has a reasonably sleek profile for the size, and I was happy with my last box, which was also a Yakima.

• The CBX has four curved clamps that extend from the bottom of the case. They slide on rails and open and close with a specific tool: it’s like a four-sided Allen wrench. You place the box on the crossbars, open the clamps, slide the box and/or clamps until they are under the bars, and then tighten. There is a simple torque system that prevents you from over-tightening. It is an absolutely simple process.

Assembly took the same amount of time whether I had a helper or did it alone, about 15 minutes. The box weighs 65 pounds empty, so I put it on the roof by placing a thick moving blanket over the tailgate end of the roof and sliding it up at an angle.

• Having to go around to the other side of your vehicle to access your box is the definition of a first world problem, but when a box is this wide (38 inches) and stores so much stuff, bilateral access is a huge convenience. Especially if you have something heavy on the other side, like firewood. Yakima’s one-key system is a nice touch: the same key works on both sides (as it should).
• When I said reasonably elegant, perhaps I meant relatively neat. The CBX18 is 17 inches tall. If you drive an SUV, you probably won’t go into a garage with it unless your garage is a pole barn. But compared to Yakima’s SkyBox NX 18, it has a lower profile.
• The only complaint I have with the CBX is that securing the lid can be a complicated process. I suspect this is the nature of the beast when it is made of plastic and measures 91 inches long. That plastic can flex, so if you don’t close the lid carefully, it may not fit the front and rear latches. Or you will click on one and not the other. I had the best luck, or solved the problem, by gently closing it in the center and then pressing on the front and back, with my hand on the latches, until it clicked into place.
• What about the mileage? Yes, about that. You will take a hit no matter what box you place on your roof. My Lexus GX470 normally gets 20 mpg highway; the box reduced it to 18.5.

Is a roof box in your future? If so, the Yakima is worth a look. But so are boxes from any of the major brands, and I would ignore any review that claims there is a best box. More important is that you are clear about your needs and uses. Will it stay on all the time? Do you only need it in winter for skis and boards? How tall is your vehicle? Do you need to get into a garage with it? Unless you are brand loyal, the best way to go is to tailor your needs to a specific box rather than a specific brand.