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How to Buy a Roof Rack and Cargo Basket for Your SUV

How to · Auto

How to Buy a Roof Rack and Cargo Basket for Your SUV

Get your SUV ready for road trips without draining your bank account all at once.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $650 before anything else
Across the 0% window $43.33/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $650 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

That roof rack and cargo basket are going to change how you pack your SUV. Suddenly, the gear lives outside, the cabin has legroom again, and road trips feel less like a game of Tetris. But keeping an older SUV running means keeping cash handy for unexpected repairs, so we do not want to blow our whole savings on a weekend camping setup.

Spring holiday weekends are your best bet for finding these parts on sale before the summer rush hits. Look for deals around Memorial Day when outdoor gear usually gets marked down. Price out the towers, bars, and basket separately to see if buying a kit actually saves you money.

Remember that the intro window is a hard deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance left on the card when the 15 months are up, standard interest charges will apply to what is left.

The steps

  1. 01

    Check the spring sales

    Wait for a holiday weekend in spring when outdoor gear goes on promotion. Brands like Yakima and Thule often run discounts, or retailers offer site-wide coupons. Do not buy at full price if you can help it.

  2. 02

    Measure your roof clearance

    Check your SUV manual for weight limits on the factory rails. Make sure the basket and gear will not make your vehicle too tall to clear your garage or parking decks.

  3. 03

    Line up the purchase window

    If you want to stretch out the $650 cost, use the Discover it® Cash Back card. You get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers to pay for the gear over time without adding interest.

  4. 04

    Set your monthly payment

    Take that $650 total and divide it across your timeframe. Paying about $43.33 per month clears the balance before any deferred interest or standard rates kick in.

  5. 05

    Install and test the fit

    Put the rack together in your driveway before you pack for a trip. Check all the bolts and listen for wind noise on a short highway test drive so you are not tightening things in a campsite parking lot.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Will a roof rack hurt my gas mileage?

Yes, adding extra gear to your roof creates wind drag. Expect to lose a couple of miles per gallon on the highway, especially when the cargo basket is fully loaded.

Should I buy universal or vehicle-specific crossbars?

Vehicle-specific towers fit better and look cleaner, but universal ones can move to your next car if you trade up. Check if your SUV already has factory side rails before you buy anything.

What is 0% intro APR?

It means the card company does not charge you interest on new purchases for a set period. You still have to make your monthly minimum payments, and you need to pay off the full amount before the window closes.

Are cargo baskets noisy at high speeds?

Many of them hum or whistle when you hit highway speeds. Buying a fairing—a small plastic wind deflector that sits at the front of the rack—usually cuts that noise right down.