Rooftop Storage: The MegaWarrior (Yakima)

When we began planning for our Epic Adventure 2, we knew we had a smaller vehicle than when we had done our previous long road trip. We also had bigger kids and a bigger dog. So we were looking for ways to maximize space. Of course we looked to the roof rack which I have used in the past. However, I wanted to have a better way to organize and contain gear. I knew some of the gear would be smaller (i.e kids razor scooters, bottle jack, spare gas can, etc.).  Enter the Yakima MegaWarrior to save the day.

Yakima makes two models of roof baskets. The LoadWarrior is the smaller of the two and is comparable to most other roof baskets out there. At 39 inches wide and 44 inches long, it does provide some decent rooftop storage. The MegaWarrior is the larger of the two and the one I chose. The MegaWarrior is really designed for larger vehicles but it can fit any size since it just clamps to the cross bars. At 44 inches wide and 52 inches long, it provides 45% more space than the Load Warrior. The MegaWarrior also has an optional 22 inch expansion which adds another 40% space increase (though I wouldn't add that unless you have an Expedition or Suburban or something else with a long roof). The width of the MegaWarrior is an intimidating look that does stand out with an average size vehicle. If you don't want your rack to dominate your vehicle lines, then opt for the smaller LoadWarrior.

Note: I do use bike cables to lock the action packers to the rack.

I can fit three 8-gallon Action Packers across the MegaWarrior. After measuring, I concluded that I could technically get 6 of those Action Packers on the roof (in two rows) and still have room in there. Obviously, the more gear you add to the top the more your gas mileage will suffer and the more your center of gravity will elevate. So you need to make sure that you aren't overdoing it especially if you'll be off road. Also, you'll need to take slower turns with the rack loaded down. You need to check your manufacturer's specifications for the amount of weight you can put on your rack/roof. The MegaWarrior weighs 35 lbs so you'll need to deduct that from the weight limits. So if you're manufacturer says 200 lbs is the limit, then with a MegaWarrior up there your limit is really 165 lbs.

I use the roof rack regularly to pack items on. Even my fishing poles get tied up there. I love it and expect it to be useful for years to come.  I also like that I can tie a tarp off of it for coverage if I need. I've put my canoe up on it without any issues. Typically, I carry the kids scooters, a tarp, and the action packers. You may be wondering what I put in the action packers, well that varies but cooking supplies, food, tools, kids games and toys, are some of the things I've packed in them over the years on different trips. Since our big trip in 2017, our Kia was totaled when someone ran into it at an intersection (everyone was ok). We've since bought a 2015 GMC Acadia and have the roof basket attached to it and have used it for trips and adventures. Overall, a roof basket can get you that little bit of extra space you need when traveling at a small sacrifice in gas mileage.