Rooftop Cargo Carrier - Advice Requested

springoflife wrote:
I have three young children who absolutely love to go camping. I have a popup, and a minivan tow vehicle. I do not have funds to upgrade either of those. But as the children get older, it seems I need to pack more stuff (bigger kids = bigger clothes = bigger suitcases, not to mention more food!!) So I need a relatively inexpensive way to conserve space and haul more items.

My minivan has a factory roof rack that I have never used. Weight limit is 110 pounds. I have heard that regardless of what type of rooftop carrier is used (hardside or softshell), rain will penetrate the seams, the seals, or the cloth itself to make clothes damp. But what is to prevent me from putting firewood or coolers up there? Or maybe put the clothes inside shallow plastic totes first, then put the totes inside the carrier?

I would be open to suggestions for:
What type of carrier to buy (hard, soft, brand, model, etc)
What kinds of items to haul in a rooftop carrier.
Tips for how to haul the items in the carrier.

Thanks in advance!

I see part of the problem, stop hauling firewood.

I have a bag type rooftop carrier that doesn't leak and I have had hard shell carriers that didn't leak.

If they do start to leak, double bag; put things in a trash bag and then into the carrier.

To minimize vehicle handling problems, only put lightweight items on roof.