Roof box vs roof basket vs??

So I need to get a roof box or basket or something to carry extra stuff on the roof of our new CX50 for occasionally trips where everything won't fit in the car. Does anyone have suggestions of what is the best way to do this? I am leaning towards a box. Are there options cheaper the Thule that are decent quality?

Depends on what sort of extra stuff you had on mind.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

Luggage largely.

I hate spending money on stuff I know I will use only rarely.  We were looking at options for rooftop cargo back when the kids were young, travel with babies involved bringing a ton of stuff, and the Mazda MPV was just a little too small.  We opted for a soft carrier--basically a zippered nylon bag that strapped to the rooftop luggage rack.  If you're traveling in the rain, it sucks, but otherwise, we were very happy with it.  Still have it, in fact, though I probably haven't used it in a couple years.

Great for bulky stuff that can gain some rain protection by stuffing in big plastic bags.  We used it for pillows, blankets, tennis rackets, golf clubs (!), extra pairs of shoes, you get the idea. 

I can only think of one or two times we encountered heavy rain.  The bag does a decent job of keeping stuff from getting soaked, and if you've stuffed the stuff into a garbage bag, it really doesn't get that wet.

Given the low cost, we were happy with it.  Reasonably capable and easy to use, and takes up not a lot of space when you're not using it, which is most of the time.

I've had really good luck searching the classifieds (Craigslist, Kijiji, etc). A few years ago I scored a really nice Thule box that's been great. 
I like the weather proof and lock-able features that an enclosed carrier provides.

I have an old Sears roof box that does great.  Has a lock and keeps things dry.  Use it everytime we go to the beach to keep anything sandy out of the car for the ride back

+1 for a car top carrier. They are lockable and will keep things dry. I prefer the lower profile streamlined version. Marketplace and Craigslist are frequently covered with them for cheap. 

Roof top shopping cart rack

birdmayne said:

Roof top shopping cart rack

Obviously.

I live where there's plenty of rain and would want to make sure luggage is well protected, so I'd pick a waterproof box or a small trailer here.

I've been using a soft bag for some years as it was a good cheap answer.  A quick FB hunt shows me lots of Thule and Yak units in the $250 rabgw which for security and ease of install would be nice!

The few times we used, we borrowed the box from a friend!  That was great and the friend was much better equipped to store it than we were.  

I agree on the idea of buy used.  You can then sell it, rather easily, for what you paid for it if you ever want it gone.  

Sears sold a ton of these boxes in years past.  Their brand name was X-Cargo so add that name to your search also.  What we borrowed was the XCargo 20 which I think was their largest (20 cubic ft. capacity)  

Jegs and Cabellas now sell a private label version of these too at around $300

Does your CX50 already have cross bars?  I think on the CX50 the fore/aft rails are standard but the needed side-to-side rails are a dealer accessory (or aftermarket.)  

https://www.msmazda.com/mazda-cx-50-accessories 

Our Mazda5 required aftermarket cross rails that attached to the factory mounting points.  

Toyman! said:

+1 for a car top carrier. They are lockable and will keep things dry. I prefer the lower profile streamlined version. 

I've used two of the ones that looked like a charcoal briquette. Both used. One free. I think I'd like the longer narrow lower one better, but they have a higher buy in price to find out. 
I've used the soft type, and was underwhelmed. OK, as long as ya know their limitations going in. 

Toyman! said:

Marketplace and Craigslist are frequently covered with them. Sometimes for cheap. 

There. Fixed that for ya 

Courius side question. What is the difference between a Mazda CX 50, and a Mazda 5? I assume by some answers here, it's more than a rename for a year difference?

I remember when the 323 and 626 changed names, but wasn't really paying attention to japan imports in the early 90s. 

In reply to 03Panther :

https://www.google.com/

Cx50

Maz5

How about a trailer hitch platform? After looking for roof rack carriers, the reviews of all of the soft packs was that they fell apart after little use, and the hard cased ones where too small and expensive.

After two trips to national parks in Montana and Wyoming just cinch strapping totes to the roof which worked great because we could just bring them into the hotel rooms, I thought it would be a good idea for the next trip to Colorado to buy a hitch rack. I had U-haul install a trailer receiver on our Ford Windstar minivan, and bought a nice raised, swan necked platform hitch rack but after loading four totes with all of our stuff and stuffing 6 adults in the van, we couldn't make it out of our driveway and around the corner without it dragging on the ground we went back to the tote system.

I have always planned on cutting up and extending the swan neck higher and installing Firestone coil spring bladder air bags but then Covid 19 hit and we haven't gone anywhere since. The roof totes worked great traveling 80mph down the highway.

Mom and I couldn't figure out why our kids where mortified riding across the country looking like the Beverly Hillbillies.

I have done just about every version of this. They all have their pros and cons, but if cost and storage are no object, here is my ranking for using it for vacation trips: 

1. Boat on a trailer (a boat can hold a LOT of luggage, and then you have a boat to use at your destination!)
2. Cartop carrier on a 4x4 trailer
3. Cartop carrier
4. Trailer hitch shelf
5. Soft bag type carrier

I would personally hold out for a Thule or Yakima. The X-Cargo and other cheaper options work just fine, but they're just not as good as the Yakima that my parents purchased in 1999 and is now in my garage 23 years later. The X-cargo hardware was more annoying, the locks and hinges just not as good. But they are fine if you come across a good deal - and I've gotten two of them used for less than $20 each. 
 

In reply to mtn :

You nailed it! I agree with all of that. 

03Panther said:

Courius side question. What is the difference between a Mazda CX 50, and a Mazda 5? I assume by some answers here, it's more than a rename for a year difference?

I remember when the 323 and 626 changed names, but wasn't really paying attention to japan imports in the early 90s. 

CX5 or Mazda 5. The Mazda 5 was a small minivan that is no longer in production. The CX5 is a midsized SUV.

The differences between the CX50 is the CX50 has a bit more of a wagon like profile then the CX5 (lower roof, wider and longer) and feels more like a wagon from the drivers seat (kind Outback like) and it adds a tow mode and off road mode.

The CX5 has a bit better ride comfort and a bit more of a SUV seating position.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Yes I have Cross bars.

In reply to VolvoHeretic :

The reason I want roof top is because I want to also be able to use my hitch mount bike rack

Used boxes here in Colorado cost almost as much as new ones.  They're great for skis/snowboards but most aren't really tall enough to fit real luggage, unless it's a duffel bag that you can squish down...