Customer Reviews: Read 138 more reviews...
 There and Back Again June 25, 2007
Ralph Fontcuberta (Little Rock, AR USA)
56 out of 58 found this review helpful
We've had the Highland Kar-Pak since our first family trip to Disney World in 2002, and we've used it many a times since: trips to Disney World, trips to Gulf Shores, a few visits to Texas and, the big one, our evacuation from New Orleans a few days before Hurricane Katrina struck. Not to be overly glowing, but this thing helped us save a lot more since we could cram it full.
It holds a bundle, stores quickly, cleans up easily (bug splatter is no match for scrub brush & water, eh), is arguably leak-proof (never had a problem even through the worst rains), and attaches easily and securely (and not to dismiss another person's review/opinion, but the carrier box clearly stated "Roof Rack Mount"; however, I can see confusion with roof rack and roof bars -- those bars on the roof when you get the van/suv/etc are just styling until you add a cross-bar).
My wife came across this model locally in N.O. when we were searching for something for the roof to carry luggage on our first real driving vacation. We had looked at a lot of the hard-side ones, which were all extremely expensive and sorely lacking in capacity. She found this and we thought it might be a quick-fix but we've used it ever since and have no plans to replace it.
FWIW, a tip: get some big safety pins. Though you can tie the excess strap up it's easier to use a safety pin to pin up the excess. You don't have to, but the excess strap tends to flap in the wind and will drive you a little batty.
 Cross-bars needed, but they don't tell you that. June 20, 2007
H. Vanderhaar
24 out of 31 found this review helpful
I haven't installed and used this carrier yet, so I can't speak to its quality, but shoppers should be aware that when it says "attaches to any factory roof rack," that's not the whole story. Nowhere does it state that crossbars are a necessity to install this carrier, so I assumed my factory side rails would be adequate.
Had I known this when ordering, Amazon could've sold me the crossbars at the same time. Sadly for them, they lost a sale because the bars won't arrive in time for my cross-country move, and I will need to shop locally--something I really don't have time for.
Amazon, do your customers a favor and tell them upfront what is required to install and use this product!
My experience differs June 10, 2007
Robert M. Bowers (Beale AFB, CA, USA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
I see other people had some problems with excessive flapping, but the carrier kept their belongings dry. Well, on a trip from Oklahoma to northern California, we had no problems with flapping, even though we hadn't used any tie-downs other than the straps provided. Unfortunately, everything in the carrier was dampened somehow. The carrier had been through rain, snow, and hail on the trip, so it's not exactly surprising that this had occurred; it's just not what I had come to expect based on the other customer reviews. I didn't see anywhere that the bag had been perforated, so maybe it just isn't as waterproof as advertised.
Highland WATERPROOF Softside Rooftop Carrier June 29, 2006
rockers6 (tinley park il)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
The rooftop carrier was easy to install on my van. On our families first road trip we used the carrier and we had packed our clothes in the carrier. We drove through a heavy rain storm and when we opened the carrier at the hotel everthing was dry inside the carrier.
Does not fit "all" vehicles with roof racks as advertised. June 28, 2007
E. J Tastad (Marion, IA United States)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
The packaging clearly says that it fits all vehicles with roof racks, Cars, Vans, SUVs, and RVs. However, what they don't tell you is that your cross bars have to be about 38" apart at a minimum, that is 17" more than mine are on my '07 Rondo. Don't expect this to fit your factory cross bars, but it should be fine with any Yakima/Thule rack with adjustable bars, just make sure you can get them 38" apart.
How was the product? Quality seems okay, but I don't think it would last long from UV from the sun. Probably only a couple years. It is basically a rubber bag that goes on your roof and attached with 4 flimsy nylon straps. It is a good deal for someone who only uses it once or twice a year, but if you use it all the time you would probably be replacing it regularly. I will be returning this and looking for something that fits. If it did fit, I would keep it as I do fit the usage profile.
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