Soft or Hard?

monster · 07-31-2007, 11:31 AM

We're heading off on our road trip on Saturday and need to use a roof-top-carrier thingy for the first time (darned children growing and demanding legroom.....)

Friends have lend us a canvas strap-on (

), but there are hard boxes on sale at Sears this week, and we're bound to need one again in the future.

Does anybody have any experience of using these? Which would you recommend? Seems like the hard box may be easier to drive with (less resistance) and easier to attach, but will take up so much storage space and has no flexibility in it's dimensions.

All opinions appreciated, exspecially those packed with double entendres or creative ideas for child storage/size reduction

glatt · 07-31-2007, 11:44 AM

Hard boxes look more stylish. Might be better for fuel economy too.

Flint · 07-31-2007, 11:45 AM

Hard storage cases are preferrable in so many ways: they protect your stuff, they provide a framework for packing loose, irregularly-sized objects (you don't want a container to have "flexibility in it's dimensions"!) etc.

I have used a hard storage case on top of a van, for a family vacation, and it worked great. I've also toted stuff around every day for years, as a drummer, a computer guy, and when I used to work in the construction field; and hard cases are what you will be wanting if you use this storage much. Floppy storage bags are so frustrating and unreliable, even dangerous. Establish a consistent storage area that you can count on.

yesman065 · 07-31-2007, 12:11 PM

Flint nailed it - and the security isssue too - My bro in law had a soft one "disappear" while they were at a rest stop - NOT cool. I have a hard one - works great keeps stuff dry and its more aerodynamic than the soft ones. Yes the storage is a drag, mine is in the cellar (hahaha) attached to the rafters & out of the way.

Flint · 07-31-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Yes the storage is a drag, mine is in the cellar (hahaha) attached to the rafters & out of the way.

You could also do bicycle hooks to the ceiling of the garage, etc.

yesman065 · 07-31-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

You could also do bicycle hooks to the ceiling of the garage, etc.

Good point - not for me though - I don't have a garage.

wolf · 07-31-2007, 12:43 PM

Use it as a coffee table when you're not travelling.

07-31-2007, 01:26 PM

I find it very strange that people care how it looks.
I would choose hard.

glatt · 07-31-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

I find it very strange that people care how it looks.

You've never bought anything based in part on looks?

07-31-2007, 01:46 PM

If all things were the same and that was the last aspect in consideration or the main function of the object.

glatt · 07-31-2007, 01:55 PM

So you would care how it looks. OK.

07-31-2007, 02:13 PM

Is that what you got out of that? LOL!
In NO way would I make my decision on which one to get based on looks.

Weird Harold · 07-31-2007, 02:45 PM

I usually buy based on looks, as long as it will work good too, but this is a luggage carrier. It's going to nerd up your vehicle, no mater which one you choose. Just accept the fact that you are now Clark Griswold, and don't worry about looks.

monster · 07-31-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weird Harold

It's going to nerd up your vehicle, no mater which one you choose. Just accept the fact that you are now Clark Griswold, and don't worry about looks.

I drive a bright red slightly battered 6yo Windstar -you can't make them look any more nerdy

(no I don't care what it looks like -function and price is all).

With the "flexibility of dimensions" I was thinking along the lines of being able to absolutely stuff it at one side -the flexibility allowing me to squeeze things in that might not have made it into a rigid box, but I hadn't considered the security angle at all, really -I usally chain things on anyway, but.....

All good points, thanks

07-31-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

function and price is all

07-31-2007, 11:31 AM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Soft or Hard? We're heading off on our road trip on Saturday and need to use a roof-top-carrier thingy for the first time (darned children growing and demanding legroom.....) Friends have lend us a canvas strap-on (), but there are hard boxes on sale at Sears this week, and we're bound to need one again in the future. Does anybody have any experience of using these? Which would you recommend? Seems like the hard box may be easier to drive with (less resistance) and easier to attach, but will take up so much storage space and has no flexibility in it's dimensions. All opinions appreciated, exspecially those packed with double entendres or creative ideas for child storage/size reduction __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-31-2007, 11:45 AM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Hard storage cases are preferrable in so many ways: they protect your stuff, they provide a framework for packing loose, irregularly-sized objects (you don't want a container to have "flexibility in it's dimensions"!) etc. I have used a hard storage case on top of a van, for a family vacation, and it worked great. I've also toted stuff around every day for years, as a drummer, a computer guy, and when I used to work in the construction field; and hard cases are what you will be wanting if you use this storage much. Floppy storage bags are so frustrating and unreliable, even dangerous. Establish a consistent storage area that you can count on. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

07-31-2007, 12:11 PM	#4
yesman065 Banned - Self Imposed Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,847	Flint nailed it - and the security isssue too - My bro in law had a soft one "disappear" while they were at a rest stop - NOT cool. I have a hard one - works great keeps stuff dry and its more aerodynamic than the soft ones. Yes the storage is a drag, mine is in the cellar (hahaha) attached to the rafters & out of the way. Last edited by yesman065; 07-31-2007 at 02:50 PM.

07-31-2007, 12:43 PM	#7
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Use it as a coffee table when you're not travelling. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-31-2007, 02:45 PM	#13
Weird Harold Vice-President of Resentment Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 199	I usually buy based on looks, as long as it will work good too, but this is a luggage carrier. It's going to nerd up your vehicle, no mater which one you choose. Just accept the fact that you are now Clark Griswold, and don't worry about looks. __________________ I don't need a whole lottsa money. I don't need a big fine car.

07-31-2007, 11:44 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Hard boxes look more stylish. Might be better for fuel economy too.

07-31-2007, 01:26 PM	#8
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	I find it very strange that people care how it looks. I would choose hard.

07-31-2007, 01:46 PM	#10
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	If all things were the same and that was the last aspect in consideration or the main function of the object.

07-31-2007, 01:55 PM	#11
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	So you would care how it looks. OK.

07-31-2007, 02:13 PM	#12
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Is that what you got out of that? LOL! In NO way would I make my decision on which one to get based on looks.

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