Yakima Sky Box Pro 21 Cargo Box

I received my skybox 21 and it fit (out of the box) onto my 2005 Expedition. I haven't driven with it on the highway but it seems solid.

Hey DaveOntario,

I checked with Yakima and here is what I found:

With Crossbars: Through Yakima, they did not have any Cargo Boxes that would fit the crossbars of a 2005 Ford Expedition with custom modification.

Without Crossbars: If you can take your crossbars off (I have a 2008 Ford Explorer and I can remove them on that vehicle), you open up a few base rack options to get a cargo box up there.

The short answer to your question is if you want to keep the current crossbars, then yes, a custom mounting kit is needed. If not, then you could go with a base rack/crossbar system from Yakima along with the Yakima Sky Box Pro 21 Cargo Box. If you are interested in going with the custom kit, I would contact Yakima directly. If not, please use the fit guide on the Yakima website to pick out exactly what you would want for a base rack/crossbar system.

Hey Dave,

The finishes used on the two boxes is where they differentiate. The finish that is used on the Pro series is a higher quality, automotive type finish that includes a better scratch-resistant protective coating. Also, the Pro comes with an integrated gear management system along with the cargo net.

If by "get the most for" you mean size, then you will probably want to go with either the one above or the Thule Atlantis 2100 XT. They're both 21 square feet, which will add a lot of space! Personally, I usually prefer Thule, which is the one on sale in this case. The Yakima one does have a lifetime warranty as opposed to the 1 year warranty from Thule. The Yakima one has a new, more aerodynamic design to reduce the drag you feel from it being on top of your car. Essentially, they will do about the same thing, so it comes down to preference and price.

It is technically possible, but it depends on your exact configuration and isn't generally recommend, so I'll give you some things to consider.

The width of this box is 36", plus you'll need some room between the two to allow for easy opening. The classic Rocket Box is only 24" wide, and might be the box you saw doubled up in the past.

Depending on the type of towers/mounts you have for your crossbars, you should be able to mount the box so one side of it sits outside of the side rails of your tahoe. This means you'll need long enough bars, and it will overhang the side of the vehicle.

Another problem with two boxes is weight. Most base racks are rated for about 150lbs. The Sky Box 21 weights 62lbs, so with two you are already at 124lbs which doesn't leave much for cargo.

Without knowing your exact situation, if you aren't using your hitch for anything, I would recommend looking at a hitch mounted cargo box (Thule makes a couple) or other type of hitch carrier instead of the second box. It may be time to get a trailer instead.

Besides price and the name of Pro, you get some other great features with the Pro Model that you do not get with the Regular Sky Box. Though both are great products, the Pro includes a Pad on the inside to keep things quiet and riding smoothly in side the box and also a Cargo Net to keep everything in place. You move, but your gear stays in one place. The other difference is that you get an automotive grade "Paintable ABS" material that you could paint to match your car, but it comes in two great silver or Platinum colors that you may never want to paint it to match your car. The smooth finish also makes it easy to clean off the bugs you destroyed while out enjoying life instead of watching everyone else have the live you only dreamed of having.