Towbar cargo carriers and other solutions for the back of your car

Rear cargo solutions are ideal when you prefer keeping your roof clear. With a rear cargo box, you can maximize your vehicle’s range and easily turn your compact city car into an adventure-ready companion.

There’s no need for a bigger vehicle just to carry your family and gear. Our rear cargo boxes transform your compact car into the perfect family transporter—ready for everyday errands, a day on the golf course, or a weekend at the summer house.

Rear-of-car cargo solutions are ideal for certain types of vehicles and adventurous lifestyles. Here’s why they're a great choice:

Improved fuel efficiency
Rear-mounted carriers create less wind resistance compared to roof racks, enhancing aerodynamics and fuel economy.

Easy loading and unloading
Loading bikes, skis, or cargo at the rear of your car is simpler and safer. You won't have to lift heavy items overhead, reducing strain on your back—particularly helpful when handling e-bikes or multiple pieces of gear.

Enhanced vehicle handling
Positioning cargo at the rear lowers your vehicle's center of gravity, improving stability and reducing sway or rollover risks.

Access to low-clearance areas
Rear-mounted cargo solutions eliminate height restrictions, making it easy to access garages, parking structures, and tunnels without worry.

Reduced wind noise
Gear placed behind your vehicle is shielded from direct airflow, resulting in a quieter, more comfortable ride.

Less risk of damage
Avoid the potential for scratches and dents caused by lifting equipment onto the roof. Plus, you'll reduce the risk of accidentally hitting overhead obstacles.

Convenient access to your gear
Your bikes, luggage, or adventure equipment are always within easy reach—no climbing or stretching required.

Rear cargo carriers are a versatile solution that gives you a range of creative ways to maximize the packing capacity of your vehicle.

Turn your compact city car into an adventure car

A rear cargo carrier lets you use your compact city car in a variety of ways. Load on your bikes and head out into the unknown one day, and pack your bags for a weekend trip the next. The choice is yours, we provide you with the solutions.

A rear-of-car solution saves space on the roof of your vehicle for other sports carriers. Why not put your luggage in the back, and your bikes or board on the roof?

Certain rear cargo carriers are tiltable, others sit very low down – but both kinds let you easily access the trunk of your car at any time. A rear cargo carrier is also easier to load or unload, since it’s closer to the ground.

Get better range with a rear-of-car cargo box

We know from data models and wind tunnel tests at the Thule Test Center that a rear-of-car cargo solution makes for better aerodynamics than having nothing on your vehicle at all.

It may seem strange at first – how can you possibly lower the air resistance by adding a large cargo box to the back of the car? But the results speak for themselves.

We drove a total of 5400 km in varying weather conditions with a fleet of Volkswagen ID4 – one of the most popular electric vehicles on the market. The results were interesting, to say the least.

The average consumption (kWh/100km) of a vehicle with the Thule Arcos towbar box was 95 %. This means that when we drove the Volkswagen ID4 with Thule Arcos mounted, the range improved by 5%* compared to the cars with nothing on them at all. So based on the battery of size of the ID4 and the consumption measured during the tests, we could travel roughly 17 km further*. This data is also backed up by computer simulations that showed a similar result.

We were able to drive farther – and at the same time, we could bring more gear.

This is supported by an external test by Vi Bilägare, Sweden's largest car magazine. It was founded in 1930 and features travel reports and test drives of cars and car accessories.

They tested a roof box and our Thule Onto rear cargo box with both electric and fuel-driven cars.

Vi Bilägare found that the towbar cargo carrier created less wind drag than a roof box, and consumed less fuel and electricity than a car with nothing on it at all.

“One way to get more packing space without increasing energy consumption is the latest trend of mounting a cargo box on the car's towbar,” they explain in their article, “We found that both the petrol car and the electric car had slightly lower consumption with the box fitted than when the car was running completely empty on the test route”.

Read the article from Vi Bilägare (in Swedish).

Certain electric vehicles have restrictions on roof load capacity. With a rear-of-car cargo carrier solution, you don’t have to worry about this. Simply attach your bike rack or cargo carrier to your towbar and get ready for the adventure.

Bring your bike and extra gear with a towbar cargo box

If you love cycling adventures but need extra storage for your gear, a towbar-mounted cargo box with bike-carrying capability is the perfect solution. This innovative design allows you to transport your bike securely while keeping additional luggage, camping gear, or sports equipment safely stored inside the cargo box.

Why choose a towbar cargo box with bike transport?

• Carry your bike and extra gear without using roof space

• Maintain the aerodynamics and range of your EV or fuel-driven vehicle

• Easy access to your gear and bike, thanks to low-mounted storage

• Perfect for road trips, weekend getaways, and outdoor adventures

With a towbar cargo box and a compatible bike rack, you can transform your vehicle into the ultimate adventure machine—bringing everything you need in a single, compact setup.

*Internal tests at Thule show that our rear cargo boxes have an improved effect on the range of your vehicle. However, many parameters can affect your vehicle’s fuel consumption or battery range. Therefore, you may see results that differ from ours.