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In the sunset, a family parked by the water with a car that has a Thule Arcos cargo box.

Pros and cons – why choose a towbar cargo carrier?

Why choose a towbar cargo carrier? Here are some towbar cargo carrier pros and cons so that you can choose the best cargo carrier solution for you.

Towbar cargo carriers are a great way to bring the gear you need for fun outdoor adventures, they’re also a smart way to add more storage space to a compact city car.

Towbar cargo carriers are a great way to bring all the gear you need for fun outdoor adventures, they’re also a smart way to add more storage space to a compact city car.

But what exactly is the difference between a roof box and a towbar cargo carrier, and which one will fit your lifestyle the best?

In this guide we’ll dig into the pros and cons of towbar cargo carriers, and compare them to traditional rooftop cargo carriers.


A world of possibilities at the back of your car

Rear-of-car solutions take you and your gear further...

A sketch of a vehicle with the Thule Onto towbar cargo carrier in the back of the car.
Towbar cargo boxes are the most aerodynamic solution thanks to their position at the back of the car.

...get more out of your vehicle...

...utilize your electric vehicle in ways you didn’t know were possible

A vehicle is parked next to a dirt road with a towbar cargo box mounted on the back.
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 or trunk, and get ready for the adventure.

Unsure whether to choose a rear cargo box or a roof box?

A vehicle is parked in the snow next to a snowy forest with a Thule Vector roof box.
Roof boxes are designed to be as streamlined as possible to decrease wind resistance. Thule designs some of the most streamlined boxes on the market. Rooftop cargo carriers are also the best option to transport your skis or snowboards. Keep reading below to see more differences!

Towbar cargo carrier pros and cons

A couple look out at a car is parked in the grass in the mist with a Thule Arcos towbar cargo box.

Pros of a towbar cargo carrier:

  • Super aerodynamic. Thanks to the towbar cargo box’s location at the back of the car, it’s naturally an aerodynamic spot that causes no impact on your fuel consumption or the range of your electric vehicle*

  • Less wind drag means you use less fuel and electricity while driving with your gear packed

  • The boxes’ aerodynamic nature also makes them super quiet when you’re driving

  • They give you the option to store gear even if your vehicle – like certain e-vehicles – doesn’t let you put anything on the roof

  • Great if you want to leave space on the roof racks for other sports carriers

  • The towbar cargo carrier is closer to the ground which makes it easy to pack heavy items. If you’re a parent in a rush, for example, you’ll appreciate being able to throw your stroller in the rear cargo box without having to do any high lifting

  • Certain towbar cargo carriers can be combined with a bike rack

Cons of a towbar cargo carrier:

  • You take up more space at the rear compared to a roof box, which might make it harder to parallel park

  • Since towbar cargo carriers can’t carry skis – a roof box or a ski rack is a better option for a ski holiday

Towbar mounted cargo carrier vs roof box

Aerodynamics

A black vehicle is parked on the street with a black Thule Vector roof box.

Roof boxes are designed to be as streamlined as possible and Thule designs some of the most aerodynamic boxes on the market. They are a great option for vehicles that can carry something on the roof.

A vehicle with the Thule Arcos hitch caro carrier is parked in the woods by a lake.

Towbar cargo carriers, on the other hand, have the advantage of being at the back of the car in a place that barely affects wind resistance at all.

Towbar trailer cargo carriers like the Thule Arcos generate little to no wind drag. This means that, with a Thule Arcos towbar cargo carrier, you’ll be using the same amount of gas or electricity as a vehicle without anything on it.

They’re a great option for those who do not want to carry anything on their roof.

Position on the vehicle

Towbar cargo carriers are installed at the back of your vehicle. This makes them ideal for e-vehicles or other cars that cannot handle a heavy load on the roof.

Roof boxes, on the other hand, are positioned on the roof (pretty obvious considering their name!) and this can be handy, too. All roof boxes let you use the trunk as normal, and Thule roof boxes are specifically designed to not interfere with the trunk door.

If you want access to the trunk with a towbar cargo carrier you have to specifically choose a box that swings away, tilts down, or sits low enough so that you still have access to the trunk. Thule Arcos has a curved design and sits low down so that you can access the trunk whenever you need to.

An advantage with the positioning of the rear cargo carrier is that it’s lower down to the ground. This makes it really easy to pack all your stuff, since you don’t have to strain or stretch to reach your box.


When carrying bikes or skis

Carry bikes at the back of your vehicle

If you want to carry bikes at the back of your vehicle, towbar bike racks let you do just that.

Some towbar bike cracks even double up as a rear cargo box! Thule VeloSpace is a towbar bike rack that can be fitted with the Thule BackSpace XT and used as a cargo carrier instead. This means you can pack groceries or camping gear one day, and go for a bike trip the next.

Carry skis on the roof of your car

Roof boxes are a great option for transporting your skis. Especially the alpine-sized Thule roof cargo boxes, which are specifically designed for long skis up to 200cm. The largest Thule roof boxes fit skis up to 215cm. To find the right size for your skis, check out our guide on roof box sizes.
*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.

Remember the roof racks!

Thule roof boxes are mounted on the roof racks of your car. If you have roof racks already, make sure they’re compatible. If you don’t have roof racks yet, we have some great options!


Browse all our rear cargo carrier solutions