2012 Mazda5 - Roof Cargo Bag suggestions?

[vicsing]

Hi, We have a 2012 Mazda5. We park in a garage in the city which discourages cars from having Roof cargo boxes (i.e, you can have them but then you get charged the "SUV" parking rate instead of the cheaper "sedan" rate!)

So we are looking buying at a roof top cargo bag instead (Thule Quest?) which 'folds' down whn empty and can be removed more easily than a Box.

However it seems that the only way to install a cargo BAG is to tie them to a Roof Rack. All the roof racks we are looking at (the OEM one, THule 460 Podium, INNO XR/TR120 etc) have the front and rear cross bars very close to each other (32 to 34 inches apart).

This distance is too close for even the smallest bag we found. i..e, the Thule Quest is 40 inches in length which is almost 6-7 inches too long for the bars.

Any ideas from folks who have used Roof Cargo Bags on a Mazda5? Should we just get the 40" bag and have it be little loose? Any other 'shorter' Roof cargo bag folks have found? Any other ideas?

thanks in advance

 

[flcruising]

I'm not understanding your question here. Because the roof rack cross bars are 6-8" closer that the length of the bag, you don't think it will fit securely? Why?

The bag sits on top of the roof rack, so if the bag is shorter than the bar spacing, it won't fit at all.

 

[90210]

Anyone have any pics of these bags?

 

[flcruising]

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

http://www.google.com/search?client...gc.r_pw.&fp=be9bb0a3e4e4e6cd&biw=1318&bih=844

 

[njaremka]

we have the thule quest bag, and it fits just right between the roof bars of the mazda5 - and its almost too short to not rest on the roof when installed.

 

[flcruising]

Well there you go, the bag can sit on the roof between the bars just like some that sit on top of the bars.

 

[vicsing]

Thanks, as you have mentioned, it seems there are two types of roof cargo bags:
1) Those that attach to the ROOF (e.g., THULE QUEST)
2) Those that attach to the ROOF Rack/ Cross bars (e.g., THULE 630 Ranger)

The former are 'soft' all around and even if they are 'longer' than the distance between the front and rear cross bars it seems they can be 'draped' over the rear cross bar (at least according to the Thule Quest instructions)
The latter are soft but have a 'firm' base and since they it on top of the racks they can be longer than the distance between the two cross bars.

Sorry if this this obvious to you! It wasn't to me until i read your comments and did a little more online research

 

[njaremka]

the thule quest is designed to attach to the roof rack, not the roof. however, because it has a soft bottom, it will likely sit on the roof. (unless you stick something rigid inside it to hold it up)

 

[flcruising]

I'd be leary to place one directly on my roof as I'm sure dirt would end up scratching the paint all up. I don't know what the bottom of the bags are like, but it would seem that a thorough cleaning and possibly a towel as a buffer between the two would be necessary.