Goplus Rooftop Carrier Review

The Goplus Rooftop Carrier stands out a bit from some of the other budget options in that it is available in some unique colors, and the clamps are designed for a fairly universal fit, provided your bars aren't spaced too far apart.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

First and foremost, we rated and ranked each rooftop cargo box's user-friendliness and ease of operation. We based our assessment on how much work it took to assemble each product, how easy it is to take on or off your car, and how convenient it is to use during daily operation. While we don't think the Goplus is the absolute easiest to use when it comes to these products, it's definitely up there in our minds and scored quite well in this category.

While this product doesn't arrive completely assembled, it took us less than 5 minutes to get ready to mount on the car. Rather than relying on a U-bolt system, the Goplus comes with four quick clamps that you just need to push into their respective slots. You can do this on the ground or once the box is on the crossbars. There is a piece of rubber in each slot to minimize water intrusion, but the rubber piece wasn't slit all the way through on the unit we reviewed. However, a quick pass with a razor blade remedied that.

Once the clamps are through the slots and centered over the crossbars, you just need to tighten the knob to secure the box into position. Unfortunately, there isn't an audible click or another indicator to alert you that you have tightened the clamps sufficiently, so you'll have to rely on your judgment for that. We would also recommend checking the clamps periodically to ensure they haven't started to come loose, particularly on longer road trips and right after the initial install.

This clamp system is much faster — and our much preferred mounting system — than the boxes that use a series of U-bolts and thumb knobs, making it much quicker and easier to install or remove. It probably only took us 5-10 minutes once we got the hang of it, making this a great choice if you don't want to leave it on your car all the time and only use it occasionally. And, as one of the lightest cargo boxes we have ever tested, it's pretty easy to lift atop a car without needing additional help, too.

Once this cargo box is installed on your car, we found it very convenient and easy to use. It's a little shorter than many of the other options, so the lid isn't overly floppy, and the opening mechanism operates very smoothly. Even better, the Goplus is dual-opening, so you can easily access your gear from both sides of the car. It comes with an extra key, and the locking mechanism is easy to turn, making it a cinch to lock or unlock.

Security

Our next set of evaluations looked at the security of each cargo box, mainly focusing on the locking mechanism. However, it is essential to note that we believe a determined thief would be able to get into any one of these products without too much effort. You might not want to leave your valuable gear unattended for long periods if you think you are in an area with a risk of theft. In this regard, we think the Goplus is about average.

The Goplus uses a larger specialized key prevalent on many other cargo boxes, making it nice and solid when locking or unlocking. This box doesn't have any indicators if it's locked or unlocked, but it won't let you remove the key if the box is unlocked, ensuring that you don't accidentally leave it unlocked and drive off.

Quality

Our next set of assessments evaluated and scored the build quality and durability of each cargo box. We awarded points based on our overall impression of each product, how sturdy the hinges and lid felt, and if there was any damage after our side-by-side testing process.

This cargo carrier didn't suffer any noticeable damage throughout our testing, and we think it is pretty sturdy compared to its competition. We could see some problems occurring by tightening down the clamps too much, and the rubber gaskets that the clamps push through could deteriorate or tear over time. These rubber slits also provide some opportunity for water to enter, though it is unlikely since they are underneath the box and tucked away from the edges.

We did like that the lid seems considerably less floppy than some of the other models since this cargo carrier is a little shorter than the others. The dimpled texture also does a good job of hiding scratches and scuffs, making everyday wear and tear much less noticeable.

The lock, locking mechanism, and hinges are all about average quality. We think it would take a decent amount of force to break them, but we wouldn't be too surprised if you damaged them with excessive force.

Appearance

Our last set of tests focused on the appearance of each cargo carrier. While these products all look somewhat similar, a few stand out a little bit and look just slightly more sleek and stylish than their counterparts. Overall, we like the aesthetics of the Goplus quite a lot.

We generally think this cargo box complements the style of most cars. It is frequently available in more colors than most boxes, allowing you some options for matching your vehicle. This cargo box also has a dimpled exterior with a more matte finish than many other options, helping hide scuffs and scrapes.

Value

We think this cargo carrier is a great option for anyone shopping on a tighter budget. The Goplus has many of the convenience features present on higher-end options, all while costing considerably less.

Conclusion