Thule motion 900 cargo capsule for 150

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

Hi everyone,

My very first thread! i hope I am doing this right.
We have just taken possession of our new Prado GLX 2012 (awesome!) and we are already planning a trip (all bitumen at this stage I'm afraid) We need more boot space for all the crap we "need" to lug - kids gear etc. I am looking at my options (basket or capsule etc) My wife wants something lockable and weather proof, so the basket option is out. or is it?
I like the look of a Thule 900 motion cargo carrier, it might be the go. My GLX has the standard roof rails on it and I m told I just need to buy some Thule Aero cross bars and then the Thule capsule goes on top. Seems simple enough but I am worried that I might hand over my $1350 (capsule) and $270 (aero bars) and then find out they are not the way to go.

any experience with these? are they good? worth the money? problems? rival brands that are better? I want to purchase this week in order to def get them by Christmas.

any help appreciated

Turbo Ninja

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

No experience with the capsule, however reading your post and seeing a trip totally on bitumen and extra space needed, you are willing to spend $1600+ and want waterproof and lockable. What about a trailer? Fuel economy wont be much different, heaps easier to access stuff in the trailer, with your budget you should be able to get something waterproof and lockable, heaps more room than the capsule, 2 extra wheels too carry the weight and you can use the trailer for other purposes.

Just a thought.

Cheers Andrew

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

No experience with the capsule, however reading your post and seeing a trip totally on bitumen and extra space needed, you are willing to spend $1600+ and want waterproof and lockable. What about a trailer? Fuel economy wont be much different, heaps easier to access stuff in the trailer, with your budget you should be able to get something waterproof and lockable, heaps more room than the capsule, 2 extra wheels too carry the weight and you can use the trailer for other purposes.

Just a thought.

Cheers Andrew

thanks Andrew, we have considered a small trailer, problem is we already own a 9x5 tandem trailer with a cage and it would be too big to lug around for our needs. plus it costs us $180 a year to register (NSW RTA rip off IMHO) so we dont want another trailer. thanks for your input , it is a clever option but not for us.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

How much stuff do you have to carry? Are you reviewing what you carry & how you pack? The Prado has excellent carrying capacity.

If you think some of the stuff is not necessary, reduce what you take accordingly. It's a low risk if you forget something, especially if you're only doing a road trip.

Too much extra space breeds complacency & allows you to take more than you need (at a cost).

I'd start by first asking yourself, critically, what do we need to take before deciding on the next step.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Hi turbo ninja,

We use a Rola Odyssey Series Luggage Box 450 litres, it cost about $350 from Repco on special. It's certainly not as flash as the Thule ones, ours mounts with U bolts rather than the Thule system and only opens from one side.

It sits on a set of Thule cross bars, all works with no problems.

We had the smaller 360 litre unit first, sold that and ungraded. We load clothes, folding chairs, light food, fishing rods and gear, footballs, anything light actually, all the heavy stuff goes in the car. Friends have the roof rack and bag set up, it also works well but I think it's fairly hard work compared to the roof box.

I hope that helps.

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

Thanks, sounds like they work fine, your repco purchase obviously does the job. I will keep your tip about stacking light stuff only in this Thule. It holds 630 litres so it will take pressure off trying to stack everything inside the prado. As for the comment from ntp about limiting your gear , this is a very valid point and one that my lovely cooperative wife and i discussed calmly last night. Lol. I am a minimalist and could do the trip lighter but my darling dearest loves to take a few more things. We go away for 3 weeks so I guess we need to take some gear , the big money for the Thule might be a marriage saver ! Lol

[CruiserItaly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close CruiserItaly]

Hi Turbo Ninja,

I have on my LC150 a Thule Motion 900.
I can say that it is excellent, you pay the quality. Once I mistook, and I went with the front left wheels of my LC on the top of it...nothing happened, just some small sign!
Usually we travel for 2.000 Kms with the dog (big one) and our child, plus stroller.

In the roof box: 01 XL North Face duffel bag (140 litres) + 01 L North Face Duffel Bag (90 litres) + 01 M North Face Duffel Bag (70 litres) + stroller + other small bags and accessories.

Close to the Roof box you can use also a Rhino Rack basket (Rhino Steel Mesh Basket Long (RLBN), just if you want more space.

Like you I have the Toyota roof rails, and I am using the original Toyota cross bars.

Something very important: You can open this Thule from both sides, this is absolutely a must! It is much easier to fill it. If you have to buy something else, buy always with double side opening, don't mistake.

Ok, so that's all, write me if you need more advices.

greetings from Italy

[Guest Close Guest]

Don't forget the roof load capacity. With factory roof rails, you are allowed 80kg. And that includes the crossbars and the capsule. According to the specs, the Thule 900 weighs 27kg. The crossbars are about 3kg. This leave you 50kg for luggage. Is this enough?

Also need to consider storage space for the capsule when it is not used.

A platform rack is certainly very versatile and you would have to pack carefully and pack inside weatherproof luggage.

I have a hitch mount cargo carrier similar to this.
http://www.etrailer.com/tv-demo_rola...ier_59502.aspx
It doesn't take up a lot of room in storage and is behind the car, so helps with the aerodynamics.

Found an Australian company:
http://hitchmate.com.au/cargocarrier.php

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

Thanks CruiserItaly for your detailed comments, very helpful. The double sided opening sounds clever and helpful. Also to amts with your comments about total weight allowed - food for thought also. 50kg is not a lot but it will take some pressure off squeezing gear in the prado itself. I think I will purchase a Thule as the feedback is postive. Pay day tomorrow!

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

I have Rhino Heavy Duty bars and a lightweight alloy Rhino basket....I then purchased a Rhino Roof bag, fully weatherproof, easy to load and unload BUT not lockable of course. That set up allows 100Kg on the roof, and I think it would be less than the dollars you are quoting. I like the "flexibility" of the roof pack...less stuff, tie it down and it's lower, more stuff...it expands....so for me more versatile. When I go off road I leave the bag at home and use the roof for the 2nd Spare , any Jerrie cans (for example doing the Canning Stock Route next year so I'll need to carry 3 x 20 litres), my Gas Bottle (uses a Rhino attachment) and a Space case which I tie down using ratchet straps...works a treat for me, maybe another option to consider.

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

[QUOTE=Mark from Brisbane;380855]I have Rhino Heavy Duty bars and a lightweight alloy Rhino basket....I then purchased a Rhino Roof bag, fully weatherproof, easy to load and unload BUT not lockable of course.

sounds like the extra luggage space ie 100kg would be handy, however the lockable option does appeal to us (my wife in particular) How do you go when travelling and parked in town somewhere and there is a possibilty of someone thieving stuff from your basket? silly question? or do you just lug all that stuff inside motel/tent/caravan ?

[Guest Close Guest]

This is Australia. Where are you located?

We overnight in Hay with a trailer full of stuff and nothing goes missing. We also have stuff on the roof and it doesn't get nicked.

[turbo ninja Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close turbo ninja]

This is Australia. Where are you located?

We overnight in Hay with a trailer full of stuff and nothing goes missing. We also have stuff on the roof and it doesn't get nicked.

In Hay overnight eh? , well that is very close to us here in Griffith NSW. Great place to live Griffith, but I wouldn't leave gear on top of a Prado parked in a street for too long. Sad but true, even us country folk have thieves lurking. Fact.
Places we stop overnight on our way to QLD each year include Dubbo, Tamworth, Armidale etc and I am always mindful of having any gear in plain view of possible thieves. Especially Dubbo (no offence if you are from there lol!)

I guess you guys have way more experience than me because I have never had a roof rack/cage/basket/cargo capsule etc. on top of any of vehicles. My other vehicle is a Hilux with canopy (always locked overnight) Are you telling me unlocked gear on top of your Prado is safe most times in most towns? I hope this is the case, because as you say "this is Australia" and yes I grew up with unlocked houses and cars at night, unfortunately things are a changin'.