Highland 10391 Kar Pak Rainproof Soft-Sided Car Top Carrier - 15 Cubic Feet Review.
"There and Back Again" 2007-06-25
By Ralph Fontcuberta (Little Rock, AR USA)
We've had the Highland Kar-Pak since our first family trip to Disney World in 2002, and we've used it many a times since: trips to Disney World, trips to Gulf Shores, a few visits to Texas and, the big one, our evacuation from New Orleans a few days before Hurricane Katrina struck. Not to be overly glowing, but this thing helped us save a lot more since we could cram it full.
It holds a bundle, stores quickly, cleans up easily (bug splatter is no match for scrub brush & water, eh), is arguably leak-proof (never had a problem even through the worst rains), and attaches easily and securely (and not to dismiss another person's review/opinion, but the carrier box clearly stated "Roof Rack Mount"; however, I can see confusion with roof rack and roof bars -- those bars on the roof when you get the van/suv/etc are just styling until you add a cross-bar).
My wife came across this model locally in N.O. when we were searching for something for the roof to carry luggage on our first real driving vacation. We had looked at a lot of the hard-side ones, which were all extremely expensive and sorely lacking in capacity. She found this and we thought it might be a quick-fix but we've used it ever since and have no plans to replace it.
FWIW, a tip: get some big safety pins. Though you can tie the excess strap up it's easier to use a safety pin to pin up the excess. You don't have to, but the excess strap tends to flap in the wind and will drive you a little batty.
"Listen to the expert and buy this carrier" 2008-01-01
By Joseph M. Baltrus (Okinawa, Japan)
After doing the research across price, functionality, ease of use, durability, storage, and weather proofing, I decided on the Highland carrier. For $30, you get an incredible amount of storage, that is secure on your roof, and totally waterproof. This Xmas, I drove from the Northern VA area (DC) way up to Upstate New York (Past Albany) and back with this carrier [in the rain and snow up and back both ways - all stuff was totally dry]. 900 total miles at about 75 MPH.
Here is what you need to know before buy: You have to have a roof rack with crossbars as the carrier's four straps attach to this; the space between the crossbars must be 38 inches so you will need to adjust this on your car first; and don't expect it to look like the picture once on your car/SUV unless your packages/stuff is exactly the dimensions of the bag. During installation do not attach the four straps, that is, fill the carrier on your roof, then attach the four crossbar straps as you will need the wiggle room for secure placement on your roof. After installation I suggest simply tucking/knotting the excess strap as these flap in the wind and will drive you crazy (takes an extra 2 minutes). Also, for piece of mind as I mentioned that unless your stuff is a perfect 39x18x38 rectangle the carrier looks a big lump on your car so I put two 48 inch bungey cords across the width of the carrier. You don't need the cords, but I am a little anal-retentive.
You will be impressed with the ultra thick material this thing is made of. Only four straps connect to your car which you will make suspect their ability to hold this thing down...but they do, and they don't budge. I can confidently say this THE best purchase I have made to date. You get way more than what you pay for on this carrier.
While driving I saw other people with the Thule soft carrier and Rainex, both of these are smaller, do not have the top strap adjustment like the Highland so they flap in the wind, plus read their reviews - they are not water tight. I guess if you have the $200-300 for a hard card carrier, go for it, but what do these people do with these when they are not using them? This Highland carrier folds back down to a shoebox size...you can't beat that either.
You really do not need to read anymore reviews, take my word, buy this carrier if you need extra space at an wickedly affordable price, that is secure on your car, keeps your stuff dry, and folds aways for easy storage.
"Excellent Carrier and superb price." 2006-12-03
By Kurtis Maximus (L.A., CA)
Took this on a 800 mile road trip, going 70-75 MPH without a need for adjustment. Drove to AZ, so of course there was not a rain issue, but the bag outer is very sturdy and kinda rubbery, so I would think it would stand up to any rain.
As others stated, I too thought that an additional 3rd zipper would have been good for packing, but I have rethought that issue and the carrier is Perfect as it is.
If you have 3 zippers there is a high danger of "over loading" the carrier and not being able to close the carrier with all your gear in it.
Get a stepladder, load the "far zipperless bottom corner" first on top of your SUV and there are NO issues at all. On my return trip I loaded too much and couldn't zip the carrier and that is when the realization set in that the 2 zipper configuration was a good idea. You know more what you can and can not cram onto your roof.
Set up on your roof rack really couldn't be easier.
Make sure you tie off any extra slack or you are going to get a nice "drum beat" rolling down the highway.
I couldn't recommend this more highly.
Rugged, stable, simple to use and a great price, let me take my dog in the back without chewing luggage, you know the usual stuff!
I would recommend this if it was $70 instead of $45.
"Highland Car Carrier" 2006-07-19
By C. Ellis (Gaithersburg, MD)
I purchased this car carrier for an upcoming vacation to GA and I must say this was a great buy. We have a Ford Focus Stationwagon and the topper fit perfectly. We had room for 1 set of golf clubs, 4 duffle bags, beach toys, 2 chairs and a stroller and still some room left. It kept everything dry when it was raining. You do have to keep the zipper part along the back of the car and make sure that the zipper flap is covering the zipper. I know that other reviews stated that their items got wet but we followed the directions and it worked well for us.
Hope this review helps!!
"Great product, great price!" 2007-03-08
By Doreen Woffinden
We needed a car top carrier for a drive from Arizona to Utah. After much research, we decided to give the Kar Pak a try. It worked wonderfully! We fit two suitcases, a duffle bag, and some random stuff in garbage bags on top of our minivan. During the drive, we weathered snow, sun, and rain. We were on the road for a total of 13 hours. By the time we reached our destination, everything inside the Kar Pak was dry and perfect. The Kar Pak itself was easily washed off, folded up in it's box, and put into storage. This is a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a car top carrier. It's easy to install, doesn't budge (we checked the straps several times during the trip, they never loosened or anything), and it keeps everything inside dry if it rains or snows.
By Ralph Fontcuberta (Little Rock, AR USA)
We've had the Highland Kar-Pak since our first family trip to Disney World in 2002, and we've used it many a times since: trips to Disney World, trips to Gulf Shores, a few visits to Texas and, the big one, our evacuation from New Orleans a few days before Hurricane Katrina struck. Not to be overly glowing, but this thing helped us save a lot more since we could cram it full.
It holds a bundle, stores quickly, cleans up easily (bug splatter is no match for scrub brush & water, eh), is arguably leak-proof (never had a problem even through the worst rains), and attaches easily and securely (and not to dismiss another person's review/opinion, but the carrier box clearly stated "Roof Rack Mount"; however, I can see confusion with roof rack and roof bars -- those bars on the roof when you get the van/suv/etc are just styling until you add a cross-bar).
My wife came across this model locally in N.O. when we were searching for something for the roof to carry luggage on our first real driving vacation. We had looked at a lot of the hard-side ones, which were all extremely expensive and sorely lacking in capacity. She found this and we thought it might be a quick-fix but we've used it ever since and have no plans to replace it.
FWIW, a tip: get some big safety pins. Though you can tie the excess strap up it's easier to use a safety pin to pin up the excess. You don't have to, but the excess strap tends to flap in the wind and will drive you a little batty.
By Joseph M. Baltrus (Okinawa, Japan)
After doing the research across price, functionality, ease of use, durability, storage, and weather proofing, I decided on the Highland carrier. For $30, you get an incredible amount of storage, that is secure on your roof, and totally waterproof. This Xmas, I drove from the Northern VA area (DC) way up to Upstate New York (Past Albany) and back with this carrier [in the rain and snow up and back both ways - all stuff was totally dry]. 900 total miles at about 75 MPH.
Here is what you need to know before buy: You have to have a roof rack with crossbars as the carrier's four straps attach to this; the space between the crossbars must be 38 inches so you will need to adjust this on your car first; and don't expect it to look like the picture once on your car/SUV unless your packages/stuff is exactly the dimensions of the bag. During installation do not attach the four straps, that is, fill the carrier on your roof, then attach the four crossbar straps as you will need the wiggle room for secure placement on your roof. After installation I suggest simply tucking/knotting the excess strap as these flap in the wind and will drive you crazy (takes an extra 2 minutes). Also, for piece of mind as I mentioned that unless your stuff is a perfect 39x18x38 rectangle the carrier looks a big lump on your car so I put two 48 inch bungey cords across the width of the carrier. You don't need the cords, but I am a little anal-retentive.
You will be impressed with the ultra thick material this thing is made of. Only four straps connect to your car which you will make suspect their ability to hold this thing down...but they do, and they don't budge. I can confidently say this THE best purchase I have made to date. You get way more than what you pay for on this carrier.
While driving I saw other people with the Thule soft carrier and Rainex, both of these are smaller, do not have the top strap adjustment like the Highland so they flap in the wind, plus read their reviews - they are not water tight. I guess if you have the $200-300 for a hard card carrier, go for it, but what do these people do with these when they are not using them? This Highland carrier folds back down to a shoebox size...you can't beat that either.
You really do not need to read anymore reviews, take my word, buy this carrier if you need extra space at an wickedly affordable price, that is secure on your car, keeps your stuff dry, and folds aways for easy storage.
By Kurtis Maximus (L.A., CA)
Took this on a 800 mile road trip, going 70-75 MPH without a need for adjustment. Drove to AZ, so of course there was not a rain issue, but the bag outer is very sturdy and kinda rubbery, so I would think it would stand up to any rain.
As others stated, I too thought that an additional 3rd zipper would have been good for packing, but I have rethought that issue and the carrier is Perfect as it is.
If you have 3 zippers there is a high danger of "over loading" the carrier and not being able to close the carrier with all your gear in it.
Get a stepladder, load the "far zipperless bottom corner" first on top of your SUV and there are NO issues at all. On my return trip I loaded too much and couldn't zip the carrier and that is when the realization set in that the 2 zipper configuration was a good idea. You know more what you can and can not cram onto your roof.
Set up on your roof rack really couldn't be easier.
Make sure you tie off any extra slack or you are going to get a nice "drum beat" rolling down the highway.
I couldn't recommend this more highly.
Rugged, stable, simple to use and a great price, let me take my dog in the back without chewing luggage, you know the usual stuff!
I would recommend this if it was $70 instead of $45.
By C. Ellis (Gaithersburg, MD)
I purchased this car carrier for an upcoming vacation to GA and I must say this was a great buy. We have a Ford Focus Stationwagon and the topper fit perfectly. We had room for 1 set of golf clubs, 4 duffle bags, beach toys, 2 chairs and a stroller and still some room left. It kept everything dry when it was raining. You do have to keep the zipper part along the back of the car and make sure that the zipper flap is covering the zipper. I know that other reviews stated that their items got wet but we followed the directions and it worked well for us.
Hope this review helps!!
By Doreen Woffinden
We needed a car top carrier for a drive from Arizona to Utah. After much research, we decided to give the Kar Pak a try. It worked wonderfully! We fit two suitcases, a duffle bag, and some random stuff in garbage bags on top of our minivan. During the drive, we weathered snow, sun, and rain. We were on the road for a total of 13 hours. By the time we reached our destination, everything inside the Kar Pak was dry and perfect. The Kar Pak itself was easily washed off, folded up in it's box, and put into storage. This is a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a car top carrier. It's easy to install, doesn't budge (we checked the straps several times during the trip, they never loosened or anything), and it keeps everything inside dry if it rains or snows.
