My neighbor put one of these on the Boulevard as a give away last night just in time for some summer activities where it will come in handy. I never expected to find a video showing installation of the exact same box. I would love to see some closer detatil of the U Bolts, Wing Nuts and Straps, but I'm sure I can figure that part out. This is an awesome video. You do a great job going into detail. Thank you so much for taking the time.
@@joesjunkcars6328 Any chance you might be able to post a video on how you installed the u-bolts, wing nuts and washers please? I don't think you have done one yet? Thanks!
This was perfect, was lucky enough to get this model for free and couldn't find any clear documentation for it anymore without generic how I did it... This is great because you show it as you go. Thanks!
I’ve been looking for this video for fricken ever. I bought a generic carrier like this for $20. I dream of van life and this is one step closer for me. My carrier doesn’t have hinges anywhere so I appreciate this video!!
Thanks for the video. Just got a similar one for $3. All the screws, nuts, and washers are rusted so I'm replacing them with aluminum versions. I'm using 1" wide 1/8" thick weatherproof weatherstripping tape. I used a scrapper to get all the old weatherstripping off. Going to use industrial strength vinegar to get the corrosion off the mounting brackets.
Thanks for this! I pulled my Xcargo down out of the attic and the foam was in horrible shape so I’m going tomorrow to Home Depot and get some for our leaving Monday trip.
Very nice. Yours is much cleaner than mine. I just pulled all the hardware off and sanded them down. Primer and new paint. I was looking for what to use as new weather seal. Thanks for the help.
Ahh yes The U bolts through the bottom. I've seen these floating up in the wind at 60 mph. The bottom straps hold it on the roof but they don't hold it securely down. U bolts ! much better.
I bought the exact same model : Sears X Cargo carrier @ a Garage Sale for $10.oo , it had No Straps and the weather strip is pretty worn , I bought 2 ratcheting straps @ Harbor Freight , took the roof bars off and mounted the straps right under the track on my 06 dodge mini van , I've had it mounted up for a few weeks And I'm Loving it , mounted it flat to the roof , no gap under it , Rides Smooth Thinking about putting in a little push light in case I need to get into it @ night ,
Thank u, Thank u, Thank u! I needed to see the details as i can get this for $40 on Craigslist as as apposed to $400 for a new one that is similar. Now I know what I am dealing with. :)
Excellent video - thanks! We still have our X-Cargo from the 80s, and I was wondering how to put it on a newer vehicle that has a factory roof rack. I was thinking of adding U-bolts like you did, but wasn't sure if it would work. I will be adding them now, as well as using the straps as a backup. My concern was that originally, the box was designed to ride flat on the roof, and I wasn't sure if it was strong enough to be suspended on the rails. It looks to be OK. The nice thing is that it won't be riding right on the roof, and wrecking the paint. (No matter how hard I tried in the past, the rubbery pads always managed to get dirt under them, and scratch the roof.) Thanks again!
Blast from the past. I gave mine to my sister and her husband. Never worried too much about it leaking because that was where all the wet camping gear got tossed. Tarps, tent, camping chairs, if we didn't want it in the car, it went up in the cargo box.
Huge help! Thank you - looking to pick one of these up for $20 about 30 minutes away from where I live, and I was not sure how it would attach to my roof rack before seeing your video. Now I know it's worth the trip to go get it :)
Dude that's a deal! got mine for $40 and thought I did good. Have you seen the price on these new Thule and Yakima boxes? Not hard to spend $300-$400 on a new one.
Good video thanks for showing this I just picked one of these up today. Still in great condition but it does not have the straps for it I have to figure that out tomorrow and I’ll need to reseal it like you did yours
Great video, looking at buying one used and now I know what to look for. Did you drill the u-bolt pilot holes yourself? We have square shaped roof rack cross rack and wondering if that would work.
I just found one just like it on the curb last night that someone was throwing away. Still in very nice shape but I have to buy the ubolts to mount it. Thanks for the video.
Hey, thanks for posting this. This was helpful to me, especially since the X Cargo that I had before THIS style WAS ITS predecessor. (I think yours might be circa 1990s, and the one I had that was totally boxy and beige was the '80s version. I should have kept it. It was a monster.) Anyway, thanks for the tips, I appreciate it! Liked, subscribed!!!
Thanks I got one of these from my niece it was in her dads garage and she said it's locked and probably has animals living in it. I took it home cleaned it up and it's actually white instead of bug guts brown. Should I have seen cross bars with this or was it something that held down with bungy or a strap of sorts for it?
Couple of questions. How did you install the U bolts? I presume that required drilling holes in the bottom of the carrier and wonder if water gets in now. We have a 2012 outback with roof rails included. So my original idea of sitting the carrier on the roof and hooking into the doorways as it was originally designed isn’t really an option because the sides of the roof are raised with the railing track. But swiveling the rails and putting them across the roof as you have them would raise it up quite a bit. Do you find there’s alot of drag when driving? And would there be a way to attach without adding u bolts? Thank you!
Hey Joe mine needs a overhaul, i.e., 4 new straps, 1 new latch, replace insulation, replace foam cushion strips underneath...where do you get your replacement hardware parts?
Thanks! Good Video. I am preparing to list and sell a 1992 Sear Model 7294 that has been in indoor storage for 15 years+. Foam needs to be replaced. Thanks for the tips.
I just got one of these for free. Thanks for the ubolt suggestion. The only downside to mine is a small crack that I'll epoxy closed but is in good condition otherwise
I use some brake cleaner brake parts cleaner to remove the old residue that was formerly foam tape. You will also need a wire brush. The spray the tape backing of the foam and use a wire brush to loosen it all into a mush then wipe it with a paper towel moistened with more brake cleaner until clean.
Any advice to attach a karrite voyager with the wing nuts to a roof rack? What roof rack can I get? Is it a universal fit from the box to the rack? The karite voyager I have is almost identical to this
Good stuff! Thanks for the insulation tip. Worked great. About to drive cross country with one of these on the roof of my Impreza. Curious to see just how bad it hurts my gas mileage.
I bought mine new in the 1980s. I used it to move East to Pennsylvania, West to California, back to the Midwest, West to Washington state and then to Wisconsin. Oh yeh - South to Alabama and Tennessee too. It's in the attic now. Given that a Yakima Rocket Box is now $600, I think it is definitely worth the time to renew the old X-Cargo box. A used X-cargo will do the same job as a new Rocket box.
What size u bolt did you use? Where did you install them and have you had any problems with it using the bolts on an area it wasn't meant to go? I just bought one used but yours looks cleaner and newer. I'm having problems finding replacement parts such as one of the clamps that goes on back or the front and it didn't have straps.
I can not remember what size I used, but if you look closely at the bottom of the carrier there should be little divots in the plastic where you are supposed to drill holes. Just measure the distance between them to find out what size u bolts you need and then go to the hardware section at Home Depot or Lowes, where you should be able to find them. Just make sure you use washers on the inside of the carrier so that it won't rip through. I have not had any problems and drove all the was from Oregon to Virginia with it attached like this. You probably won't need the straps if you attach it like this, but it you want them on there as a backup like I did, check Harbor Freight for some cheap straps. As far as a clamp for the back you might have to get creative those are going to be hard to find, you should still be able to latch it from the side though with little pad locks. Good luck and thanks for watching!
The other thing I had to do with mine that others may run into is using a heat gun from the outside blowing on dents and pushing out with your other hand on the inside once it's hot to the touch preferably wearing gloves so you don't get burned.Since it's cold out here I had the luxury of putting down the heat gun and then rubbing ice on the spot I heated so that it would cool faster and form into place.
I got one but I need to replace the part that you put the Locks on but I can not seem to find the part to replace them. Could you give me a idea on what to do
I just got one of these for 20 bucks. Think I could just strap it down to the roof of my pathfinder? Or would you strongly advise using the cross bars? I have bars on the sides but not across
We have one of these that we got at Sears probably 30 years ago. Put it on top of our minivan when we took family trips. It always worked great for us. It currently resides in our attic - probably should put it on sale on Craigslist. Wonder how much they go for?
Exactly what I was looking for. I found one of these for like 20 bucks LOL thrift shop. It’s in great condition I just got to get the U bolts washers, wing nuts and foam sealer. Great video thanks man
A light sanding with 80 grit will help the weatherstripping stick. Then clean the area with rubbing alcohol. That should help you create a good water resistant seal.
Anyone know how to get a replacement key without having to pay a locksmith fee for a new key. Drilling it out and putting new locks on it isn't an option. If it helps any, 1 is unlocked and the back 1 is locked, but I fear damaging it by wedging it open to get my arm in there to feel for some type of release. Anyone have a solution?
Your comment made me lol. a bone stock 1999 Honda Civic, loaded down with a box on the roof, I think it maxed out at about 70MPH, probably averaged about 65. But yes at that speed it held up fine. I still have it, used it a couple times here and there.
@@joesjunkcars6328 cool I just bought one and I had the keys made at a local locksmith for $14 now I'm looking into the Home Depot sticky back foam tape hopefully I will find this lol.
Yeah I think that is way too much, I payed $40 for mine a few years ago, and if you read though these comments some people even got theirs for free. I would hold out you will find one cheaper.
My neighbor put one of these on the Boulevard as a give away last night just in time for some summer activities where it will come in handy. I never expected to find a video showing installation of the exact same box. I would love to see some closer detatil of the U Bolts, Wing Nuts and Straps, but I'm sure I can figure that part out. This is an awesome video. You do a great job going into detail. Thank you so much for taking the time.
Thank you! Maybe I can make a video going into greater detail on how I attacked mine. I have had other questions about this.
@@joesjunkcars6328 Any chance you might be able to post a video on how you installed the u-bolts, wing nuts and washers please? I don't think you have done one yet? Thanks!
My dad gave me his old one to strap to the top of my FJ. I love it!
I had the same question.
@@joesjunkcars6328 Did you make a video ? Thanks so much for the information !
Kewl video; informative and not loud and filled with crappy music.
This was perfect, was lucky enough to get this model for free and couldn't find any clear documentation for it anymore without generic how I did it... This is great because you show it as you go. Thanks!
Super helpful video for something oddly specific I find myself needing to know about, this is the best part of UA-cam!
Thank you so much! I have had one sitting around for a decade in the garage and just now have a use for it. Going to give it some TLC. 🎉
I'd been debating used and new cargo boxes. I think we will learn more toward one of these now. Thanks for the video!
I’ve been looking for this video for fricken ever. I bought a generic carrier like this for $20. I dream of van life and this is one step closer for me. My carrier doesn’t have hinges anywhere so I appreciate this video!!
Thanks for the video. Just got a similar one for $3. All the screws, nuts, and washers are rusted so I'm replacing them with aluminum versions. I'm using 1" wide 1/8" thick weatherproof weatherstripping tape. I used a scrapper to get all the old weatherstripping off. Going to use industrial strength vinegar to get the corrosion off the mounting brackets.
Thanks for this! I pulled my Xcargo down out of the attic and the foam was in horrible shape so I’m going tomorrow to Home Depot and get some for our leaving Monday trip.
you made a simple fix-it look simple!
Thanks for the valuable tips!
Very nice. Yours is much cleaner than mine. I just pulled all the hardware off and sanded them down. Primer and new paint. I was looking for what to use as new weather seal. Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the video. We are purchasing one for our weekend camping. Great video
When it rains it could double for rain catchment and a bathtub if Your a survivalist maybe.Great video
Ahh yes
The U bolts through the bottom.
I've seen these floating up in the wind at 60 mph.
The bottom straps hold it on the roof but they don't hold it securely down. U bolts ! much better.
Using this information right now! Just bought one of these boxes. Thank you!
Thanks. I appreciate the straight forward approach to the video and you inspired me to go get some new insulation tape.
Great video thanks man! Exactly what I was looking for!
Awesome, glad I could help.
I bought the exact same model : Sears X Cargo carrier @ a Garage Sale for $10.oo , it had No Straps and the weather strip is pretty worn , I bought 2 ratcheting straps @ Harbor Freight , took the roof bars off and mounted the straps right under the track on my 06 dodge mini van , I've had it mounted up for a few weeks And I'm Loving it , mounted it flat to the roof , no gap under it , Rides Smooth Thinking about putting in a little push light in case I need to get into it @ night ,
I need to see a picture of this lol
How did you install the U bolts?
What an incredibly helpful video. Thanks!
Thank u, Thank u, Thank u! I needed to see the details as i can get this for $40 on Craigslist as as apposed to $400 for a new one that is similar. Now I know what I am dealing with. :)
We love your car topper!
You just sold me, dude. Thank you.
Perfect vid! Great recommendations about foam.
Excellent video - thanks! We still have our X-Cargo from the 80s, and I was wondering how to put it on a newer vehicle that has a factory roof rack. I was thinking of adding U-bolts like you did, but wasn't sure if it would work. I will be adding them now, as well as using the straps as a backup. My concern was that originally, the box was designed to ride flat on the roof, and I wasn't sure if it was strong enough to be suspended on the rails. It looks to be OK. The nice thing is that it won't be riding right on the roof, and wrecking the paint. (No matter how hard I tried in the past, the rubbery pads always managed to get dirt under them, and scratch the roof.)
Thanks again!
Great video I just got one of these for free and has all the problems you mentioned about the foam and I had no idea how I was going to mount that
Blast from the past. I gave mine to my sister and her husband. Never worried too much about it leaking because that was where all the wet camping gear got tossed. Tarps, tent, camping chairs, if we didn't want it in the car, it went up in the cargo box.
Huge help! Thank you - looking to pick one of these up for $20 about 30 minutes away from where I live, and I was not sure how it would attach to my roof rack before seeing your video. Now I know it's worth the trip to go get it :)
Same as Nick was looking how it actually stayed down. Scooped one up at a garage sale for 15 bucks and seemed Ok. Thanks!
Dude that's a deal! got mine for $40 and thought I did good. Have you seen the price on these new Thule and Yakima boxes? Not hard to spend $300-$400 on a new one.
To be honest No, I never thought of getting one before just seen it and bought it, I like your demonstration and explaining it. Nice vid man!
Good video thanks for showing this I just picked one of these up today. Still in great condition but it does not have the straps for it I have to figure that out tomorrow and I’ll need to reseal it like you did yours
Thank you for the GREAT video!
Great video, looking at buying one used and now I know what to look for. Did you drill the u-bolt pilot holes yourself? We have square shaped roof rack cross rack and wondering if that would work.
I just found one just like it on the curb last night that someone was throwing away. Still in very nice shape but I have to buy the ubolts to mount it. Thanks for the video.
Hey, thanks for posting this. This was helpful to me, especially since the X Cargo that I had before THIS style WAS ITS predecessor. (I think yours might be circa 1990s, and the one I had that was totally boxy and beige was the '80s version. I should have kept it. It was a monster.)
Anyway, thanks for the tips, I appreciate it! Liked, subscribed!!!
Thanks I got one of these from my niece it was in her dads garage and she said it's locked and probably has animals living in it. I took it home cleaned it up and it's actually white instead of bug guts brown. Should I have seen cross bars with this or was it something that held down with bungy or a strap of sorts for it?
Awesome video!!!
Couple of questions. How did you install the U bolts? I presume that required drilling holes in the bottom of the carrier and wonder if water gets in now. We have a 2012 outback with roof rails included. So my original idea of sitting the carrier on the roof and hooking into the doorways as it was originally designed isn’t really an option because the sides of the roof are raised with the railing track. But swiveling the rails and putting them across the roof as you have them would raise it up quite a bit. Do you find there’s alot of drag when driving? And would there be a way to attach without adding u bolts? Thank you!
Thanks for the informative video! Originally, how was it supposed to attached to the car? Did it come with straps?
Hey Joe mine needs a overhaul, i.e., 4 new straps, 1 new latch, replace insulation, replace foam cushion strips underneath...where do you get your replacement hardware parts?
Nice job, concise video, none of the usual “hi guys, welcome to my needy youtube video” crap.
I have this cargo. Do you have a video of how install it to my vehicle?
Thanks for the advice 👍🏻👍🏻
I have this one too. Paint thinner to solve the glue comes right off I did that today.
Great vid. Great ending ha
Great video !
Your video was very helpful.
Thanks! Good Video. I am preparing to list and sell a 1992 Sear Model 7294 that has been in indoor storage for 15 years+. Foam needs to be replaced. Thanks for the tips.
I just got one of these for free. Thanks for the ubolt suggestion. The only downside to mine is a small crack that I'll epoxy closed but is in good condition otherwise
Where'd you go for the u-bolts? Hardware store or online? What sizing did you use? Having troubles comverting my carrier
Thanks for info. Buying one for $60 tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll need the video
I use some brake cleaner brake parts cleaner to remove the old residue that was formerly foam tape. You will also need a wire brush. The spray the tape backing of the foam and use a wire brush to loosen it all into a mush then wipe it with a paper towel moistened with more brake cleaner until clean.
Thanks for the tutorial. There are free ones on Craigslist near me . Just didn't know if was worth hassel.
Any advice to attach a karrite voyager with the wing nuts to a roof rack? What roof rack can I get? Is it a universal fit from the box to the rack? The karite voyager I have is almost identical to this
Just exactly what I need to do. How long did the Thermaflex tape last?
Good stuff! Thanks for the insulation tip. Worked great. About to drive cross country with one of these on the roof of my Impreza. Curious to see just how bad it hurts my gas mileage.
How did your trip go? I am about to go across country in an Impreza too!
@@UnusualProximity Our trip went really well, thanks. The Impreza was great on the road.
I bought mine new in the 1980s. I used it to move East to Pennsylvania, West to California, back to the Midwest, West to Washington state and then to Wisconsin. Oh yeh - South to Alabama and Tennessee too. It's in the attic now. Given that a Yakima Rocket Box is now $600, I think it is definitely worth the time to renew the old X-Cargo box. A used X-cargo will do the same job as a new Rocket box.
WD40 takes off most sticky residues. Great for getting stubborn price tags off of glass and plastic surfaces too.
What size u bolt did you use? Where did you install them and have you had any problems with it using the bolts on an area it wasn't meant to go? I just bought one used but yours looks cleaner and newer. I'm having problems finding replacement parts such as one of the clamps that goes on back or the front and it didn't have straps.
I can not remember what size I used, but if you look closely at the bottom of the carrier there should be little divots in the plastic where you are supposed to drill holes. Just measure the distance between them to find out what size u bolts you need and then go to the hardware section at Home Depot or Lowes, where you should be able to find them. Just make sure you use washers on the inside of the carrier so that it won't rip through.
I have not had any problems and drove all the was from Oregon to Virginia with it attached like this. You probably won't need the straps if you attach it like this, but it you want them on there as a backup like I did, check Harbor Freight for some cheap straps. As far as a clamp for the back you might have to get creative those are going to be hard to find, you should still be able to latch it from the side though with little pad locks.
Good luck and thanks for watching!
The other thing I had to do with mine that others may run into is using a heat gun from the outside blowing on dents and pushing out with your other hand on the inside once it's hot to the touch preferably wearing gloves so you don't get burned.Since it's cold out here I had the luxury of putting down the heat gun and then rubbing ice on the spot I heated so that it would cool faster and form into place.
I got one but I need to replace the part that you put the Locks on but I can not seem to find the part to replace them. Could you give me a idea on what to do
thank you very much. it helped so much.
Where can I get replacement straps and hinges?
Very helpful -- thanks!
Good job on this vid
I just got one of these for 20 bucks. Think I could just strap it down to the roof of my pathfinder? Or would you strongly advise using the cross bars? I have bars on the sides but not across
Tevis Weir I drove from nj to lousiana with this on my truck with strap downs to body
Link to ubolts? First go round they were too short. Useful video. Thanks.
We have one of these that we got at Sears probably 30 years ago. Put it on top of our minivan when we took family trips. It always worked great for us. It currently resides in our attic - probably should put it on sale on Craigslist. Wonder how much they go for?
I just bought one for $50
I bought mine used for 30, but also it wasn't in great condition I've had to do some work to it.
Exactly what I was looking for. I found one of these for like 20 bucks LOL thrift shop. It’s in great condition I just got to get the U bolts washers, wing nuts and foam sealer. Great video thanks man
Can you please elaborate on your U-bolt setup? Did you have to drill new holes?
Did yours rattle and shake a lot when you were driving?. If so how did you stop it?
A light sanding with 80 grit will help the weatherstripping stick. Then clean the area with rubbing alcohol. That should help you create a good water resistant seal.
This is great! I was going to toss mine but I'll give it some TLC and refurbish.
I’m trying to refurbish mine too.
Do you know what the weight rating is for it?
Just found one in the trash, and drug it home. The foam was all hanging off. Thanks for the awesome advise!
Valerie nice find!
Anyone know what size ubolts? Tia
What size U bolts did you use?
Excellent video... This opens from the passenger side... Can the brackets be moved around so it opens on the driver side?
Campos Vazquez I found one that OpenSSL from the opposite side, I’ll need to drill new holes.
His seems backwards to me
Very helpful!
Anyone know how to get a replacement key without having to pay a locksmith fee for a new key. Drilling it out and putting new locks on it isn't an option. If it helps any, 1 is unlocked and the back 1 is locked, but I fear damaging it by wedging it open to get my arm in there to feel for some type of release. Anyone have a solution?
Thank you. I'm looking. How did it hold up at high speeds?
Your comment made me lol. a bone stock 1999 Honda Civic, loaded down with a box on the roof, I think it maxed out at about 70MPH, probably averaged about 65. But yes at that speed it held up fine. I still have it, used it a couple times here and there.
@@joesjunkcars6328 cool I just bought one and I had the keys made at a local locksmith for $14 now I'm looking into the Home Depot sticky back foam tape hopefully I will find this lol.
Good review. This video helped me a lot. Thanks.
Were can I find replacement catches? Thanks wayne
Wondering how this affects gas mileage? Does that wind block you installed help?
Awesome thanks!
I just bought this very same cargo carrier. Does anyone know the model number?
Sears X Cargo Snail Rooftop Carrier Model No. 300.7261
Thank you. I was just given one from my parents.
very helpful.
Thanks bro
What type key? I lost my keys anybody knows?
Thanks
Dorsnt look to secure ??
What are the inside dimensions?
42" long x 31" wide x 21" tall. I had it written down, I guess I forgot to mention it in the video...
Tnx))))))))))))))))))
What is the cubic feet ??
Manual title says 18 ft3!
👍
That’s 30 years old?
1980"s
www.x-cargocarriers.com/history.html
Joe's Junk Cars wow thanks for the info. It’s still worth 20$?
Just picked one up for free 😁😁
Hello, how much did you pay for this? I see one online and this lady wants $175?!?! Is that too much. Your opinion matters
Yeah I think that is way too much, I payed $40 for mine a few years ago, and if you read though these comments some people even got theirs for free. I would hold out you will find one cheaper.
Just got mine for 50 bucks.
the gasket replacement is a bitch
They are OK for a trip to the local park for a BBQ. Not for long freeway drives. Cheap though. $50-75 is better than what you'd pay for Thule.
I drove across the country with mine!
@@joesjunkcars6328 Glad it worked out for you!
I have driven all over the country with it!
@@BoeRamsey Me too