You may have just got a new car that has a moonroof and you have been surfing the internet all day to find answers to your question if you can put a cargo bag on a moonroof. Simply because you are planning on a trip and you want to take your new car along. You do not need to worry because this article will answer your question and you will so much enjoy the answers that you will get.
Can you put a cargo bag on the moonroof? The correct answer to your question is NO! You should not put a cargo bag directly on a moonroof. The reason is that the manufacturers do not advise that you put a cargo bag directly on the top of your moonroof. If the journey you are about to embark on is so important that you want to put your cargo bag on your moonroof, the best way to go about it is to manually install a roof rack on the roof of your car.
The moonroof is capable of getting damaged when you put something so heavy as a cargo bag directly on it. Not only will it damage your moonroof, but you will also be spending more money to get it fixed, which means more expenses.
When you install the roof rack on the roof of your car then you can go ahead to travel with your cargo bag on the roof of your car. Doing it this way will help to protect your moonroof and you will also have a smooth ride and you will not have to bother about the cargo bag damaging your moonroof.
To avoid damaging your moonroof, avoid putting a cargo bag directly on it just like I have written above. You should install a roof rack on your car rooftop so that you can safely put your cargo bag on it while you embark on your journey.
Going with this method of installing a roof rack on your moonroof, you should take a look at the manufacturer’s guide and make sure that you follow the instructions on how to install a roof rack on a moonroof.
I will explain how you can successfully install a roof rack on a moonroof so that you can successfully carry a cargo bag on your moonroof.
How to install a roof rack on a moonroof
When installing a roof rack on a moonroof, there are certain steps that you need to take so that you will do it the right way and not do it in such a way that could get the moonroof damaged.
Take note that you are dealing with a moonroof that has glass on top and you will have to be extra careful because of the glass that is on the roof so that it does not get shattered or even spoiled. Take a look at these steps in installing a roof rack on a moonroof
- Prepare the roof
- Assemble the roof rack
- Install your roof rack
- Put the anti-slip mat
- Mount the cargo bag
- Secure the cargo bag on the roof rack
Prepare the moonroof
You need to, first of all, prepare your moonroof. How you prepare your moonroof to install the roof rack is to, first of all, make sure that there is no such thing as dirt on it. Dirt could cause some scratches on the moonroof.
This is the first thing you need to take note of before you go ahead to install your roof rack on your moonroof. The cleaner the moonroof is, the better for you and the better for your cargo bag.
You also need to note that you should make sure the moonroof is not open when you are about to install the roof rack. It should be closed.
Assemble your roof rack
What you do here is that you get the roof rack out of the box and assemble it. You should measure the roof and know where needs to be adjusted and also to know if it fits with the moonroof or not. This is a step that you are not supposed to skip.
Install your roof rack on the moonroof
The roof rack is where the cargo bag will sit when you want to carry your cargo bag on your moonroof. When you want to start the installation process you should check the vehicle manual and check for the dos and don’ts of the car with a moonroof.
The presence of the moonroof is more reason why you need to read the user’s manual. The moonroof is fragile so you need to be extra careful when you are installing the roof rack on the moon roof.
Put the Anti-slip mat
The main purpose of having an anti-slip mat is that it helps to prevent the cargo bag from slipping off the roof rack when you are driving at a high speed. Try not install the roof bag if your anti-slip mat is not available.
The anti-slip mat could also be a form of cushion for your cargo bag on the roof rack. You should always remember this and not forget to put your anti-slip mat before placing the roof rack on it.
Mount the cargo bag on the roof rack
At this point in time, you should have been done with installing the roof rack and putting the anti-slip mat on it, and getting ready to mount the cargo bag. If you did follow the manufacturer’s instructions I talked about, then you are doing it the right way.
The reason for making use of the manufacturer’s manual is so that you are aware of the things you are to do and the things you should note while installing a roof rack on your moonroof.
When you mount the cargo bag on the roof rack, ensure that you centralize it to make sure that it is balanced and those heavier items in the cargo bag should be in the center of the cargo bag too. This is very important as regards balance and also it will ensure a smooth journey when you are on transit.
Secure the cargo bag on the roof rack
Imagine embarking on a journey where you have your cargo bag on your roof rack and it is not secured. Not only are you endangering your life, but also the lives of your passengers and other road users. If your cargo bag is not secure on your roof rack, it may end up falling off the roof rack when you are on transit and causing an accident.
The best way to go about this is that you should make use of the extra straps that usually come with the roof bag to thread them under the side buckles and the side rails, after doing this, you can then close the buckles.
You should tie the end of the strap so that they do not flap in the wind. If you have more straps to tighten and secure the cargo bag, you should repeat this same procedure with the extra straps.
The number of straps that a particular cargo bag comes with depends on the brand. You should not miss these steps at all.
Things to consider before putting a cargo bag on a moonroof
You should know that a moonroof is quite different from a regular roof. A moonroof is just a type of sunroof that usually has a tinted glass that looks like an extra window on the roof of your vehicle.
Moonroofs are not usually designed to be removed like the sunroof. If you want to open a moonroof, you can only open it by tilting it open or simply by sliding it.
If you have a moonroof on your vehicle then you should know that there are things you need to take note of before installing your roof rack on it. Take a look at some of these things that you need to consider before you put a cargo bag on a moonroof.
Mind the moonroof glass
The moonroof has is made with glass that has a tinted panel that usually opens by sliding or tilting open. The presence of the glass is more reason why you need to be extra careful when you are installing the roof rack on the moon roof.
You should take note of this as it is very important. How safe the moonroof is, is one factor that needs to be considered carefully. The moonroof is there so that more sunlight and fresh air can get into the car. You are doing yourself good if you mind the glass of your moonroof.
Check the weight limit of the moonroof
This does not just apply to moonroofs alone, it applies also when you want to install a roof rack even on a regular kind of car roof. When you want to install a roof rack on your moonroof, then you should check the weight limit of the moonroof.
Moonroofs have a certain weight limit and you should always make sure that you check it before starting the installation. This will help you not to overload the moonroof.
Overloading the moonroof could be hazardous as well. If you do not check the weight limit and you go ahead to overload the roof rack on the moonroof, you are endangering it and this may also be detrimental to the moonroof.
You are not supposed to neglect these two important things as they will guide you on what to do and what not to do when you want to install a roof rack on the moonroof.
How much weight can a moonroof hold?
The moonroof can hold a weight of 50 to 80 pounds for a normal vehicle with a moon roof. However, a moonroof can hold a weight of about 120 to 200 pounds mainly for those large vehicles like those ones you can find on luxury SUVs.
The moonroof differs from the regular kind of roof. Because of this difference, you should also expect the maximum weight that the moonroof can hold to be different from that of a regular roof.
What bags are good for moonroof?
The RoofPax Cargo bag for moonroof
This is a 100% water-resistant cargo bag that will suit your moonroof so well. It has a capacity of 19 cubic feet. What this means is that it will be able to store a whole lot more than a 10 cubic feet cargo bag can store. No matter the kind of car you have, this cargo bag will still fit in so well.
That is the good thing that this cargo bag comes with. It has the ability to adjust to the size of your vehicle and also the shape of the luggage you have inside the bag. The waterproof feature that this bag comes with allows you to be able to make use of it even when it is raining.
Bad weather conditions will never be an excuse for you not to make use of this cargo bag. This is what you will enjoy if you get yourself this cargo bag.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- 19 cubic feet capacity
- Security features
- Easy to install
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Might be too big for large vehicles
Final Verdict
You are not going to regret having this cargo bag at all. It will serve you so well and it will also fit well on your roof rack with a moonroof. The waterproof feature and the lifetime warranty will encourage buyers to buy this particular cargo bag because of the durability. You will so much love this cargo bag.
Conclusion on whether you put a cargo bag on the moonroof?
From the beginning of the article, I already emphasized that it is not advisable that you put a cargo bag on a moonroof. However, the best way to go about it is to install a roof rack on your moonroof so that you will be able to mount your cargo bag on the moonroof and travel with it safely.