Thule WingBar Evo and Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box

[Tellthemride]

In case anybody was considering installing the Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box from Thule on their Telluride, I am happy to report there is plenty of clearance for the tail gate when opened.

Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars - Aluminum - Silver - 53" Long - Qty 2

Evo Flush Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars - Flush Side Rails - Qty 4

Fit Kit for Thule Evo Flush Roof Rack Feet - 186095

Thule Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box - 22 cu ft - Black AeroSkin

Bought the bars and feet kit from etrailer. The roof cargo box from REI since shipping was faster/free to store and they also help you unbox and install. Installed the rack myself at home before picking up the cargo box.

Kept the bars 29” apart and the rear bar about 32.5” from the end of the side rails on the rear end of the of the car. Those measurements worked perfect for the roof cargo box to be centered above the racks when mounted.

When the sunroof glass is vented or fully open, it doesn’t interfere at all with the rails. The top of the sunroof glass is also about 1.5 inches from touching the bottom of the roof cargo box.

No noticeable difference in wind noise with the cross bars or the cargo box. Only when I open the shade for the sunroof, I can hear some wind noise for the box, but only if I turn off the radio.

I specifically wanted the XXL (22 cu. ft.)for the added capacity over the XL (18 cu. ft.) size so I can pack more stuff on road trips. I also considered the Motion XT XXL, which is about the same length and capacity, but didn’t want to sacrifice the useable space for lower height profile for improved aerodynamic. Also the Motion XT is a gloss finish, and didn’t like the thought of seeing it get scratched over time.

Apologies for the dirt in the photos, my car is due for a wash.

 

[Flounder_23]

This setup looks great!!! Could you give me a ballpark on the cost since I'm too lazy to look them up myself? lol

I bought Yakima racks for my Kayak on another vehicle and they are not cheap but the quality is so good it's worth it for something that's attached to your roof at highway speeds.

 

[Tellthemride]

This setup looks great!!! Could you give me a ballpark on the cost since I'm too lazy to look them up myself? lol

I bought Yakima racks for my Kayak on another vehicle and they are not cheap but the quality is so good it's worth it for something that's attached to your roof at highway speeds.

Thanks. $600 for the rack and rack feet, and $750 for the cargo box before tax. I also got the locks for the rack feet as well. Definitely not a cheap setup, but I trust Thule products will last me a lifetime. If I ever move on to another car, just need to get new rack feet.

 

[PittPa]

Thats a great set up! A couple thoughts, will the height of this allow you to pull it into a normal garage?

______________________________

 

[Tellthemride]

Thats a great set up! A couple thoughts, will the height of this allow you to pull it into a normal garage?

I think a 7ft garage would not fit. An 8ft. or taller should be fine though. I usually keep it parked outside, so can’t speak from experience yet.

I will certainly need to be more aware when I bring this thing on road trips for low bridges or low clearance public parking garages. Not planning to kept the roof cargo box mounted for daily use otherwise.

 

[Tellthemride]

Thats a great set up! A couple thoughts, will the height of this allow you to pull it into a normal garage?

Confirmed 8ft garage clears perfectly fine. Also able to open the cargo box under the garage door opener too.

 

[RedTailedHawk]

In case anybody was considering installing the Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box from Thule on their Telluride, I am happy to report there is plenty of clearance for the tail gate when opened.

Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars - Aluminum - Silver - 53" Long - Qty 2

Evo Flush Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars - Flush Side Rails - Qty 4

Fit Kit for Thule Evo Flush Roof Rack Feet - 186095

Thule Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box - 22 cu ft - Black AeroSkin

Bought the bars and feet kit from etrailer. The roof cargo box from REI since shipping was faster/free to store and they also help you unbox and install. Installed the rack myself at home before picking up the cargo box.

Kept the bars 29” apart and the rear bar about 32.5” from the end of the side rails on the rear end of the of the car. Those measurements worked perfect for the roof cargo box to be centered above the racks when mounted.

When the sunroof glass is vented or fully open, it doesn’t interfere at all with the rails. The top of the sunroof glass is also about 1.5 inches from touching the bottom of the roof cargo box.

No noticeable difference in wind noise with the cross bars or the cargo box. Only when I open the shade for the sunroof, I can hear some wind noise for the box, but only if I turn off the radio.

I specifically wanted the XXL (22 cu. ft.)for the added capacity over the XL (18 cu. ft.) size so I can pack more stuff on road trips. I also considered the Motion XT XXL, which is about the same length and capacity, but didn’t want to sacrifice the useable space for lower height profile for improved aerodynamic. Also the Motion XT is a gloss finish, and didn’t like the thought of seeing it get scratched over time.

Apologies for the dirt in the photos, my car is due for a wash.

View attachment 23262View attachment 23263View attachment 23264View attachment 23265View attachment 23266View attachment 23267View attachment 23268View attachment 23269View attachment 23270

Thank you for this terrific post!

I've decided on the Thule Motion XT carrier. Might you know if the XL interferes with the hatch? It's the size I'm aiming to buy.

Also, your roof rack kit does not seem to include locks/keys. Can the key/lock system be added to the roof rack kit?

I have the roof rack parts in my cart. I just am struggling to understand or learn about the ability to add the key lock system separately.

 

[Tellthemride]

Thank you for this terrific post!

I've decided on the Thule Motion XT carrier. Might you know if the XL interferes with the hatch? It's the size I'm aiming to buy.

Also, your roof rack kit does not seem to include locks/keys. Can the key/lock system be added to the roof rack kit?

I have the roof rack parts in my cart. I just am struggling to understand or learn about the ability to add the key lock system separately.

The Motion XT XXL is only 1” longer in exterior length than the Force XT XXL. There was plenty of clearance (~6 inches) away from the hatch when I centered the cargo box on the racks. So should definitely be no issues for the Motion XT.

Rack feet from Thule usually never come with included locks. I did buy the 4-pack one key system separately.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Thule/TH450400.html

You could buy the 6-pack if you want the same key for the rack feet and cargo box. The cargo box comes with included locks and key. Installing the locks are super easy, you should have no problems with it.

One last comment I would have for anybody considering the two cargo boxes (Motion vs Force) is if you plan to be repeatedly opening/closing, stuffing to max capacity, or always loading/unloading outdoors in rain/snow, I would suggest to go with the Motion XT instead. The reason is that even though they share the same 3 multi-point locking principle, the Force XT requires precise alignment of the latch before it will fully lock. If you have even one latch out of place it will not lock. Whereas the Motion XT easily clicks into the latch, making it easier to close and lock if you want to move quickly.

Kind of explained in this review video.

______________________________

 

[RedTailedHawk]

The Motion XT XXL is only 1” longer in exterior length than the Force XT XXL. There was plenty of clearance (~6 inches) away from the hatch when I centered the cargo box on the racks. So should definitely be no issues for the Motion XT.

Rack feet from Thule usually never come with included locks. I did buy the 4-pack one key system separately.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Thule/TH450400.html

You could buy the 6-pack if you want the same key for the rack feet and cargo box. The cargo box comes with included locks and key. Installing the locks are super easy, you should have no problems with it.

One last comment I would have for anybody considering the two cargo boxes (Motion vs Force) is if you plan to be repeatedly opening/closing, stuffing to max capacity, or always loading/unloading outdoors in rain/snow, I would suggest to go with the Motion XT instead. The reason is that even though they share the same 3 multi-point locking principle, the Force XT requires precise alignment of the latch before it will fully lock. If you have even one latch out of place it will not lock. Whereas the Motion XT easily clicks into the latch, making it easier to close and lock if you want to move quickly.

Kind of explained in this review video.

Thanks for this @Tellthemride. I am set.

 

[RedTailedHawk]

In case anybody was considering installing the Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box from Thule on their Telluride, I am happy to report there is plenty of clearance for the tail gate when opened.

Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars - Aluminum - Silver - 53" Long - Qty 2

Evo Flush Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars - Flush Side Rails - Qty 4

Fit Kit for Thule Evo Flush Roof Rack Feet - 186095

Thule Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box - 22 cu ft - Black AeroSkin

Bought the bars and feet kit from etrailer. The roof cargo box from REI since shipping was faster/free to store and they also help you unbox and install. Installed the rack myself at home before picking up the cargo box.

Kept the bars 29” apart and the rear bar about 32.5” from the end of the side rails on the rear end of the of the car. Those measurements worked perfect for the roof cargo box to be centered above the racks when mounted.

When the sunroof glass is vented or fully open, it doesn’t interfere at all with the rails. The top of the sunroof glass is also about 1.5 inches from touching the bottom of the roof cargo box.

No noticeable difference in wind noise with the cross bars or the cargo box. Only when I open the shade for the sunroof, I can hear some wind noise for the box, but only if I turn off the radio.

I specifically wanted the XXL (22 cu. ft.)for the added capacity over the XL (18 cu. ft.) size so I can pack more stuff on road trips. I also considered the Motion XT XXL, which is about the same length and capacity, but didn’t want to sacrifice the useable space for lower height profile for improved aerodynamic. Also the Motion XT is a gloss finish, and didn’t like the thought of seeing it get scratched over time.

Apologies for the dirt in the photos, my car is due for a wash.

View attachment 23262View attachment 23263View attachment 23264View attachment 23265View attachment 23266View attachment 23267View attachment 23268View attachment 23269View attachment 23270

How to measure the 29" spacing? I had read somewhere the distance to be 700 mm the distance

In case anybody was considering installing the Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box from Thule on their Telluride, I am happy to report there is plenty of clearance for the tail gate when opened.

Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars - Aluminum - Silver - 53" Long - Qty 2

Evo Flush Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars - Flush Side Rails - Qty 4

Fit Kit for Thule Evo Flush Roof Rack Feet - 186095

Thule Force XT XXL Rooftop Cargo Box - 22 cu ft - Black AeroSkin

Bought the bars and feet kit from etrailer. The roof cargo box from REI since shipping was faster/free to store and they also help you unbox and install. Installed the rack myself at home before picking up the cargo box.

Kept the bars 29” apart and the rear bar about 32.5” from the end of the side rails on the rear end of the of the car. Those measurements worked perfect for the roof cargo box to be centered above the racks when mounted.

When the sunroof glass is vented or fully open, it doesn’t interfere at all with the rails. The top of the sunroof glass is also about 1.5 inches from touching the bottom of the roof cargo box.

No noticeable difference in wind noise with the cross bars or the cargo box. Only when I open the shade for the sunroof, I can hear some wind noise for the box, but only if I turn off the radio.

I specifically wanted the XXL (22 cu. ft.)for the added capacity over the XL (18 cu. ft.) size so I can pack more stuff on road trips. I also considered the Motion XT XXL, which is about the same length and capacity, but didn’t want to sacrifice the useable space for lower height profile for improved aerodynamic. Also the Motion XT is a gloss finish, and didn’t like the thought of seeing it get scratched over time.

Apologies for the dirt in the photos, my car is due for a wash.

View attachment 23262View attachment 23263View attachment 23264View attachment 23265View attachment 23266View attachment 23267View attachment 23268View attachment 23269View attachment 23270

In spacing the bars, 27.5" has been noted as the "standard" distance between bars. You mentioned 29" being what you used for the KT and Thule cargo box. So, I'm going with 29" for my Thume racks and cargo box. Are we measuring from the front edge of the front bar to the front edge of the back bar? This seems to be the points used on Rack Attack's YouTube video for these products.

 

[Tellthemride]

How to measure the 29" spacing? I had read somewhere the distance to be 700 mm the distance

In spacing the bars, 27.5" has been noted as the "standard" distance between bars. You mentioned 29" being what you used for the KT and Thule cargo box. So, I'm going with 29" for my Thume racks and cargo box. Are we measuring from the front edge of the front bar to the front edge of the back bar? This seems to be the points used on Rack Attack's YouTube video for these products.

I did 29 inches because I saw another owner space it that far apart in his install video on YouTube. 700mm is about 28 inches too.

I measured from middle of the rack feet to the other one. You probably can’t go wrong either way.

There was also this hatch clearance guide from Thule online, but it wasn’t super helpful to me really.

https://www.thule.com/-/s/approved/std.lang.all/90/75/649075.pdf

 

[RedTailedHawk]

The Motion XT XXL is only 1” longer in exterior length than the Force XT XXL. There was plenty of clearance (~6 inches) away from the hatch when I centered the cargo box on the racks. So should definitely be no issues for the Motion XT.

Rack feet from Thule usually never come with included locks. I did buy the 4-pack one key system separately.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Thule/TH450400.html

You could buy the 6-pack if you want the same key for the rack feet and cargo box. The cargo box comes with included locks and key. Installing the locks are super easy, you should have no problems with it.

One last comment I would have for anybody considering the two cargo boxes (Motion vs Force) is if you plan to be repeatedly opening/closing, stuffing to max capacity, or always loading/unloading outdoors in rain/snow, I would suggest to go with the Motion XT instead. The reason is that even though they share the same 3 multi-point locking principle, the Force XT requires precise alignment of the latch before it will fully lock. If you have even one latch out of place it will not lock. Whereas the Motion XT easily clicks into the latch, making it easier to close and lock if you want to move quickly.

Kind of explained in this review video.

So, I'm having difficulty getting my hands on an XL. However, I found a large in stock at REI and they have it on hold for me. Will the size difference (16 vs 18 cubic ft.) make a big difference? I'm in bit of a time crunch. I have an XL on order with etrailer. However they can't guarantee the Dec. 3rd delivery date. I need it by December 13th.

I'm in a bit of a delma. Your thoughts are welcomed

I did 29 inches because I saw another owner space it that far apart in his install video on YouTube. 700mm is about 28 inches too.

I measured from middle of the rack feet to the other one. You probably can’t go wrong either way.

There was also this hatch clearance guide from Thule online, but it wasn’t super helpful to me really.

https://www.thule.com/-/s/approved/std.lang.all/90/75/649075.pdf

I am having difficulty getting my hands on a Thule Motion XT XL. I have one on order with eTrailer. Delivery date is currently noted as 12/7. It's changed a couple of times from an original date of 12/2. This would normally not be an issue. However, I'm on a time crunch and need it by 12/10. I fear it will be delayed even more and not meet that date.

I've searched local and located the Motion XT in a Large at an REI. Which brings me to my question for those familiar with these carriers. Does the 2 cubic ft. difference make a big difference? At this point I don't feel I have much of a choice. REI can order an XL to arrive on 12/3. However, not in black.

Any feedback is appreciated.

______________________________

 

[Tellthemride]

So, I'm having difficulty getting my hands on an XL. However, I found a large in stock at REI and they have it on hold for me. Will the size difference (16 vs 18 cubic ft.) make a big difference? I'm in bit of a time crunch. I have an XL on order with etrailer. However they can't guarantee the Dec. 3rd delivery date. I need it by December 13th.

I'm in a bit of a delma. Your thoughts are welcomed

I am having difficulty getting my hands on a Thule Motion XT XL. I have one on order with eTrailer. Delivery date is currently noted as 12/7. It's changed a couple of times from an original date of 12/2. This would normally not be an issue. However, I'm on a time crunch and need it by 12/10. I fear it will be delayed even more and not meet that date.

I've searched local and located the Motion XT in a Large at an REI. Which brings me to my question for those familiar with these carriers. Does the 2 cubic ft. difference make a big difference? At this point I don't feel I have much of a choice. REI can order an XL to arrive on 12/3. However, not in black.

Any feedback is appreciated.

You could always secure one in your possession while you wait for delivery of your order. If it arrives on time, you return the smaller size and eat the restocking fee if there is one. If you end up using on your road trip, they still may take it back used if it is within the return period, as long as there isn’t any major damage to it.

In regards to the size, that really depends on what you pack, how many people you are packing for and how long your trip will be. I have the 22 cu. ft. Force XT XXL, which is also taller than the Motion XT. In my case I did a 4-day trip with 4 adults and two toddlers, a small dog, a double stroller, portable playard, a 48 qt cooler, and I easily filled up the cargo box and trunk. This is utilizing the 3rd row seats with 2nd row captain chairs. It allowed us to travel without a ton of luggage at our feet or on our laps, which is precisely what I bought it for.

 

[RedTailedHawk]

You could always secure one in your possession while you wait for delivery of your order. If it arrives on time, you return the smaller size and eat the restocking fee if there is one. If you end up using on your road trip, they still may take it back used if it is within the return period, as long as there isn’t any major damage to it.

In regards to the size, that really depends on what you pack, how many people you are packing for and how long your trip will be. I have the 22 cu. ft. Force XT XXL, which is also taller than the Motion XT. In my case I did a 4-day trip with 4 adults and two toddlers, a small dog, a double stroller, portable playard, a 48 qt cooler, and I easily filled up the cargo box and trunk. This is utilizing the 3rd row seats with 2nd row captain chairs. It allowed us to travel without a ton of luggage at our feet or on our laps, which is precisely what I bought it for.

I found myself chuckling as I read through all the items in your 'haul' and imagining the theatre involved during the loading process.

In my case, it is one person and two dogs who get the back seat. However, not without sharing the space with a few bins placed on the floorboard. I'm taking a hiatus and will be packing 'all I need and want' for a year or so. So, I'm hoping the loss of 2 cubic ft. is of minimal consequence. However, I may have little choice in the short term. You know, a 'bird in the hand'- n-all.

Yes, I will be asking the REI folks about their return policy and hope the carrier remains damage free while I continue to explore my options as I will have the carrier installed when i pick it up today.

 

[jle2013]

@Tellthemride

Any chance you could measure the distance from the top of the front crossbars to the car? I have a very low garage clearance, and and therefore I need low profile crossbars. I bought the knockoff OEM ones on amazon but those were a quarter inch too tall so I was hoping maybe these were slightly lower.

 

[Tellthemride]

@Tellthemride

Any chance you could measure the distance from the top of the front crossbars to the car? I have a very low garage clearance, and and therefore I need low profile crossbars. I bought the knockoff OEM ones on amazon but those were a quarter inch too tall so I was hoping maybe these were slightly lower.

I measured about 4.5 inches top of the crossbars to top of the side rails.

______________________________

 

[Njose424]

@Tellthemride any chance you could share some pictures with your Telly and just the evo wing bars without the carrier?
I just picked up my 2022 S AWD drive in Dark moss and am considering the metallic wing bars instead of the black.

 

[Zaiwhat]

Wow, what a great resource this thread is regarding adding cross bars and Thule Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box.

I actually ended up getting a new Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box by dumb luck not even knowing how good it was or how it would fit on my Telly. It was just an offer too good to pass by.

Tellthemride Thank You so much for the pics and specs. I used the information here to confirm that it would fit and how to mount it. Like I said it was a chance buy without doing any homework first but seeing your post gave me what I needed.

I went with the Snailfly Upgraded Lockable Black Roof Rack Cross Bars Customized Fit for Kia Telluride 2019-2022 off Amazon for about $135. I took your recommendation and mounted cross bars 29" apart from each other. Makes sense because it also aligns with the pillars. I still need to pickup the Cargo Box and will try and post some pics for the group once I have it.

​

 

[ianhunt]

.

 

[ianhunt]

Wow, what a great resource this thread is regarding adding cross bars and Thule Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box.

I actually ended up getting a new Force XT XXL rooftop cargo box by dumb luck not even knowing how good it was or how it would fit on my Telly. It was just an offer too good to pass by.

Tellthemride Thank You so much for the pics and specs. I used the information here to confirm that it would fit and how to mount it. Like I said it was a chance buy without doing any homework first but seeing your post gave me what I needed.

I went with the Snailfly Upgraded Lockable Black Roof Rack Cross Bars Customized Fit for Kia Telluride 2019-2022 off Amazon for about $135. I took your recommendation and mounted cross bars 29" apart from each other. Makes sense because it also aligns with the pillars. I still need to pickup the Cargo Box and will try and post some pics for the group once I have it.

​

Have you taken in pictures of the cargo box on the telluride yet? I'm hoping to see an example before we buy ours. Thank you!