Recommended Roof Box For 2011 Subaru Outback With Limited Space Above Roof Rack

Updated 07/08/2015 | Published 07/06/2015

Question:

It is hard to call your office when you are open as I am on the west coast... So please see if you can get the info to answer this question regarding cargo boxes: are the Thule Pulse Alpine and the Sonic Alpine actually the same effective height from the top of the cross bars mounting point ?? The Sonic has a flat bottom and a listed height of 11, and the Pulse has a raised or thinner height wise mid section that sits on the cross bars, and a deeper section fore and aft and a listed height of 12.5 and 1 cu ft more volume. So to put it in other words, when mounted on the cross bars, are the Sonic Alpine and the Pulse alpine effectively the same height from the top of the auto? The reason I ask this is that the Pulse has a bit more volume and I need a cargo box that the top is not over 11.5 inches from the top of the factory crossbars on my 2011 Subaru Outback.so it will fit into my parking garage... This effective height is the final determining factor and it looks like though the Pulse Alpine is listed at 12.5 high, is that the measurement at the two ends, and not the thinner mid section that sits on the factory cross bars?? I know this is a detailed question, but important. Thx,

asked by: Rob

Expert Reply:

I called my contact at Thule and asked about the roof boxes and where the measurement is made in the description.

They told me that the measurement is made as if the box was sitting on a flat table to the highest point on the cargo box.

From the measurement you said you have for clearance from the top of your roof rack on your Outback, the Thule Pulse, part # TH613 would be too tall. You would need a box that has a shorter measurement.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L