Fitting a Yakima Skybox 18 on 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan

Published 10/04/2017

Question:

I have a 2013 VW Jetta sedan...the Yakima Skybox 18 will fit this vehicle according to their website and my measurements, but I am curious as to how the box will be placed over the car - since its 92inch long, I am wondering how far over the windshield this will hang and if it will produce excess noise. I know you can adjust the box forward and backward with the sliding clamps, but I am not sure how far they slide forward/back...do you have any experience with a Skybox 18 on a VW jetta? Alternatively, if you have the measurements for how far from the front and back of the box the sliding tracks/claws are, I could make a more accurate assessment myself. Many thanks!

asked by: Kevin B

Expert Reply:

I've collected the measurements below for you so you can size the Yakima Skybox 18, part # Y07336 to your vehicle.

At Minimum Crossbar Spread: 24 inches between clamps. 33.5 inches from the front crossbar mount to the front of the box. 34 inches to the rear of the box. 24+33.5+34= 92.5 inches

At Maximum Crossbar Spread: 42 inches. 24.5 inches from the front crossbar mount to the front tip of the box. 26 inches from the rear crossbar mount to the rear of the box. 42+24.5+26 = 92.5 inches

This means that the adjustable range of the tracks is about 8.5 inches towards the front or back of the box.

So, if you have your box mounted on your rack with the front clamp as far forward as it should go, and then the rear clamp at the closest it can go, giving you the furthest back setting for the box, you're looking at 24.5 inches of overhang on the front, and 34.5 inches of overhang at the rear, giving you a middle spread of 33 inches. (24.5+34.5+33 = 92)

No matter where you mount the box, it will cause some noise because of the wind that moves over the box. Yakima has done everything they can to reduce the amount of noise caused by the box while it is in motion, and there's nothing that I've seen work well to reduce this noise.

expert reply by: Jacob W