Roof Rack and Cargo Storage Options for 2012 Honda Insight

Updated 03/17/2026 | Published 03/15/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Roof Mounted Cargo Basket - 64-1/2" Long x 37" Wide x 4" Tall - 150 lbs

(382)

$309.90

Curt Cargo Bag for Roof Basket - Waterproof - 21 Cu Ft

(70)

$159.14

Rhino-Rack Sportz Roof Rack for Naked Roofs - Aluminum - Black - Qty 2

$639.96

Thule Pulse Large Rooftop Cargo Box - 16 cu ft - Matte Black

(183)

$786.10

Question:

Car: Honda Insight Year: 2012 Version: Four door My car is used for all of Sobriety Soundsfoot work in our community. Sobriety Sounds is a nonprofit that primarily brings musical instruments into addiction treatment centers for group jams and performing for the patients. My car doesnt have anything on the top to help with storage at the moment. The content I have to bring for our treatment center visits are: Amps, a Wooden chest with percussion instruments, music stands, cords, etc. Plus, I usually have to bring our Harper 3 in 1 Steel Hand Truck along as well. Storage is already tight, but were looking to add a portable TV with a flight case so that we can display lyrics for people to sing along if they want during our treatment center visits. Im looking for a roof storage system that can help make room in the car for the bigger stuff. If I could put the 3 in 1 steel hand truck on top of the car along with a few of the boxes that dont weight a lot, but take up space, that would be huge. I just need guidance on what would potentially meet our needs.

asked by: Matthew H

Expert Reply:

Hi Matthew, first off, that is genuinely awesome work you’re doing with Sobriety Sounds.

Since your Insight doesn’t have anything on the roof now, the right way to build this out is to start with a full roof rack system that gives you a solid, secure base. A great fit for your vehicle is the Rhino Rack Sportz system part # RR69UG, which uses aero style crossbars that help keep wind noise down and give you better compatibility with cargo accessories. That rack is rated up to 165 pounds, but you will also want to factor in your vehicle’s roof capacity from Honda to stay within safe limits.

From there, a cargo box is going to be your best bet for keeping your gear protected from weather and road grime, especially with items like cables, stands, and anything sensitive. The Benton ShellRaiser part # B44FR is a more budget friendly option and works well for lighter, bulky items, but it is on the smaller side so it may fill up quickly with your setup.

If you are trying to free up as much interior space as possible, stepping up to something like the Thule Pulse Large part # TH615 will give you significantly more room and make a bigger difference for your day to day loading, even though it is more of an investment. For something like your steel hand truck, we would want to double check its dimensions and weight because depending on size, it may be better suited for a basket style carrier instead of a box.

If you want to keep your more sensitive electronics inside the vehicle, another option is to use an open roof basket like the Curt cargo basket part # C18115-117 for bulkier items that can handle exposure. You can pair that with a cargo bag like part # C18221 to help keep things contained and protected from the elements, but I would still avoid putting electronics up there since a hard cargo box is going to be the safest option for anything fragile or valuable.

What songs spark the best sing alongs during your visits lately?