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Thule Force XT Sport Cargo Box

Scott

I bought my first-ever cargo box years ago in the form of Yakima’s quickly-discontinued Showcase 15. It fills the roof on my GTI, so I never thought that I’d consider another box. Fast-forward to 2022 when I started to dive deeper into ham radio, including quite an “antenna farm,” and I found benefits to downsizing my cargo box.

Given the extra cargo, refrigerators (yes, sometimes two of them), and tools that I occasionally carry, I need extra space for my luggage, especially if I’m not traveling alone. However, my roof is laden with ham radio antennas, usually five of them, but sometimes as many as nine. There’s not enough room for the antennas and Showcase. Thule’s narrower 11 cubic-foot Force XT Sport, replaced by the very similar Force XT 3 in 2025, is a great solution for a crowded roof on a small car!

It didn’t take long for the 15 cubic-foot Showcase to disappoint me. I’ll spare you the details here, but I’ll say that Thule visitors are often shocked by my report about water leaks in the Showcase: “I’ve never had a water leak of any sort with my Thule cargo box.”

I had my eyes on the 16 cu-ft Force XT for several years. It’s a little larger than my Showcase, but somehow 20 lbs lighter. However, I could not justify the expensive purchase since my Showcase box was satisfying my needs… that is until I wanted something smaller!

I made an impulse buy to meet an immediate need and have not been disappointed! Mounting the 11 cubic foot Force XT “Sport” for the first time was ridiculously easy. The smaller size weighs just 32 lbs, which is very easy to carry and maneuver on the rooftop.

The mounting “claws” have good adjustability for various crossbar spreads (see specs at the bottom of this page). Tightening the claws is simple: just turn the large interior knobs until they click, indicating the perfect amount of tightening.

The box opens from either side, but its key cannot be removed from its lock until the box is closed and locked. The lock and opening mechanisms are smooth and easy to operate. The lid feels a little flimsy when it’s opened, perhaps as a result of weight-saving material, but it’s quite sturdy when closed.

A drive in Texas proved the box to be durable to at least 80 mph (130 kph). Of course, there’s some noise at highway speeds, but it’s no worse than any other rooftop cargo. In fact, it may be even quieter than my Yakima box. It’s difficult to be sure, given the other items on my roof rack.

Its 11 cubic feet is sufficient for a weekend with two travelers. However, the box is too narrow to fit large pieces of luggage. The box is advertised as being 24″ wide, but the floor pan is closer to 20. As a result, I’ve changed my packing style to include carry-on sized luggage and/or flexible duffle bags.

This photo shows the box packed with four bicycle bags, a duffle bag, a laundry bag, a bicycle repair stand, and a bicycle floor pump. If not on a bicycle tour, this box easily could have been packed with 4-5 small duffle bags or three TSA-approved carry-on bags.

Something that I don’t notice from behind the steering wheel, but still appreciate, is the dimpled black finish. I’ve noticed that gloss black finishes can product a blinding glare to other drivers under certain conditions. This box cannot produce a glare.

I think it looks great from any angle and under any light. Sure, that’s subjective, but I’ll stick to my opinion. 😀

There it is, Thule’s Force XT Sport. Yes, there are larger boxes on the market, but this narrow box is a great fit for those who simply don’t want or need a large box on the roof. Oh, since I know that I’ll be asked, there definitely is a fuel economy penalty with any rooftop cargo. However, I can still achieve 25-30 mpg, depending on the terrain and my driving speeds. That’s not bad at all and still better than driving a larger vehicle. Your mileage my vary. 😉

My only nitpick about the box is that some of the rivets do not seat completely and slide in or out by a couple millimeters. This photo shows an example. It does not appear to have affected performance or water integrity. In fact, a close look reveals that what I’m seeing may simply be plastic caps for the aluminum rivets that I can glue back into place.

I still find it a bit odd. I’ve included a few additional photos of the box in an album below. Feel free to ask questions about any features that I may have missed.

Less is More,

Scott

PRODUCT DETAILS
(specifications below are for my older “Sport.” The XT 3 differs slightly.)

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