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Side by side

Thule Force 3 L vs Force 3 XL: XL gives more ski length and volume, at the cost of a tighter hatch-clearance requirement

Quick verdict

Force 3 L suits shorter skis and a lighter box on a tighter roof. Force 3 XL is for when you need 18 cubic feet or skis up to 200 cm. The published bar-spacing range is the same for both, but the XL adds length, weight and a stricter hatch-clearance requirement.

Before you buy

Why, and what it costs you

The clearest boundary for upgrading is the ski limit

Only the XL's published length limit accommodates a 190 cm ski.

Where this comes from

190 is past the L's 175 cm limit and under the XL's 200 cm limit. It assumes the complete load fits and the box is installed correctly.

The catch

Thule Force 3 L

Skis over 175 cm do not fit

The catch

Thule Force 3 XL

6.6 lb heavier before any cargo is loaded

Thule Force 3 L

Thule Force 3 L

Why pick it
  • Skis up to 175 cm ride in a box that weighs less
  • A shorter box with an easier hatch measurement to meet
The catch
Skis over 175 cm do not fit
See price & reviews on Amazon
Thule Force 3 XL

Thule Force 3 XL

Why pick it
  • Skis longer than 175 cm, up to 200 cm
  • Two more cubic feet, provided the roof and hatch checks pass
The catch
6.6 lb heavier before any cargo is loaded
See price & reviews on Amazon

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Comparison updated , Product data updated , Amazon.com / United States

What this page compares

Force 3 L and XL differ on 175 versus 200 cm skis, cargo volume, roof-load allowance and hatch clearance. Take your measurements before you size up.

Force 3 L suits shorter skis and a lighter box on a tighter roof. Force 3 XL is for when you need 18 cubic feet or skis up to 200 cm. The published bar-spacing range is the same for both, but the XL adds length, weight and a stricter hatch-clearance requirement.

Which one fits

Pick the situations that sound like you

  • Skis of 190 cm in length

    XL alone is rated for ski lengths up to 200 cm.

    Thule Force 3 L
    Not suitable
    Thule Force 3 XL
    Good

  • Front clearance by the Thule method is 52 inches

    The published hatch threshold is passed by L but not by XL.

    Thule Force 3 L
    Good
    Thule Force 3 XL
    Not suitable

  • The crossbars are fixed 38 inches apart

    Each goes past its 36 5/8-inch maximum spread.

    Thule Force 3 L
    Not suitable
    Thule Force 3 XL
    Not suitable

  • You need 18 cubic feet or more

    L offers 16 cu ft, XL 18.

    Thule Force 3 L
    Not suitable
    Thule Force 3 XL
    Good

  • Your roof limit is 150 lb and your rack weighs 15 lb

    Take off the box and rack, then follow whichever of the vehicle, rack or box limits is lowest. Under this hypothetical total limit, L leaves 92 lb and XL 85.4 lb.

    Thule Force 3 L
    Depends
    Thule Force 3 XL
    Depends

In practice

Differences you will notice

The clearest boundary for upgrading is the ski limit

Only the XL's published length limit accommodates a 190 cm ski.

How we worked this out

190 is past the L's 175 cm limit and under the XL's 200 cm limit. It assumes the complete load fits and the box is installed correctly.

Roof capacity is also used up by extra volume

XL brings 12.5% more volume and 6.6 lb more box weight.

How we worked this out

(18 − 16) ÷ 16 = 12.5%. From the manual weights, 49.6 − 43 = 6.6 lb that cannot go to cargo under the same roof-load ceiling.

The upgrade can be blocked by the hatch check

L's threshold is cleared by a 52-inch Thule front-clearance measurement, but XL's is not.

How we worked this out

52 is above 50.625 and below 53.0625 inches. Final fit still includes the specified bar and clamp checks.

Option A
Thule Force 3 L

Thule, Force 3 L

Thule Force 3 L

It offers 16 cubic feet and fits gear up to 175 centimeters in length.

Best for
Skis up to 175 cm ride in a box that weighs less

Facts we checked

  • Volume for cargo: 16 cu ft
  • Longest ski length: 175 cm
  • Body length and width: 76.8 × 33.3 in
  • Box weight in installation manual: 43 lb
See price & reviews on Amazon
Option B
Thule Force 3 XL

Thule, Force 3 XL

Thule Force 3 XL

This box has 18 cubic feet of space and takes gear up to 200 centimeters long.

Best for
Skis longer than 175 cm, up to 200 cm

Facts we checked

  • Volume for cargo: 18 cu ft
  • Longest ski length: 200 cm
  • Body length and width: 84.8 × 34.1 in
  • Box weight in installation manual: 49.6 lb
See price & reviews on Amazon

Spec by spec

Where they really differ

Where Thule Force 3 L and Thule Force 3 XL differ
SpecThule Force 3 LThule Force 3 XLIn practice
Cargo volume16 cu ft18 cu ftYour vehicle's permitted roof load does not go up with the extra space.
Maximum ski length175 cm200 cmGo by the longest ski or snowboard dimension, taking into account how it packs.
Body length and width76.8 × 33.3 in84.8 × 34.1 inXL runs longer and a bit wider.
Box weight in installation manual43 lb49.6 lbBefore working out the cargo allowance, subtract rack and box weight.
Crossbar center spacing21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in21 7/8 to 36 5/8 inEach of bar profile and rack compatibility still needs its own check.
Hatch front-clearance thresholdGreater than 50 5/8 inGreater than 53 1/16 inUsing Thule's method, measure from the front-bar center to where the roof meets the hatch.

Trade-offs

What each pick costs you

With Thule Force 3 L

  • Cargo volume drops by two cubic feet

With Thule Force 3 XL

  • Requires more hatch clearance and a body eight inches longer

Change of plan

When the answer changes

Your skis go past 175 cm but not past 200 cm

Go with Thule Force 3 XL. Only XL has a published ski limit that covers them.

On the Thule hatch measurement, you pass L but fall short of XL's threshold

Go with Thule Force 3 L. You cannot assume the larger box clears the hatch.

The fixed bar spread you have is over 36 5/8 inches

Neither model fits. Neither fits the published spread range.

Decision guide

How to decide

01

Start with the longest item

With a 190 cm ski, the smaller box is unsuitable no matter how much empty volume is left. When every item fits within L's dimensions, the larger shell is optional. It does not improve things automatically.

02

Use the right reference point for the hatch

Thule measures from the center of the front bar to where the roof meets the hatch. The product page and chart round slightly differently, so the more conservative values are used here. After installation, try opening the hatch to check clearance.

03

Work out the usable load

The 165 lb cargo limit on the box is just one ceiling. Vehicle and rack limits can be lower, and they count the rack and box themselves. Extra cubic feet may suit bulky bedding but add little usable capacity for dense equipment.

Check these before you buy

  • Measure the approved spacing between bar centers, and check the bar profile against the mounting instructions.
  • Apply Thule's stated hatch method together with the stricter threshold given here.
  • Total up the rack, box and cargo weights, and stay under each limit that applies.
  • The current page and the manual give different heights for Force XL, so verify the installed height before you drive into a garage.

What this page can’t tell you

  • No vehicle is declared universally compatible, and a published volume cannot show how a particular set of suitcases will fit.

By the numbers

What the data shows

What we found across the roof cargo boxes we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.

Show the facts and the math
Models in the comparison
2 models
Sources
4 covering these models
Product data updated
The facts and sources behind each product in this recommendation
ProductNeeds it meetsFacts we checkedSources
Thule Force 3 L
  • Skis up to 175 cm ride in a box that weighs less
  • A shorter box with an easier hatch measurement to meet
  • Volume for cargo: 16 cu ft
  • Longest ski length: 175 cm
  • Body length and width: 76.8 × 33.3 in
  • Box weight in installation manual: 43 lb
  • Crossbar center spacing: 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in
  • Hatch front-clearance threshold: Greater than 50 5/8 in
Thule Force 3 XL
  • Skis longer than 175 cm, up to 200 cm
  • Two more cubic feet, provided the roof and hatch checks pass
  • Volume for cargo: 18 cu ft
  • Longest ski length: 200 cm
  • Body length and width: 84.8 × 34.1 in
  • Box weight in installation manual: 49.6 lb
  • Crossbar center spacing: 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in
  • Hatch front-clearance threshold: Greater than 53 1/16 in

Ready to buy

See today’s price and what owners say

Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.

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