The catch
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
On the same roof, a 60.5 lb shell leaves less allowance for cargo.
Side by side
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL vs Thule Force 3 XXL compared: Yakima fits wider bar spacing, and Thule saves weight at the same ski limit
Quick verdict
SkyBox NX XXL is the one for approved bar spacing above 36 5/8 and no more than 40 inches, or when its extra cubic foot matters for bulky gear. Force 3 XXL is the one when cutting box weight is more useful. Neither solves a longer ski load, since both accept skis up to 215 cm.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A 38-inch fixed bar spacing points to the Yakima
Suppose the approved rack positions put the crossbar centers 38 inches apart. SkyBox’s 40-inch maximum covers that spacing, and Force’s 36 5/8-inch maximum doesn’t. It’s a mounting boundary, and no amount of extra Thule payload gets past it. Also confirm clamp width and profile.
Where this comes from
38 - 36.625 = 1.375 inches past Force. Yakima’s 24 to 40-inch range includes the 38-inch spacing. The rack positions are assumed to be approved and fixed.
The catch
Thule Force 3 XXL
Wider fixed layouts fall outside its 36 5/8-inch maximum spread.
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- Why pick it
- Approved spacing on your bars comes to 38 inches.
- 22 cu ft rather than 21 helps your light, bulky load.
- The catch
- On the same roof, a 60.5 lb shell leaves less allowance for cargo.
Thule Force 3 XXL
- Why pick it
- Whether your bags fit the load budget comes down to a few pounds of remaining roof allowance.
- Your rack sits within the Thule mounting range, and your gear fits in 21 cu ft.
- The catch
- Wider fixed layouts fall outside its 36 5/8-inch maximum spread.
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What this page compares
Two long-ski roof boxes, separated by fixed-bar spacing and remaining payload, with hatch measurements taken separately and honest limits for garages.
SkyBox NX XXL is the one for approved bar spacing above 36 5/8 and no more than 40 inches, or when its extra cubic foot matters for bulky gear. Force 3 XXL is the one when cutting box weight is more useful. Neither solves a longer ski load, since both accept skis up to 215 cm.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Approved crossbars locked in at 38 inches apart
Force stops at 36 5/8, while SkyBox allows 40 inches.
- Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- Better fit
- Thule Force 3 XXL
- Not suitable
86 lb of cargo with the example 165 lb limit and a 20 lb rack
The calculated allowances come to 84.5 and 88 lb, unless a real rating is lower.
- Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- Not suitable
- Thule Force 3 XXL
- Caution
Carrying 220 cm skis
A 215 cm ski limit is listed for both.
- Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- Not suitable
- Thule Force 3 XXL
- Not suitable
A cramped garage or rear hatch
Check installed height on its own, and check the correct manufacturer hatch reference on its own.
- Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- Measure first
- Thule Force 3 XXL
- Measure first
In practice
Differences you will notice
A 38-inch fixed bar spacing points to the Yakima
Suppose the approved rack positions put the crossbar centers 38 inches apart. SkyBox’s 40-inch maximum covers that spacing, and Force’s 36 5/8-inch maximum doesn’t. It’s a mounting boundary, and no amount of extra Thule payload gets past it. Also confirm clamp width and profile.
How we worked this out
38 - 36.625 = 1.375 inches past Force. Yakima’s 24 to 40-inch range includes the 38-inch spacing. The rack positions are assumed to be approved and fixed.
At 86 lb, the lighter shell starts to count
Using an illustrative 165 lb roof limit and a 20 lb rack, SkyBox leaves 84.5 lb for cargo and Force leaves 88 lb. An 86 lb load is thus over the Yakima example budget and inside the Thule one. Don’t load it until the actual vehicle and rack limits have been checked.
How we worked this out
165 - 20 - 60.5 = 84.5 lb. For Force, 165 - 20 - 57 = 88 lb. An 86 lb load is 1.5 lb over 84.5 lb and still 2 lb under 88 lb.
A 220 cm ski needs some other transport plan either way
Each box is advertised for skis up to 215 cm. Choosing the 22 cu ft Yakima over the 21 cu ft Thule won’t solve a 220 cm ski requirement. Before treating the extra volume as a reason to upgrade, find out whether the awkward item is too long or simply bulky.
How we worked this out
220 - 215 = 5 cm past both published limits. A one-cubic-foot difference doesn’t prove that a longer ski the listings don’t cover will fit.
Option A
Yakima, 8007371
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
This 22 cu ft box opens on both sides and takes skis up to 215 cm. Check its 60.5 lb shell and longer hatch-clearance requirement before you pack.
- Best for
- Approved spacing on your bars comes to 38 inches.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 22 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 215 cm
- Weight of the empty box: 60.5 lb
- Crossbar spacing: 24 to 40 in
Option B
Thule, 645950
Force 3 XXL
The biggest Force 3 offers 21 cubic feet and a 215 cm ski allowance, at the cost of a long, heavy shell.
- Best for
- Whether your bags fit the load budget comes down to a few pounds of remaining roof allowance.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 21 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 215 cm
- Empty box's weight: 57 lb
- Crossbar spacing: 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Yakima SkyBox NX XXL | Thule Force 3 XXL | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 22 cu ft | 21 cu ft | Between two large boxes, the volume gap is small. |
| Maximum ski length | 215 cm | 215 cm | Neither goes beyond the other’s long-ski limit. |
| Empty box weight | 60.5 lb | 57 lb | On the same roof, the Thule leaves you more weight allowance. |
| Crossbar spread | 24 to 40 in | 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in | Fixed spacing can be wider with Yakima. |
| External dimensions | 90.5 x 36 x 19 in | 91.4 x 35.2 x 17.9 in | Measure the storage space, and the height once it is installed. |
| Hatch check | 55 in using Yakima’s open-hatch reference | More than 56 3/8 in using Thule’s roof-to-hatch reference | The reference methods differ, so a direct subtraction won’t work. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
- The 215 cm ski limit stays put despite its extra volume.
With Thule Force 3 XXL
- If bulky gear is what limits you, 21 cu ft is the smaller volume.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
My approved bars sit 38 inches apart
Go with Yakima SkyBox NX XXL. That spacing works with SkyBox and not with Force.
My cargo fits in 21 cu ft, and a lighter shell is what makes the real load budget work
Go with Thule Force 3 XXL. Next to SkyBox, Force’s 57 lb shell saves 3.5 lb.
My skis run 220 cm
Neither model fits. The maximum ski length is 215 cm for each.
Decision guide
How to decide
Look at the rack before capacity
A large roof box may have the right volume and still not work on the crossbars you have installed. SkyBox allows a maximum spread of 40 inches, whereas Force ends at 36 5/8 inches, and fixed positions make that gap decisive. Never move the bars or modify mounts without the rack maker’s approval.
Luggage weight and luggage volume are separate
Gear that takes up a lot of space is what these boxes suit. Their own weight uses up a significant part of a typical roof allowance. Work from real rack and bag weights before assuming a 22 cu ft box can carry more pounds than a 21 cu ft box. A lighter shell may be the more useful upgrade.
Use a separate clearance drawing for each
Yakima measures to the edge of the open hatch, and Thule measures to the point where the roof meets the hatch. Apply each drawing on its own and test how the door moves. For garages, measure the vehicle with the box installed, because the outer shell height alone does not settle the final clearance.
What this page can’t tell you
- Height fields on the Thule product page conflict, so no precise garage-height advantage is claimed.
- Because the two brands use different reference methods, no direct numerical hatch-clearance advantage is inferred.
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
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima SkyBox NX XXL |
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| |
| Thule Force 3 XXL |
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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.
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
Approved spacing on your bars comes to 38 inches.
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Force 3 XXL
Whether your bags fit the load budget comes down to a few pounds of remaining roof allowance.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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