The catch
SportRack Sidekick
Many light, bulky highway loads are ruled out by the 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph.
Side by side
SportRack Sidekick vs Thule Force 3 M compared: Above 40 mph, Sidekick requires a 50 lb minimum load, while Force suits light bulk
Quick verdict
Sidekick works for compact cargo, but only after you check the 50 lb minimum load in its manual for driving above 40 mph and the stricter 75 lb maximum cargo rating. For a light, bulky highway load or access from either side, Force 3 M is the better choice. A lighter shell on the Sidekick does not mean it can carry the heavier load.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The larger box suits a 30 lb highway load
Sidekick states an explicit 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph, and a bulky 30 lb camping load is under it. That makes its small shell a poor match for the trip, even with plenty of weight capacity left. Force M stays in the running as long as vehicle fit, attachment and total roof load all pass.
Where this comes from
Say the secured cargo weighs 30 lb and the trip goes above 40 mph. Set 30 against the 50 lb restriction in the exact SR 7020 manual. Don’t add arbitrary ballast to get around it.
The catch
Thule Force 3 M
A shell that is heavier and wider uses more roof allowance and more of the neighboring space.
SportRack Sidekick
- Why pick it
- Your compact cargo satisfies the manual’s highway load restriction as well as every roof limit.
- The place where you will load suits a short, narrow shell with passenger-side access.
- The catch
- Many light, bulky highway loads are ruled out by the 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph.
Thule Force 3 M
- Why pick it
- A bulky 30 lb load is what you will be driving on the highway.
- Either-side access, or more than 75 lb of approved cargo, is a must for you.
- The catch
- A shell that is heavier and wider uses more roof allowance and more of the neighboring space.
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What this page compares
A compact roof box set against a larger dual-opening one, with attention to the Sidekick’s unusual highway load restriction.
Sidekick works for compact cargo, but only after you check the 50 lb minimum load in its manual for driving above 40 mph and the stricter 75 lb maximum cargo rating. For a light, bulky highway load or access from either side, Force 3 M is the better choice. A lighter shell on the Sidekick does not mean it can carry the heavier load.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A 30 lb camping load carried at speeds above 40 mph
Sidekick requires at least 50 lb at higher speeds. Its empty weight gives you no license to ignore that warning.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Below manual minimum
- Thule Force 3 M
- Candidate after fit checks
Secured cargo for the highway comes to 60 lb
For both, you still have to run the real vehicle and rack load calculation and confirm the mounting.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Within 50 to 75 lb range
- Thule Force 3 M
80 lb of cargo, a 165 lb roof and a 20 lb rack
Under the stated assumptions, Force M is still in the running. Go by the lowest real system rating.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Above 75 lb box cap
- Thule Force 3 M
- Within example 108 lb allowance
The passenger side is walled off
Force M can be loaded from either side, a practical option Sidekick doesn’t offer.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Move to a suitable loading position
- Thule Force 3 M
- Open from the other side
In practice
Differences you will notice
The larger box suits a 30 lb highway load
Sidekick states an explicit 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph, and a bulky 30 lb camping load is under it. That makes its small shell a poor match for the trip, even with plenty of weight capacity left. Force M stays in the running as long as vehicle fit, attachment and total roof load all pass.
How we worked this out
Say the secured cargo weighs 30 lb and the trip goes above 40 mph. Set 30 against the 50 lb restriction in the exact SR 7020 manual. Don’t add arbitrary ballast to get around it.
Light as the shell is, it still runs into the lower cargo cap
Assume a 165 lb total roof allowance and a 20 lb rack. Subtraction leaves 125.15 lb for Sidekick, but its own 75 lb limit still applies. Force M leaves 108 lb. So an 80 lb load can rule out Sidekick and still fit this Force M example.
How we worked this out
Sidekick: min(165 - 20 - 19.85, 75) = 75 lb. Force M: min(165 - 20 - 37, 165) = 108 lb. Before loading, go with the lowest real vehicle, rack and box ratings.
A smaller shell frees roof space but does not allow heavier loads
Assume a hypothetical 50-inch usable bar span. That leaves 25 inches beside the Sidekick shell and 18 inches beside Force M. A neighboring accessory may benefit from the seven-inch gap. Treat clamps, lid movement and weight as a complete system, and include Sidekick’s highway load requirement.
How we worked this out
50 - 25 = 25 inches. 50 - 32 = 18 inches. Consider this an early comparison of shell widths. It does not approve compatibility on a shared rack.
Option A
SportRack, SR7020
SportRack Sidekick
This 8 cu ft box opens on the passenger side and weighs 19.85 lb. Its manual warns of a 50 lb minimum load for higher-speed travel, so look at that restriction before you plan a light highway load.
- Best for
- Your compact cargo satisfies the manual’s highway load restriction as well as every roof limit.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 8 cu ft
- Weight of the empty box: 19.85 lb
- Top box cargo rating: 75 lb, taken from the stricter current page
- Load rule at higher speeds: At least 50 lb when traveling above 40 mph
Option B
Thule, Force 3 M
Thule Force 3 M
It holds 14 cubic feet, and the longest gear it accepts is 155 centimeters.
- Best for
- A bulky 30 lb load is what you will be driving on the highway.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 14 cu ft
- Empty box's weight: 37 lb
- Top box cargo rating: Subject to roof and rack limits, 165 lb
- Load rule at higher speeds: No comparable minimum was identified in the reviewed instructions
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | SportRack Sidekick | Thule Force 3 M | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 8 cu ft | 14 cu ft | Bulky gear gets more room in Force M. |
| Empty box weight | 19.85 lb | 37 lb | Sidekick’s lower cargo rating stays in force despite the lighter shell. |
| Maximum box cargo rating | 75 lb using the stricter current page | 165 lb subject to roof and rack limits | Whichever applicable rating is lowest governs the loaded system in practice. |
| Higher-speed load restriction | At least 50 lb for travel above 40 mph | No comparable minimum identified in reviewed instructions | For a light highway load, the exact warning in Sidekick’s manual is important. |
| External length and width | 54 x 25 in | 69 x 32 in | Externally, Sidekick takes up less length and less width. |
| Loading and mounting | Passenger-side opening with U-bolts | Dual-side opening with PowerClick | When one side is blocked, Force M can still be opened from the other. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With SportRack Sidekick
- It opens on the passenger side and has a 75 lb cargo cap, which limits how you can use it.
With Thule Force 3 M
- A higher cargo rating can’t go past the vehicle or rack limit.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
On the highway I carry only 30 lb
Go with Thule Force 3 M. Force M doesn’t carry the documented 50 lb minimum cargo restriction that Sidekick has for driving above 40 mph.
I have 80 lb of cargo, and the whole system allows it
Go with Thule Force 3 M. That load is excluded by Sidekick’s stricter 75 lb cargo cap, however much roof allowance the vehicle has spare.
I carry 60 lb of compact cargo on the highway, and I need the narrower shell
Go with SportRack Sidekick. Sidekick’s stated cargo window runs from 50 to 75 lb, and 60 lb falls in it, as long as mounting and any lower roof limits allow.
Decision guide
How to decide
Before choosing the small box, read the minimum load warning
The manual for the exact Sidekick SR 7020 contains an unusual higher-speed restriction. It warns against traveling empty above 40 mph and calls for at least 50 lb in the carrier for higher-speed travel. That matters for blankets, bedding or other light bulky cargo. If your intended load does not meet the instruction, make a different carrying plan.
Add up the whole system, then apply the box cap
Take the lowest allowed vehicle and rack load, subtract the rack and the empty box, and then apply the box’s own cargo limit. The current Sidekick page gives 75 lb although its manual also contains a higher figure, so this page uses the stricter one. A lighter box can still come with a smaller usable cargo allowance.
Think about loading in real parking spaces
A compact load and a known loading area may suit Sidekick’s shorter footprint and passenger-side opening, whereas Force M gives more packing room and access from either side. Measure bar compatibility, hatch movement and overhead clearance on the actual vehicle. External size alone does not prove the installation works, and neither does a generic fit label.
What this page can’t tell you
- Hatch or mounting measurements from the older Thule Sidekick are not carried over to the current SportRack SR 7020.
- On maximum cargo, the current Sidekick page and manual disagree, and the lower 75 lb limit is the one applied here.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportRack Sidekick |
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| Thule Force 3 M |
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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.
SportRack Sidekick
Your compact cargo satisfies the manual’s highway load restriction as well as every roof limit.
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Force 3 M
A bulky 30 lb load is what you will be driving on the highway.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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