Being obsessed with your gear, specifically camping, biking, kayaking or otherwise auto-ambulatory gear, means also being obsessed with how you get that gear from point A to point B. For most of us, this means stuffing our cars to the brim. As nice as it would be to have a trunk that functioned like Mary Poppins' bottomless bag, the simple fact is that most cars can't fit one full-sized bicycle in the back, let alone an entire arsenal of equipment. (You should have seen me trying to shove my gravel bike into the back of my Jeep Cherokee.) Luckily for me, and the moderately fragile interior of my car, there are solutions to this problem. The specific solution I'm speaking about is the new Thule Caprock roof platform, which does much more than keep my bike out of the backseat.
Designed to optimize the rooftop space on your car, the Caprock is a jack-of-all-trades platform that will open up all kinds of possibilities for your adventures, whether you're looking for a solid foundation for a rooftop tent, space for you and all of your buddies' mountain bikes or a way to safely schlepp a paddleboard to and from the local waterfront. Where a normal rack might sag under pressure or be susceptible to lateral movement, the Caprock distributes weight evenly, providing a stable, reliable platform for all of your gear.
Thule Caprock Roof Rack: What We Think
As the driver of a medium-sized SUV, the Caprock has been a revelation for my car's ability to move large outdoor gear from one place to another. With the assistance of Thule's excellent UpRide bike rack, I've thrown a bike on top with no fear of it falling, twisting or otherwise coming unsecured. I've tied down an Adirondack chair with ratchet straps and charged across town without a wobble. Not only is weight well distributed on the Caprock, but it can hold up to 150 kg (330 lbs) of gear, which is plenty for just about anything you would want to put on top.
With that said, there are things to keep in mind when upgrading to a full-on rooftop platform. It can be very expensive to get a rooftop system going. If your car already has crossbars and is ready for any type of rack, then sure, the Caprock will be slightly cheaper, but the platform itself comes in at a minimum of $900 (prices go up depending on what size Caprock you buy). Outside of that, you'll need to buy crossbars and, likely, an adaptor or two, which will get the price up to $1,500 or more, all before you consider buying an actual bike rack, cargo box or other accessory.
I wasn't able to get my hands on every accessory the Caprock can handle, but in my experience with the platform, I'm confident that the only way it would fail me is through some significant user error on my part. With that said, if you can afford it, I would 100 percent recommend the Caprock. It's endlessly versatile, easy to use once installed and is an extremely secure way to get your gear where you want it most: the great outdoors.
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The accessories, specifically the UpRide, are bombproof
The main purpose of my Caprock is to ferry bikes from one place to another. As much as I love riding straight out my front door, I'm always finding reasons to put my bike on the car, whether it's for a trip to the local bike park, a remote trailhead or a race in another city. The UpRide was up to the task, regardless of where we were headed. The rack can fit just about any bike you can think of; it'll even tote fat bikes if you buy the $30 adapter.
The UpRide was extremely simple to install on the Caprock — there are no tools necessary and you can lock the thing down by hand. I was skeptical at first, unsure that a few levers would keep the rack stable, but after a handful of trips with my bike atop the car, I was dissuaded from any fear I may have started with. The UpRide also has a clever zero-frame-contact mounting system that rachets down tight onto the front wheel and straps the back wheel neatly into its tray.
Versatility, versatility, versatility
While I haven't had the chance to test all of the additional accessories that are compatible with the Caprock yet, there are at least a dozen other configurations I can think of that will work for your car or truck. Think bike racks, kayak racks, ski racks, cargo boxes, cargo baskets, bags or rooftop tents. In many cases, you can mix and match these accessories to maximize your storage and keep space inside the car for, you know, actual humans. The frame is full of attachment points, so not only do you have the opportunity to add different types of racks, but you can also decide exactly where on the platform you want the gear to sit.
Aside from the myriad add-ons, the Caprock comes in five sizes, built to fit on just about any car or truck you can imagine. Sizes range from 59” L x 52.4” W for a small and a whopping 82.7” L x 65” W for the XXL. Plus, there are two Caprocks designed for compatibility with the Xsporter, Thule's truck rack. The vast array of sizing ensures that your car has the perfect fit, which leads to safe, secure storage on- or off-road.
This versatility comes at a price
As mentioned before, getting a full Caprock setup can set you back a pretty penny. At roughly $1,000 for the Caprock itself, you'll want to set aside enough cash to ensure you have the proper crossbars, rail feet and crossbar kit.
On my Jeep Cherokee, I have the Evo Wingbar Evo crossbar setup, the medium Caprock and the Caprock Crossbar Kit, plus an UpRide bike rack. In total, this setup is $1,929 before tax or shipping. Yikes.
You'll need help installing it
While there is a handy YouTube video that explains how to set up your Caprock, it's not an endeavor I'd recommend undertaking alone. The pieces can be put together by one person, probably, but once it comes time to get the fully assembled Caprock onto your roof, having a second set of hands is imperative. The medium weighs 53.4 pounds, which may not sound like much to some folks, but when it comes to lifting it over your head and getting it properly oriented on the crossbars, it can be nearly impossible to do solo.
I should also mention that if your car is tall (i.e., a truck or SUV), it will be quite difficult to get the actual cargo on top, so be prepared to stand on your tiptoes or invest in a small step ladder. Once you get everything assembled and securely fastened, though, you can be confident to just set it and forget it.
Thule Caprock Rooftop Platform: Alternatives
If Thule isn't your preferred go-to for car racks and accessories, you do have other options to consider. Yakima and Rhino Rack make similarly priced rooftop platforms, both of which come in multiple sizes at similar price points. If a platform is too intense and you just need cargo space, you could opt for a Thule cargo basket, though that would make adding a bike rack, kayak or skis difficult.
Ultimately, the choice is yours — consider how much gear are you hauling and how much space you need, and then make a decision. It's a hefty investment, but once you've got your setup dialed in, you're ready to explore.
Thule Caprock Accessories
