Thule SideKick 682 Rooftop Cargo Box Review

Thule SideKick 682 is the least expensive cargo box from the most reputable cargo box manufacturer. Does it live up to reputation of Thule or is it their cheapest model for a reason?

Storage

Thule SideKick 682 has a storage capacity of 8 cubic feet (or 227 liters) which is significantly less than other Thule cargo boxes. You can fit two average sized suitcases and a bit more stuff inside so whether that’s enough of storage capacity is up to you to decide.

Load capacity is 75 lbs or 34 kg which is also less than other Thule cargo boxes but understandably so as this one is smaller than them.

Quality

There are two types of qualities you should consider about Thule SideKick 682 – perceived and actual. Sometimes something we perceive as not sturdy enough actually is and this is somewhat the case with Thule SideKick cargo box.

It’s made of polyurethane ABS plastic. The box itself is thin making it wobbly and flexible despite having reinforcement plates. In other words it doesn’t feel sturdy. However it’s solid enough for a cargo box. It won’t dismantle or break apart while you are driving.

Waterproofness

Thule SideKick seems to be very water resistant as inside of the box stays dry during and after rain. Cargo box comes with vinyl covers for unused mounting holes and they seem to do a good job of preventing moisture getting inside.

Noise and mileage

Because of its small dimensions it doesn’t cause as much noise or impact milage as much as larger cargo boxes. You likely won’t experience any additional road noise with Thule SideKick, especially if radio is on. MPG also will decrease only by couple digits (like a decrease of 1-2 MPG).

Assembly/installation

Assembly and installation is probably the biggest flaw of SideKick 682, at least when compared to other Thule cargo boxes. Whereas it’s very simple with Thule Force XT or Thule Vector Alpine, it’s a lot more difficult with SideKick 682. If you have someone helping you it’s not that bad but you will have really hard time if you try to do it alone, you might even find that the task of assembling and installing it by yourself is impossible – that’s how challenging it can be if you don’t have anyone helping you.

Features

Thule SideKick opens only from passenger side. It uses U-Bolt mounting system. It has a lock (CamLock system) and comes with a key. Locking system is a bit finicky but it does work.

Conclusions

Thule SideKick 682 isn’t necessarily a bad rooftop cargo box but it’s inferior to other Thule products. It has less storage and load capacity, it’s less sturdy and have less features, it’s harder to assemble and so on. Only positives is that it’s less expensive and decreases MPG less than most.

Thule SideKick 682 Rooftop Cargo Box Details/Specs:

• Storage capacity: 8 cu. ft.
• Load capacity: 75 lb
• Height off crossbar: 12.5 in
• Minimum bar spread: 23.625 inches
• Maximum bar spread: 32.625 inches
• Height off crossbar: 15.5″
• External dimensions: 58” x 25” x 15.5” (L x W x H)
• Internal dimensions: 48” x 23” x 13.5” (L x W x H)
• Weight: 16 lbs
• Model number: 682
• ASIN: B0000WZYF4