We’re big fans of alternative racks that you can strap down and take off the roof in a couple of minutes. They’re convenient. While most solutions like that can fit comfortably inside the trunk, the Stowaway roof rack easily bests them in all in the size department, with a build that should let it fit in a corner of the boot or even the car’s glove compartment.
Consisting of a plastic rack along a nylon strap, you simply tie a pair of the assembly down to the roof of a car to serve as a fully- functional rack that can transport large boxes, sports equipment, and other gear too big to cram under the roof. You can install as many racks on each strap as will fit along your roof’s width, so you can customize it to accommodate your exact cargo needs.
Each Stowaway rack comes with vertical pillars that hold narrow items like skis and snowboards, with rubber pads on top to keep boxes, surfboards, and lumber from slipping while strapped down. Threaded inserts on the side of the pads let you to bolt on existing accessories (such as those from Thule and Yakima) for use with more specialized gear, with rubber strips on the bottom of each rack preventing scratches and vibration. Features include the ability to support up to 75 pounds for each pair of racks and the ability to install on the trunk lid to carry gear there instead.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the Stowaway. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at $50.
