Vacation time and you are thinking of piling the family into the car and making it a road trip. One purchase you are seriously considering is a cargo carrier. You can strap it to the exterior of the vehicle giving your family members more space within the car. It's like having an extra trunk. But with so many models on the market, which one should you choose.

One choice to make is between purchasing a soft carrier or hard carrier.  The hard car top carrier will give you ample storage space and can have an aerodynamic shape and they also can be very durable and waterproof. The downside to the hard carrier is its heaviness and bulkiness, it usually takes two people to handle them, and can be an inconvenience to store. Most of the soft car top carriers on the market today come with a durable storage bag making storage of the carrier small enough to be able to store it in the trunk. The hard carrier must be mounted on roof racks where most of the soft carriers only need a liner between the carrier and vehicle rooftop.

There are soft car top carriers and saddlebag carriers that mount to the rear of your vehicle. When purchasing either the soft car top carriers or the saddlebag models, they should be waterproof, not just weather resistant. Waterproof means your items will stay dry as you drive your car at highway speeds in a fierce rain storm.

They should also be made of a material that is thick, resistant to cuts and will not tear, the best carriers are made of double vinyl-coated polyester material. This fabric is totally waterproof, very durable and welded. Welded seams are very strong. You should avoid nylon material which will rot in the sun.

Another feature to be aware of is the carrier's zipper closure. Zippers should be urethane coated to prevent rust. It would be best to find a carrier that has the zipper located so a flap comes over the zipper.

Also the straps that hold the carrier to the vehicle should be separate from the carrier not sewn into the carrier as these will eventually tear off. If purchasing one with the straps attached check to be sure they are reinforced for strength and have no needle holes connecting the outside with the interior of the carrier. The last thing you want is to have a strap rip off during your trip.

You should be able to travel with the knowledge that your valuables on the outside of your vehicle are as safe as your valuables inside of your vehicle.