The Goplus Cargo Carrier stands out a bit from some of the other budget options in that it is available in three different colors. The clamps are also designed for a fairly universal fit, provided your bars aren't spaced too far apart.
Performance Comparison
The GoPlus is a great bargain option, but its installation process is not as smooth as the premium cargo boxes. If you won't frequently remove and re-install your cargo box, though, this is not a major issue.
Credit: David Wise
Ease of Use
First and foremost, we rated and ranked the user-friendliness and ease of operation of each rooftop cargo box. We based our assessment on the amount of work it took to assemble each product and how easy it is to take on or off your car, as well as how convenient it is to use during daily operation. While we don't think the Goplus is the absolute easiest to use when it comes to these products, it's definitely up there in our minds and scored quite well in this category.
While this product doesn't arrive completely assembled, it took us less than 5 minutes to get ready to mount on the car. Rather than relying on a U-bolt system, this model comes with four quick clamps that you just need to push into their respective slots. You can do this on the ground or once the box is on the crossbars. There is a piece of rubber in each slot to minimize water intrusion, but the rubber piece wasn't slit all the way through on the unit we reviewed. However, a quick pass with a razor blade remedied that.
The quick clamps are a separate part of the GoPlus cargo box -- a somewhat unique feature.
Credit: David Wise
Once the clamps are through the slots and centered over the crossbars, you just need to tighten the knob to secure the box into position. Unfortunately, there isn't an audible click or another indicator to alert you that you have tightened the clamps sufficiently, so you'll have to rely on your judgment for that. We would also recommend checking the clamps periodically to make sure they haven't started to come loose, particularly on longer road trips and right after the initial install.
The arms of the clamps secured easily to the crossbars on our test SUV.
Credit: David Wise
This is much faster—and our much preferred mounting system—than the boxes that use a series of U-bolts and thumb knobs, making it much faster and easier to install or remove this cargo carrier. It probably only took us 5-10 minutes once we got the hang of it, making it a great choice if you don't want to leave it on your car all the time and only use it when you need it. As one of the lightest cargo boxes we have ever tested, it's pretty easy to lift atop a car without needing additional help, too.
The clamps just slot into position through a rubber gasket for added water-resistance.
Credit: David Wise
Once you have this cargo box installed on your car, we found that it is very convenient and easy to use. It's a little shorter than many of the other options, so the lid isn't overly floppy, and we found the opening mechanism to operate very smoothly. Even better, the Goplus is dual-opening, so you can easily access your gear from both sides of the car. It comes with an extra key, and the locking mechanism is easy to turn, making it a cinch to lock or unlock your cargo carrier.
Overall, we think this is a solid cargo carrier.
Credit: David Wise
Durability
Our next set of assessments evaluated and scored the durability of each cargo box. We awarded points based on our overall impression of each product, how sturdy the hinges and lid felt, and if there was any damage after our side-by-side testing process. In our opinion, the Goplus Carrier did quite well in this regard, earning it an above-average score.
This cargo carrier didn't suffer any noticeable damage throughout the course of our testing, and we overall think it is pretty sturdy compared to its competition. We could see some problems occurring by tightening down the clamps too much, and the rubber gaskets that the clamps push through could deteriorate or tear over time. These rubber slits also provide some opportunity for water to enter the cargo carrier, though it is unlikely since they are underneath the box and tucked away from the edges.
We did like that the lid seems considerably less floppy than some of the other models since this cargo carrier is a little shorter than the others. The dimpled texture also does a good job of hiding scratches and scuffs, making everyday wear and tear much less noticeable.
We think the GoPlus complements the appearance of most cars. The lack of a protruding handle helps the sleek look of this model.
Credit: Cindy Wise
The lock, locking mechanism, and hinges all seem to be about average quality in our opinion. We think it would take a decent amount of force to break them, but we wouldn't be too surprised if you damaged them with excessive force.
The Goplus cargo carrier has a run-of-the-mill locking mechanism.
Credit: David Wise
Security
Our next set of evaluations looked at each cargo carrier's security, mainly focusing on the locking mechanism and how secure we think it is. However, it is essential to note that we believe a determined thief would be able to get into any one of these products without too much effort. You might not want to leave your valuable gear unattended in there for long periods if you think you are in an area where there is a risk of theft. We think the Goplus is about average, or just a little bit better, in this regard, earning it a score roughly in the middle of the group.
This model uses a larger specialized key prevalent on many other cargo boxes. This makes it seem nice and solid when locking or unlocking the cargo box.
This model doesn't have any indicators if the box is locked or unlocked but it won't let you remove the key if the box is unlocked, ensuring that you don't accidentally leave it unlocked and drive off.
The GoPlus cargo carrier is available in three different colors.
Credit: Cindy Wise
Appearance
Our last set of tests focused on the appearance of each cargo carrier. While these products all look somewhat similar, there are a few that stand out a little bit and look just slightly more sleek and stylish than their counterparts. Overall, we like the aesthetics of the Goplus quite a lot, earning it an above-average score.
We generally think this cargo box complements the style of most cars. It's available in three different colors, allowing you some options when it comes to matching your vehicle. This cargo box also has a dimpled exterior with a more matte finish than many other options, helping hide scuffs and scrapes.
Value
We think this budget cargo carrier is a great option for anyone shopping on a budget. The Goplus has many of the convenience features present on higher-end options, all while costing considerably less.
Conclusion
The
Goplus is a relatively affordable cargo box that we think is convenient and easy to use. The biggest complaint that we have is its shorter length, making it a poor option if you are looking for a cargo carrier exclusively to transport longer pieces of gear, like adult skis or longer snowboards.
