etrailer | Yakima EXO System Cargo Carrier and Enclosed Cargo Carrier Review

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Full transcript: www.etrailer.com/tv-review-ya...
Hi everyone, it's Evangeline here at etrailer and today we're gonna be taking a look at our Yakima Exo system kit. So this full kit includes the Gear Warrior Open Cargo carrier, the Gear Locker Closed cargo carrier and both of these accessories are on or mounted on the top shelf as well as a swing base exo skeleton. So we'll see how this all works together right here at etrailer.com. Now this is gonna be a full kit which is a great way to start with the Exo system with the focus on storage and storage capacity. Another option would just to be get two of the Gear Warriors or two of the Gear Lockers. This gives you a good mix.
I prefer having the Gear Locker on the bottom the Gear Warrior on top, but it is also up to you. Now, depending on where they're mounted you can have different weight capacities. So when it comes to weight capacity that's very important with a two level exo system. You need to make sure you have a hitch receiver with enough tongue weight to support it all 350 pounds at least. This whole system right here weighs 151 pounds.
That's the weight of the basket, plus the weight of the box plus the weight of the exoskeleton. Now with that in mind we don't even have this loaded up yet, so depending on where it is, you have different weight capacities. Like up top you have about 80 pounds of cargo weight capacity. On the bottom, if you have a Gear Locker it's gonna be a hundred pounds of cargo weight. If you have a Gear Warrior, it's gonna be 110.
It might get a little confusing at first, but add 80, add a hundred, add that to 151, and you can see why I recommend 350 pounds of tongue weight at least. So the advantages of having the basket on top and the box on the bottom is, let's say you're driving through a puddle and the water gets splashed up, you have a box there at least you know your cargo is protected. Another thing is that with the basket, depending on if you have it loaded or not, you have bigger chances of having good view through your rear window versus the box that's immediately gonna cover the view. Now the downside on having the box on the bottom is if you need to open it up, you can see right here we won't be able to open up that lid. You're gonna have to either take the box off or swing it out 90 degrees and swing the top shell out 180 degrees.
We'll take a look at that later on in this video. To switch the accessories, it's very simple. You just push these pins out to the rotate position. Then you can loosen these knobs as long as they're unlocked that moves that cleat out and away from the accessories. You can then just grab it, take it off and make the switch. You'll see what I mean now about how it will take up more space right where your backup camera and your window is. Well, on the other hand, you can now fully open that box. So it really depends on how accessible do you need your cargo to be as well as what type of vehicle you're driving. But before we take a look at other features, let's see this outside on our test course, see how everything moves. So some thoughts while driving around is one, I was kind of bummed about the limited visibility through that backup camera and I did have to rely on my side mirrors and just making sure that everything was clear as I went into reverse. But once I started driving, everything was pretty solid. Now when going over those speed bumps there was some up and down movement. Then we also took those sharp turns, which was our slalom. So I really liked those sharp turns because you can see how the whole system stays together. Now make sure you tighten down things properly. So see how this is off balance When you tighten down the anti rattle bolt, it has really fine threads. You're gonna have to lift one side to make sure it's even as you tighten it down, then the anti-rattle bolt can do what it needs to do. I also have the anti rattle collar just as an extra precaution. This is going to add, and we measure from the center of the hitchpin hole to the end of the swing base, 35 and a half inches. So this will add maybe half an inch extra to that but definitely less than if you had a trailer you we're pulling with a similar cargo capacity. So for clearances with the back of your vehicle the closest point is right over there. That's four and a half inches away from your hitch pinhole. The top shelf though, that's gonna be eight and a half inches away from your hitch pinhole. So that's something to think about. If you have a vehicle, let's say a van that's pretty close here,

[@DoritosResidue]

I have the whole system. But whos ever selling these arent telling you in a lot of vehicles trucks, vans or SUVs you are gonna have to get something like airbags (like the airlift 1000) for your rear suspension. Otherwise it will squat /sink your rear. The swing base alone made my rear part of my suv just sink like heck. Whats the point of even packing gear into these if it causes that much sink? Dont get me wrong on the quality because the swing base it self is one heavy duty overbuilt piece of equipment and there is no base like yakimas that can compare.
This is just an fyi because for a lot of people that are looking to purchase this system the cost of the yakima system or anything similar the cost doesn't stop there. Also verify your vehicles tongue weight not tow weight.
Etrailer you make the most informative videos for so many products!

[@etrailer]

Thanks for the kind words!
Depending on the vehicle and how many EXO accessories are used and their weight, you might indeed get some sag in the rear suspension. This will be more common with smaller SUV's or minivans. We offer suspension enhancement products for most year/make/model vehicles that would help with this.
www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Cargo-Carrier/Yakima/y44zr.html