The Yakima SkyBox, RocketBox, and CBX

Storage Solutions for Your Ford F-150
2015-2020

If you’re in the market for a Yakima rooftop cargo box, you may be wondering which one is right for your 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020 Ford F-150. Here, we’ll compare and contrast 3 cargo box offerings from Yakima: the CBX, SkyBox Carbonite, and the RocketBox.

What’s the Difference Between the Yakima CBX, SkyBox, and RocketBox?

The first major difference between all 3 boxes is the look.
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The Yakima CBX has a more edgy and rugged look, with sharper lines and more angles. Its matte black finish, black chrome badging and texture add a premium finishing touch.
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The Yakima SkyBox has a more traditional, sleek, and aerodynamic look. Yakima claims that the SkyBox has a matte finish, but here at Titan Truck, it looks to us more like a textured gloss.
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The Yakima RocketBox is probably the most traditional of the 3, offering a standard textured finish and traditional red Yakima badging.
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One thing all 3 cargo boxes have in common is the SKS, or Single Key System. All Yakima boxes and racks utilize this system, meaning that with just one key, you can lock and access all of your Yakima gear.

The Yakima SkyBox, RocketBox, and CBX all have the SKS, or Single Key System.

The Yakima CBX, SkyBox, and RocketBox all have a range of capacities available.

The Structure and Engineering of the Yakima CBX, SkyBox, and RocketBox

With its angles and lines, the CBX is the strongest of the 3 boxes, with less flex and more rigidity in the design. You can tell when opening the lid that this box is extremely well engineered. The internal lid stiffeners add to its durability and give it an easy open and close. Moreover, the easy grab handle locks gear inside and locks the box to your vehicle.

Another feature of the CBX is the unobstructed flat floor design. The torque limiting knobs are removable, meaning they won’t take up space and won’t snap off. This is a major improvement over the old days when knobs would break and you’d lose the ability to use your box until you bought replacements. The CBX also features interior tie down points for securing your gear inside the box, and opens from either side, allowing for maximum accessibility. As a side note, the CBX also comes with an optional solar panel, allowing you to make good use of that lid space. It provides a 36 watt, 5 volt output with 2 USB ports – enough juice for a campsite or charging your phones, tablets, and cameras.

Like the CBX, the SkyBox also opens from either side. Its lid features internal stiffeners as well, making opening and closing easier with less flex. It features what Yakima calls the SuperLatch, ensuring the lid is secured to the base. Moreover, the design is more aerodynamic, reducing drag and wind noise. No tools are required for installing or removing it from the vehicle, and it fits on Yakima square, round, factory, and aerodynamic bars.

The RocketBox also features accessibility from both sides, a tool free installation and mounts on Yakima square, round, factory, and aerodynamic bars. The security latch is actually a push button on this model. However, unlike the SkyBox and CBX, the RocketBox doesn’t feature integrated lid stiffeners.

All 3 include limited lifetime warranties from the manufacturer, and both the SkyBox Carbonite and CBX are made right here in the USA.

The Yakima RocketBox, CBX, and SkyBox all include limited lifetime warranties and are made in the USA.

Price for the Yakima CBX, RocketBox, and SkyBox

The RocketBox is the least expensive of the 3, ranging in price from $469 to $549. The SkyBox Carbonite meanwhile ranges in price from $629 to $779, while the CBX ranges from $979 to $1,499.