5 car toppers ideal for your next extended road trip

Car toppers are a great option for anyone wanting to do an extended trip with the caravan in tow. Rooftop systems these days are fast and easy, meaning that unused roof space on the tow vehicle is ripe for carrying a dinghy. 

So, what’s the biggest and best you can go when hunting around to source a car-top traveller so that the adventure doesn’t have to end where the bitumen does and the water laps the shore?

We’ve capped our choices at less than 90kg – just below the weight rating of most roof rack systems – to account for the mass of the rack system you’ll need to carry it.

Compact camper trailers are also more frequently being built to carry a small boat, so you may not even need to put a boat on top of your car..

This is an unusual inclusion, as the Makocraft X-Lite is the only fibreglass car topper here.

The Makocraft X-Lite is built specifically as a car-topper using a resin-infusion process that draws the resin through the glass fibres. That allows Makocraft to build boats with a stronger yet thinner layer of fibreglass than if they were built using traditional boatbuilding methods. 

Makocraft claims the benefit of its X-Lite is that owners do not need to make any compromise to stability, ride, space or storage like they would need to with other car toppers.

Other benefits include stainless steel fittings, a small forward casting deck with underfloor storage, a non-skid Flowcoat finish to the floor, and a complex hull shape with a reversed chine that pressed aluminium just can’t replicate.

It even has a separate draining anchor locker in the forepeak. There’s also foam flotation built in under the across-thwarts bench seats and under the floor.

Makocraft also builds alloy dinghies; the closest we have to the X-Lite is a shorter but slightly heavier Makocraft HD 371.

PLUS: Lots of waterline for weight; best passenger capacity; forward casting deck; separate anchor well; more flotation; best horsepower rating
MINUS: Short warranty

Specifications
Model: Makocraft X-Lite
Weight: 80kg
Length: 4.1m
Beam: 1.8m
Engine: 20hp (max)
Passengers: 4
Warranty: 1 year  (std)

The Savage 375 Raptor Extreme is built to handle everything you can throw at it, including off-road adventuring.

Built from 1.6mm clinker-style pressed plate, it’s a vee-nosed boat featuring a reversed chine that runs right to the bow stem to help deflect spray.

Standard features include an anchor gusset up front, although it drains into the bilge, rowlock mounts, two alloy handles on the transom and bow, and flotation under the cross-thwarts bench seats.

However, you’re going to have to pay extra for a carpeted floor that adds weight, and an alloy cleat to connect the anchor to the boat isn’t fitted as standard. Side rails are available, but only as short bow and aft rails, and not continuous – which would make car topping easier.

PLUS: Simple, frill-free boat; bow and transom handles standard; long warranty
MINUS: No continuous rail option; lacks dry storage; optional floor adds cost and weight; lower passenger limit; low horsepower rating

Specifications
Model: Savage 355 Raptor Extreme
Weight: 84kg
Length: 3.6m
Beam: 1.6m
Alloy: 1.6mm (bottom, top, transom)
Engine: 10hp (max)
Passengers: 2
Warranty: 5 years (std)

The Quintrex F370 Outback Explorer is a little longer with a bit less beam than other options here, so is better for rooftop applications where width is an issue.

The boat sits on Quintrex’s “Eclipse” hull with a greater deadrise than rivals, making it better suited to covering ground than some rivals, and better in the rough stuff.

It’s a real no-frills package, featuring cross-thwart seats, two bow and transom handles, row lock mounts, and a glovebox for storing small items.

But once again it only has a gusset in the forepeak for storing an anchor, you need to put your hand into your pocket for a bow cleat on which to tie off the rode, and the optional flooring adds more weight.

There’s no continuous rail option for the topdecks to help the boat slide onto a rack, just short bow and aft rails.

However, if needed, you can ask Quintrex to up the 1.6mm alloy used to build the boat’s bottom up to 2.0mm, adding durability.

The hull’s warranty only comes in at three years.

PLUS: Better at speed and in the rough stuff; narrower beam; good horsepower and passenger rating; can option heavy-duty bottoms
MINUS: No self-draining anchor locker; optional floor adds cost and weight; limited warranty

Specifications
Model: Quintrex F370 Outback Explorer
Weight: 81kg
Length: 3.8m
Beam: 1.5m
Alloy: 1.6mm (bottom, top, transom); 2mm (bottom, opt)
Engine: 20hp (max)
Passengers: 3
Warranty: 3 years (std)

Anglapro builds two car topper models as part of its Core range of basic boats, one measuring 3.1 metres and the other 3.5.

The larger Anglapro CT354 Core is a vee-nosed punt, meaning it carries its beam quite a way forward. This greatly increases the boat’s stability at rest compared with a more traditionally styled hull – great for fishing – but means the boat will be thrown around more in rougher weather.

It has an anchor tray up forward rather than a locker, and dry storage isn’t really a thing. 

Standard equipment includes bow and transom handles, rowlock mounts, foam-filled cross-thwart seats to help with flotation, and reinforced transom corners.

Anglapro is the only one of this group to give the option of a 500gph bilge pump as a back-up to a hand bailer. However, that means you’re going to have to pack a battery to power it.

No bow cleat is offered, and you’ll need to dip into your pocket to add a carpeted floor that also adds weight.

But it does have a very narrow beam compared with other boats here, so if size is a problem, this could be the solution.

PLUS: Built specifically as a car topper; lightweight option; better at-rest stability; optional bilge pump
MINUS: Low horsepower rating; shorter waterline limits passengers; not much warranty; shelf for anchor; lacks bow cleat option

Specifications
Model: Anglapro Core CT304
Weight: 74kg
Length: 3.5m
Beam: 1.4m
Alloy: 1.6mm (bottom, top, transom)
Engine: 10hp (max)
Passengers: 2
Warranty: 1 year (std)

The Stacer Seasprite range is unashamedly a range of cheap, no-frills tinnies.

The Stacer 369 Seasprite lives up to that ethos, but lacks for little among this company – the only real difference is that it has a single handle on the bow compared with two for other alloy rivals.

In some ways this is an advantage; it gives you somewhere to tie off the anchor rode, so doubles as a cleat. However, as it sits proud of the forepeak, it could also snag on a car topper frame. However, you do get a folding cleat, which no other boat here offers.

Otherwise, there’s a simple anchor shelf forward, rowlock mounts, a glovebox for small items, and cross-thwart bench seats.

The maximum engine rating is a little on the low side, but the benefit is that the Stacer 369 Seasprite is rated for three passengers. 

Side rails are available as an option.

PLUS: Lighter weight for waterline length; good passenger rating; folding cleat a nice touch; okay warranty
MINUS: Down on horsepower rating; forward carry handle protrudes up; no dry storage; anchor well rains internally

Specifications
Model: Stacer 369 Seasprite
Weight: 80kg
Length: 3.7m
Beam: 1.6m
Alloy: 1.6mm (bottom, top, transom)
Engine: 15hp (max)
Passengers: 3
Warranty: 2 years (std)