Thule Force 3 L 450L Roof Box: Tested on a Family Ski Trip to Ōhau

We recently swapped the Thule CapRock on our Amarok for a more conventional Thule WingBar Evo roof rack setup, fitted a Thule Force 3 L 450L roof box and headed south for a family ski trip to Ōhau.

With two snowboards, two pairs of kids’ skis, four sets of snow gear, boots and three duffel bags to carry, it gave us a good chance to see how the Force 3 handled a proper road trip rather than just judging it from the showroom floor.

The short version? It carried an impressive amount of gear, sat noticeably lower on the WingBar Evo setup, and was easy to live with across a long week on the road.

Why we used the Force 3 for this trip

The Force 3 was a good fit for this trip because we wanted a lower-profile roof box setup for a long run south.

We removed the Thule CapRock platform from the Amarok and fitted a standard Thule WingBar Evo crossbar setup instead. The Force 3 has a recessed base that allows the box to sit down around the crossbars rather than perched high above them, giving the whole setup a lower and more aerodynamic profile.

Our main goal was straightforward: get the family’s ski gear and luggage out of the Amarok and into one enclosed space up top.

What fits in a Thule Force 3 L 450L?

For the trip we packed:

• 2 snowboards
• 2 pairs of kids’ skis
• 4 sets of ski and snowboard boots
• Jackets and snow pants for two adults and two kids
• Helmets
• Gloves and other snow gear
• 3 duffel bags

Even with all of that packed in, there was still a little bit of space left for smaller items.

For us, the biggest benefit was simply having virtually all of the bulky ski gear out of the vehicle. No boots, helmets or jackets taking over the back seat, and considerably more usable space inside the Amarok for the drive south.

Fitting the Force 3 to Thule WingBar Evo

Fitment was straightforward.

The Force 3 uses Thule’s PowerClick mounting system, with four adjustable mounts tightened from inside the box. Once correctly tightened, the torque indicator clicks to let you know the mounting point is secure.

On the Amarok we fitted the box directly to the WingBar Evo crossbars.

The recessed base of the Force 3 allows the box to sit down around the bars rather than sitting high above them, which gives the setup a noticeably tidier and lower-profile look.

What was the Force 3 like on the road?

The trip took us from Nelson down to Ōhau, with a day at Roundhill and plenty of open-road kilometres in between.

The weather didn’t exactly play ball for the whole trip, with strong winds on the drive south and changing alpine conditions while we were away, but that did give us a pretty good real-world test of the box over a range of conditions. The Force 3 stayed solid & secure, and was easy to live with on the Amarok.

The drive south was particularly windy, and we did notice more wind noise through some of the exposed sections. In calmer conditions on the trip home, the setup was noticeably quieter.

Fuel consumption averaged around 9.7L/100km on the way down in the stronger wind, and 9.2L/100km on the way back when conditions were calmer.

We wouldn’t treat those numbers as a scientific test of the box itself. Wind, road conditions, load and driving all make a difference. But as a real-world reference point, the Force 3 didn’t create any obvious issues over a long South Island road trip.

The lower, more aerodynamic shape was one of the reasons we chose the Force 3 for this trip, and paired with the WingBar Evo setup it made for a tidy, low-profile roof box setup.

How did the Force 3 work for a ski trip?

Really well.

Loading and unloading was straightforward, and the SlideLock system was one of the features we appreciated most once the box was packed heavily.

We had the Force 3 pretty close to full at times, and being able to push the lid down and have the SlideLock system indicate that the box was properly closed and locked made it much easier to use when we were pushing the limits of the available space.

For a ski trip, keeping wet and bulky gear out of the cab was a massive win.

Boards, skis, boots, helmets, jackets and duffel bags could all live up top, which left the Amarok far more comfortable for the family.

The 450L size also felt like a good balance between capacity and usability. It was big enough to carry most of the bulky gear for four people without feeling unnecessarily massive on the vehicle.

On a taller vehicle like the Amarok, access is always something to think about, but the recessed base and lower mounting position on WingBar Evo helped keep the box as low as practical.

Is the Thule Force 3 L worth it?

For us, yes.

The Thule Force 3 L 450L feels like one of those roof boxes that would suit a very wide range of people.

It’s big enough for family holidays, ski trips and general luggage, but it doesn’t feel oversized or cumbersome once fitted.

The recessed base helps it sit lower on the crossbars, the aerodynamic shape is well suited to longer road trips, and the SlideLock system is particularly useful when you’re making full use of the box’s capacity.

That last point stood out more than we expected. When a roof box is packed close to the brim, being able to confidently close and lock it without fighting with the lid is a genuinely useful feature.

For anyone wanting a practical all-round roof box for family travel, winter trips or general extra storage, the Force 3 L 450L is a very easy one to recommend.

Shop the setup

You can view the Thule Force 3 L 450L, browse our roof box range, or find a roof rack setup for your vehicle.