We recently took the new Thule Pulse 2 L 450L roof box up to Rainbow Ski Area for its first proper outing. Loaded with snowboards, skis, boots and the rest of the family’s snow gear, it turned out to be a seriously useful amount of space.
We recently added the new Thule Pulse 2 roof box range at Stoke, and rather than just going off the numbers on the spec sheet, we wanted to see what the 450L Pulse 2 model was actually like to use.
So we fitted one to the Thule CapRock on our Amarok, loaded up the family’s ski gear and headed for Rainbow.
The short version? The Pulse 2 L swallowed considerably more gear than we expected, was easy to fit, and still had room left once everything was packed.
What fits in a Thule Pulse 2 L 450L?
For this trip we packed:
- 2 snowboards
- 2 pairs of kids’ skis
- 2 pairs of adult snowboard boots
- 2 pairs of kids’ ski boots
- Helmets packed into a duffel bag
- Snow jackets and extra clothing
And there was still room to spare.
That was probably the biggest takeaway from the trip. A 450-litre capacity number can be hard to visualise, but in real terms we were able to get almost all of the bulky snow gear for a family of four out of the cab.
No boots rolling around the back seat, no wet jackets piled through the vehicle, and a heap more room inside the Amarok.
The long internal shape worked nicely for the snowboards and kids’ skis too. Once the boots, bags and clothing came out at the mountain, there was still plenty of usable space around the boards and skis.
If you’re looking for a 450L roof box specifically for winter trips, the Thule Pulse 2 L 450L feels like a very useful middle-ground size for a family setup.
Fitting the Pulse 2 to the Thule CapRock
Installation was straightforward.
Like the other Thule roof boxes we fit, the Pulse 2 uses Thule’s PowerClick mounting system, so there are no loose U-bolts or tools needed once you have the box sitting in position. The mounts tighten from inside the box and click when they’re correctly secured.
On our Amarok we mounted the box to crossbars running across the Thule CapRock roof platform. The Pulse 2 range also fits standard roof racks, so you don’t need a platform setup like ours to use it.
Position the box, line the mounts up with the bars, tighten the four mounting points and you’re done.
For something this size, being able to fit and remove it without turning the job into a project is a definite plus. The flat underside of the Pulse 2 is what makes it especially handy on the CapRock. It’s the only roof box in the current Thule range we’ve found that will sit properly on that platform setup.
What was the Pulse 2 like on the road?
We can’t give a particularly scientific fuel-economy comparison because this was the first time we’d taken the Amarok up Rainbow.
For reference, the Amarok averaged around 10L/100km for the trip, including the drive out from Nelson and the climb up the Rainbow access road with snow chains fitted.
We used roughly a quarter of a tank overall.
More importantly, there was nothing about driving with the Pulse 2 fitted that really drew our attention. It sat securely on the CapRock and we didn’t notice any objectionable noise or unusual behaviour from the box on the road.
We wouldn’t try to claim there was no effect on fuel economy, because without a proper back-to-back test there’s no way of knowing. But as a real-world family ski trip, there was certainly nothing that made us regret putting the extra storage up top.
Getting up Rainbow with König XG-12 Pro snow chains
The conditions also gave us a chance to put another bit of gear to work.
Chains were required for the upper section of the Rainbow access road, so we fitted a set of König XG-12 Pro snow chains to the Amarok.
We’ve had plenty of practice fitting chains at the store over the last month, so the XG-12's went on quickly and easily and did exactly what we needed on the climb.
The XG-12 Pro is a 12mm automatic-tensioning chain aimed at SUVs, utes, vans and heavier vehicles, so it’s a good match for this sort of trip where you want something a bit more substantial without moving straight to a bulky 16mm chain.
So, is the Thule Pulse 2 L big enough for a family ski trip?
For us, easily.
The Thule Pulse 2 L hit a really useful middle ground. It’s long enough for the ski and snowboard gear we needed to carry, has enough volume for a serious amount of family gear, but doesn’t feel ridiculously oversized once it’s on the vehicle.
For our trip it carried two snowboards, two pairs of kids’ skis, four sets of boots, helmets, jackets and extra gear with capacity left over.
That’s the sort of information we find much more useful than simply looking at a 450L number on a product page.
If the goal is to keep bulky, wet winter gear out of the vehicle and free up some breathing room inside, the Pulse 2 L makes a lot of sense.
Thule Pulse 2 L 450L: Quick Take
Capacity: 450L
Our test load: 2 snowboards, 2 pairs of kids’ skis, 4 pairs of boots, helmets, jackets and extra gear, with room left over.
Fitting: Quick and straightforward using Thule PowerClick mounts.
Max Ski or Snowboard length: 175cm
Best suited to: Family trips, ski and snowboard gear, luggage and bulky equipment when you want to keep the cabin clear.
Our verdict: A really useful family-sized roof box without stepping all the way up to the 500L XL.
Shop the Thule Pulse 2 at Stoke Equipment Co
We stock the new Thule Pulse 2 range from our Nelson store, including the M 400L, L 450L and XL 500L sizes. The current range uses PowerClick mounting, dual-side opening and central locking across all three sizes.
Shop the Thule Pulse 2 L 450L →
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Not sure which size will suit your vehicle? Our roof box size guide covers capacity, vehicle proportions and rear-hatch clearance.