Thule Santu Towbar Cargo Carrier

The Thule Santu Towbar Cargo Carrier is a cargo box designed to mount on a towbar bike rack, offering the practicality of a roof box without occupying the roof. It provides generous storage space and includes some clever features that make access straightforward. However, it’s a bulky bit of kit and, while it has wheels to help with mobility, it still takes up a fair amount of room when not in use.

> Buy now: Thule Santu Towbar Cargo Carrier for £779.99 from Thule

The Santu is available in just one size, offering a total capacity of 260 litres. It measures 147 x 62 x 52cm externally, with relatively thin plastic walls that help maximise internal space. Despite its size, it weighs just 14.2kg, making it surprisingly light, and features integrated wheels at one end to help with manoeuvring.

The maximum load capacity is 45kg, although the capacity of the towbar and the vehicle’s nose weight also need to be taken into account.

It fits the Thule Epos, Thule EasyFold 3, and Thule EasyFold XT (an extra mounting kit is required for the EasyFold XT). These are Thule’s top-tier towbar-mounted carriers.

Taking up the space of two bikes, the Santu can be mounted to a 2-bike rack, removing the ability to carry a bike, or to a 3-bike rack, which still allows space for one bike alongside the box.

In use

I used the Santu alongside the Epos 3-bike rack, and fitting it was straightforward. The process is intuitive, and even when carefully following the instructions for the first time, it took only around 10 minutes. Once familiar, I was able to fit it in closer to five minutes.

You need to strap the provided adaptors onto the bike rack in the positions where the wheels would usually sit. These adaptors include threaded inserts, and using the bolts supplied, the box is secured with a 6mm Allen key. Thule recommends tightening to 8Nm, and a torque wrench set to 8Nm is included with the carrier, which makes the process simple and prevents over-tightening. Inside the box are a couple of elasticated pockets, which I found ideal for storing the bolts, torque wrench and adaptors, keeping everything together and ready when not being used.

When used on the Epos 2-bike rack, or on a 3-bike rack in place of the rear two bike positions, the Santu has a maximum load capacity of 45kg. If used on a 3-bike rack and mounted in the space of the outer two bikes, the load is limited to 25kg, and this is how I chose to run the setup, as it allowed easier access while still leaving room to carry a bike.

Inside the box are two anchor points with loops that allow items to be strapped down, and two basic but functional straps are included. They’re long enough and easy to use, making it quick to secure your load. Aside from the elasticated pouches, there’s no other internal organisation, such as dividers or extra compartments, and while that keeps things simple, some structure might be useful depending on what you’re carrying. Thule recommends even loading, ideally with 50% of the weight in the centre and 25% at each end.

When used alongside a bike, the box lid has a limited opening angle. This prevents the lid from clashing with the bike during use, which is a nice touch, although it does restrict the size of items that can be loaded. An adjustable hinge angle might be useful, and give more flexibility for larger items to be loaded.

The box locks automatically when closed, which means the key has to be in place when using it, and it uses Thule’s One Key System, so it can be keyed alike with the towbar rack to avoid carrying multiple keys. At times, I found the lid tricky to shut as it needs a firm downward push to engage the mechanism, and on my vehicle, it means movement in the vehicle suspension, making the process harder. With use, I got used to the technique, and it became easier. While I didn’t attempt to force the lock open, it’s not the most robust mechanism, though there are three latching points along the front and hinges on each side, which together add a decent sense of security. Still, a bit of common sense is needed in terms of what’s stored when the vehicle is left unattended.

Small wheels on one edge make it relatively easy to transport the box to and from storage is relatively easy, allowing you to drag or roll it along. Its size means it does take up a fair bit of space, and in my case, the storage location was some distance from the car, so the wheels were a welcome feature. Given how easy it is to remove and refit, and with access at the rear of the car being far more straightforward than using a roof box, I think most people are likely to remove it from the vehicle when it’s not in use.

Value

There are plenty of other towbar-mounted storage options available, many of which are cheaper and designed to work within their own brand ecosystems. Where the Thule Santu stands out is if you already own a Thule Epos or EasyFold rack, or you’re looking to invest in a towbar rack and are happy to pay for a premium option. Factoring in both the rack and the Santu cargo carrier, the setup exceeds £1,600, and it’s close to £2,000 if you go for the larger 3-bike version, which allows a bike to be carried alongside the box. The bike-and-box configuration is more distinctive, and it sets the Thule and Santu system apart from the competition.

For many, this setup will be an upgrade over a roof rack and box. It’s likely to improve fuel economy, and it’s much easier to fit and remove, with better access. While the price is high, if you’re starting from scratch, it’s comparable to a roof box system once you include roof bars, a box, and a cycle carrier.

Cheaper options are easy to find for both roof- and rear-mounted storage, but Thule is a premium brand. You’re paying for build quality, ease of use, and compatibility with the wider range.

Buzz Rack manufactures several cargo options. These include the most basic Buzzpro P10 at £220, and the TwinBuzz modular platform, including bike storage for £450.

Another premium option is Westfalia’s BC60. This is a towbar-mounted platform, with a maximum capacity of 54kg, which can be used to carry two bikes or a dedicated storage box.

For traditional bike-carrying options, check out our best bike racks for cars buyer’s guide.

Conclusion

There are a lot of ‘ifs’ with the Santu and whether it suits your needs. But if you’ve got space to store the carrier (it’s not small), already have a towbar or can fit one, and either have or are buying a compatible rack, then the Epos 3-bike rack and Santu cargo carrier make a superb system. It’s ideal for carrying bikes with the added option of adding a cargo box quickly and easily when needed.

If your situation ticks all those boxes and you’re ready to invest in a full cargo system, the Santu is a brilliant way to expand your storage when using a towbar-mounted rack.

> Buy now: Thule Santu Towbar Cargo Carrier for £779.99 from Thule

Verdict

Easy-to-fit cargo solution that maximises towbar capacity at a premium price

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