I only carry light stuff in the roof pod. Things like winter coats, clothes, sheets, blanket, pillows, all in plastic sealed bags in the pod. That keeps the center of gravity lower than if I had any real weight up there. If I get stuck, I do not want to sleep without warm bedding. There is a lock on the passenger side and the pod has struts to hold it open. I can stand on the open right rear door sill and reach into the pod. When the Airizona gang went drag racing I got some long pants out of the pod so that Old McDonalds wife could race, she was wearing shorts and the track officials would not let her race without long pants.