Pelican Vault vs Cargo Cases: What's the Difference?

Quick Answer: Pelican Vault is a budget-friendly firearm case line for pistols, rifles, and ammo. Pelican Cargo is a large-capacity case built to mount on a vehicle for hauling gear. The two solve different problems and are not interchangeable.

Searching “Pelican Vault vs Cargo” usually means one of two things. Either you were comparing firearm cases and the Cargo name showed up in the results, or you already know Cargo is a vehicle-mount case and want to confirm it has nothing to do with guns. It doesn't. Vault is Pelican's budget-priced firearm case line, and Cargo is a large-capacity case built to mount on a truck, Jeep, or overlanding rig. This guide breaks down what each line actually protects, how the specs compare, and which one fits the gear you're trying to move.

Key Takeaways

• Vault protects a specific firearm; Cargo hauls bulk gear on or in a vehicle.
  
• Vault is weather-resistant; Cargo is rated to Mil-Spec 810G for 70 mph wind-blown rain and dust.
  
• Cargo cases carry a limited lifetime guarantee, the same as Protector; Vault's warranty is 3 years.
  
• Cargo mounts to a roof rack, bed saddle, or cross-bed rail; Vault does not mount to a vehicle.
  
• Foamerica cuts custom foam for both lines, just with different layouts for a single firearm versus multiple items.

What Is the Pelican Vault Series?

Vault is Pelican's dedicated, lower-priced case line for firearms and firearm accessories, built from high-impact polyethylene with a Press & Pull latch system instead of Protector's double-throw latches. It is crushproof, dustproof, and weather-resistant. It is not rated for full submersion the way Protector is: Pelican's own case comparison page lists Protector as waterproof and Vault as weather-resistant, two different ratings, not the same rating at two prices.

The V800 Double Rifle Case is a good example of what Vault is built for. It holds two scoped rifles inside four layers of protective foam and still ships at a fraction of what a comparable Protector case costs. Like the rest of the Vault line, it is manufactured in the USA.

The Vault lineup breaks down into three groups.

• Pistol cases: the V100, V200, and V300, sized for one to four handguns
  
• Rifle cases: the V700 Takedown Case, the V730 Tactical, the V770 Single Rifle Case, and the V800 Double Rifle Case
  
• Ammo and equipment cases: the V250 Ammo Case, the V525 Rolling Case for equipment on the move, plus equipment-focused models

See the full lineup in Foamerica's Vault by Pelican collection.

What Is the Pelican Cargo Series?

Cargo cases exist to haul bulky gear on or in a vehicle, not to protect a specific firearm. Pelican rates the whole Cargo line to Mil-Spec 810G, meaning it holds up against 70 mph wind-blown rain and dust, and every case mounts directly to a vehicle using a roof rack, a saddle mount over a truck bed, or a cross-bed mount.

That weatherproofing claim holds up outside the lab too. Well Rigged ran a Pelican Cargo roof case for 12 months across dusty roads and rainy seasons in West Africa and reported zero dust or water inside the case the entire time, with the steel latches never loosening from vibration or heat. The same test measured a roughly 10 percent highway fuel economy hit from wind resistance, a real trade-off worth knowing before mounting one for daily driving.

Foamerica stocks the Cargo lineup along with the mounting hardware that makes it usable.

• Cargo cases: BX50, BX80, BX85 Large Saddle Case, BX90 Medium Roof Case, BX135, and BX140 Large Roof Case
  
• Mounting hardware: roof mount kits, saddle case mounts, cross-bed mounts, and universal clamps
  
• Adventure Case (TX80, TX50): a smaller, adjacent sub-line for overlanding and adventure travel

Browse the full lineup in Foamerica's Cargo Cases collection.

Pelican Vault vs Cargo: Side-by-Side

The two lines share Pelican's core case DNA (crushproof shells, foam-customizable interiors) but differ everywhere else that matters. The table below lines up the specs that actually drive a buying decision.

The warranty comparison actually favors Cargo over Vault. Pelican backs Vault with a 3-year limited warranty, while Cargo cases carry the same limited lifetime guarantee as Protector; the vehicle mounting hardware itself carries a separate 3-year guarantee. If warranty length matters as much as budget, that tips the scale toward Cargo or Protector over Vault.

Which One Fits Your Situation?

Choose Vault if you are protecting a firearm, full stop. A hunter storing a rifle and ammunition at home, or a range shooter transporting a pistol and two magazines, gets purpose-built foam layouts and a lower price than Protector for the same core job.

Choose Cargo if the problem is hauling volume, not protecting one specific item. An overlander running a roof-mounted case to carry recovery gear, tools, and camp equipment is solving a completely different problem than someone storing a rifle in a closet.

The two lines also work together on the same trip. A Vault rifle case travels secured inside the vehicle while a Cargo case mounted on the roof carries everything else. Neither line is a substitute for the other; they solve different parts of the same logistics problem.

Can You Get Custom Foam for Either Case?

Yes, and the fitting problem is different for each line. Foamerica cuts foam inserts for firearm-specific layouts inside Vault cases, the same service used for products like the 1911 pistol foam insert, where magazine slots and optic compartments are individually routed so nothing shifts under impact.

For Cargo cases, custom foam usually protects multiple pieces of gear in one large case rather than a single firearm, so the layout accounts for different item shapes and weights in the same box. See the Custom Foam Cases collection for ready-made options, or contact Foamerica directly for a fully custom layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Pelican Vault fully waterproof?

No. Pelican's own case comparison rates Protector as waterproof and Vault as weather-resistant. Vault holds up against rain, splashes, and dust, but it is not designed for submersion the way Protector is.

2. What's the warranty on Vault vs Cargo cases?

Vault carries a 3-year limited warranty. Cargo cases carry the same limited lifetime guarantee as Protector, though the vehicle mounting hardware itself is covered separately by a 3-year guarantee.

3. Can a Cargo case be used for firearms too?

It can hold them, but Cargo has no dedicated foam layout for a specific gun the way Vault does. If firearm protection is the primary goal, Vault or a custom foam insert inside a Cargo case is the better-suited option.

4. Do Cargo cases fit on any vehicle?

Mounting depends on the specific kit. Pelican offers roof, saddle, and cross-bed mounts built for Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Jeep, and Nissan trucks, plus universal options, so check compatibility for your specific vehicle before ordering. The mounting hardware itself is built from 11 or 13 gauge steel with a corrosion-resistant powder coating, meant to handle repeated on and off cycles across seasons.

5. Does a roof-mounted Cargo case affect gas mileage?

Yes, modestly. A 12-month independent field test measured a roughly 10 percent highway fuel economy reduction with a roof-mounted Cargo case installed, mainly from wind resistance.

Foamerica cuts custom foam for both lines every day, whether that means a precision layout for a single rifle inside a Vault case or a multi-item build inside a Cargo case for an overlanding rig. If you already know which line fits your gear, browse the Vault by Pelican or Cargo Cases collections directly. If you're not sure which one solves your specific problem, send Foamerica your gear list and we'll recommend a case and foam layout that fits it.