Currently I have a Thule Atlantis 1200 box, which is 82 inches long and 24 inches wide. I had purchased this one at the time because I could still fit three bikes up top with it. But now with the new X3, one thing I'm finding out (which I knew right off the bat I'd miss) is that with the increased height of the car, I can no longer leave a roof box on there all the time and go into underground garages, most of which have an 80 inch limit.
I had measured the 535, and the car was perfect at a height of 59 inches, plus 20 inches for the roof box and feet.
The X3 though is 65 inches high. Since I'm toying with dropping it an inch using springs, I think I actually might be able to pull it off, (to get under 80 inches), if I go with a thinner box, which would be 11.5 inches high. The Thule "thin" boxes though are 24" wide, so I'll go with a Yakima.
Here's my question:
The Yakimas are 92" long. That's a full 10" longer than my existing box, which lines up with the top of the windshield. If I get a longer box, it will look sort of like this, with the edge of the box in line with the mirrors almost. I still wouldn't see the box though sitting in the driver's seat, I moved up my own box to check it out.
Are there any negative considerations for getting a long box like that, besides looking ugly? Wind noise? Much worse mileage than a box matching the roof outline?
Thanks!
I had measured the 535, and the car was perfect at a height of 59 inches, plus 20 inches for the roof box and feet.
The X3 though is 65 inches high. Since I'm toying with dropping it an inch using springs, I think I actually might be able to pull it off, (to get under 80 inches), if I go with a thinner box, which would be 11.5 inches high. The Thule "thin" boxes though are 24" wide, so I'll go with a Yakima.
Here's my question:
The Yakimas are 92" long. That's a full 10" longer than my existing box, which lines up with the top of the windshield. If I get a longer box, it will look sort of like this, with the edge of the box in line with the mirrors almost. I still wouldn't see the box though sitting in the driver's seat, I moved up my own box to check it out.
Are there any negative considerations for getting a long box like that, besides looking ugly? Wind noise? Much worse mileage than a box matching the roof outline?
Thanks!
What's the longest roof cargo box you've put on?
