| FatSkis |
I've seen lots of threads on roof racks, so I'll apologise in advance if I'm duplicating a previous thread that missed my attention!
Has anyone installed a long box onto the standard roof-rack on the 2003 touring edition? I need to fit skis up to 190cm (about 80") and so the Acura accessory box isn't an option. I'm considering mounting two narrow boxes (one each side of the rear antenna.) |
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| laborlitigator |
| Not seen one yet |
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| Ms. Mdx |
I bought the Thule Evolution 1600 for my '02. It is a shorter and wider box. I was able to fit 2 pairs of 190's by placing them on the diagonal - they just fit. Lots of room for all the gear.
I still ski the "old" style skis. I guess if/when I switch to the parabolics they will be shorter. |
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| TheyCallMeBruce |
quote:
Originally posted by FatSkis
I've seen lots of threads on roof racks, so I'll apologise in advance if I'm duplicating a previous thread that missed my attention!
Has anyone installed a long box onto the standard roof-rack on the 2003 touring edition? I need to fit skis up to 190cm (about 80") and so the Acura accessory box isn't an option. I'm considering mounting two narrow boxes (one each side of the rear antenna.)
Hopefully, I can be of partial help to you. I'm partial to Yakima and used a Rocketbox on the factory racks on my '01 without any problems. It's about 92 inches long. Your 03 has a shorter spacing between the crossbars, but its okay if you distribute your weight properly so that the ends are fairly light. Take your measurements to the rack place to make sure, but don't worry if you need to drill new holes, its easy. Just make sure the flat, load sections of the box bottom will cover your shorter span.
Don't get two skinny, long boxes.
1. The skinny boxes are not long enough for long skis.
2. You don't need to worry about the antenna, its flexible, and the box bottom where it touches the antennae is an inch or two above the height of the rear crossbar, because the bottom of the box is usually not flat, but curves upward.
3. You can fit more cargo in a single larger box, than two skinnier boxes which total the same volume, due to inefficiencies of wasted space between irregular-sized objects. You can also fit larger items if you ever needed to, like folding picnic tables, kid's bikes, sleeping cots, etc.
Do not get cub-side openers.
The driver will most often be the person to get into the box, and you will seldom park on the side of a curb exactly when you need to get into the box. Plus, unless you are over 6'2", the curb won't help much, you will still need to stand on the door sill, or even on the folded down seat to reach the far side of the box. This was my mistake and it takes an extra 30 feet of walking to make the round trip to the wrong side of the car every time the wife says she forget to get something, or put something, "way up there."
Don't get a box if its mainly for single-day trips.
If you regularly park in a garage, and ski often, the box will be a pain to install and remove everytime you take a local ski trip. And if you leave it on, you look like a geek. It would be better to use a ski rack instead of a box. Less work for you means a higher motivation to hit the slopes. A box is more versatile, but a huge pain unless you really need it for vacations which require lots of gear. Even if you go to a ski resort for several days, you don't want to be putting all the boots, poles and skis up there twice a day. Easier to keep only the skis on a ski rack and the rest of the gear in the car where everyone has access to it. Otherwise, you feel like a tour-bus driver; loading and unloading everyone's stuff all the time. This issue made it much less enjoyable for me to be the Captain on our last trip, even though the MDX was so cool and everyone enjoyed the comfort and luxury. I would only go the box route if I knew for sure there were 6 or 7 people total. For less, the ski rack is the way to go. Don't stress, active people end up getting both a box and a rack for the option to use the most appropriate unit each time. |
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| norcalchuck |
quote:
Originally posted by TheyCallMeBruce
..........Do not get cub-side openers.
The driver will most often be the person to get into the box, and you will seldom park on the side of a curb exactly when you need to get into the box. ........
The only caveat is that it is a safety issue. If you are in a parking lot in a ski resort, no problem. I you are on a traveled street with ice, snow and crazies who don't know how to drive in snow and ice, it's really a safety hazard to have your back to traffic, loading and unloading gear from/to a box, or for that matter even a rack. Better practice is to access your vehicle from the right side, eliminating that hazard. But that is of course personal choice. I think if there are kids and others, best to not have them be approaching the street side. |
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| FatSkis |
Thanks for the well thought out box ideas. I'm lucky enough to be just over 6'2" and my current Ski Vehicle is a Toyota Previa with a Yakima Space Case (the wider version of the rocket box). The box on the Previa is quite a bit higher than it will be on the MDX! We ski pretty regularly and I admit that I do end up leaving the box on the van if I'm going to go within a week or two. The problem is that we have more than one set of skis per person and drive over 350 miles each way to ski. With racks, the skis get really dirty and bugged up in the spring. I measured the Space Case and the distance between hard points is about 1" longer than the distance between the insides of the bars. I also prefer Yakima, but they say that they don't have a box that fits right now (but do have new ones coming out this summer).
Does your Rocket Box hit the antenna at all?
Once again, thanks. |
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| norcalchuck |
quote:
Originally posted by FatSkis
...........I also prefer Yakima, but they say that they don't have a box that fits right now (but do have new ones coming out this summer).
Have you looked at using the Thule FatMouth clamps with the Yakima box? I'd have to look at them again, but the last time I did, it seemed to me that they could be used as pretty much a good universal clamp to mount almost anything. The FatMouths are specified as fitting the MDX factory rack and there have been threads in which other forum members have used the clamps with Thule racks. I don't see why they could not be used with the Yakima box. I have a Yakima rack, but they won't mate to the clamps, so I will have to go with a new Thule rack this winter. |
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| FatSkis |
| Thanks, I'll check out the Thule Fat Mouth clamps before I get a complete box... |
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| pdempsey |
| I have a Thule 1600 and like it. Opens from either side. Sports Top Dealer had to use a different installation kit, so be careful if you order from the internet. |
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| norcalchuck |
quote:
Originally posted by pdempsey
I have a Thule 1600 and like it. Opens from either side. Sports Top Dealer had to use a different installation kit, so be careful if you order from the internet.
Is your 1600 mounted to the factory crossbars? If so, I assume with the FatMouth clamps? I like the opening from either side feature, as it lets you access from other than the traffic side but give you an alternative if in a parking lot or off street. Did you find it materially affected gas mileage? What about wind noise? |
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| Curtsan |
We use a "Karite" model, made by Thule...
It only opens on the passenger side, so I mount it off center. I'm 6'2", and with the step bars, no problem in loading and unloading. The antenna is just off to the one side and it not bent in any way.
I mounted it a bit further to the front, so I could completely open the liftgage of the MDX.
I had to drill new holes for the mount ing bolts to go through, but no big deal, I just plugged the other ones with some rubber grmmets and duct tape inside.
The supplied hardware for mounting worked perfect with the X's racks. They are basically a metal plate top and bottom, as well as one sanwiched in between the rack and the box. Bolts go from bottom up through all pieces, then the nut is one of those large plastic knob things with the nut inside...mounts in less than 10 minutes, off in 2. I keep lighter things to the front, heavier ones directly over the racks. Easily holds 3 full sets of golf clubs, etc...skis would be no problem. When we go boating, it is great for wet towels, life jackets, whatever, good source of "overflow" when travelling.
I bought it originally for my Accord for trips....now it allows us to have to put less in the X....I hate trvelling with the back full to the roof...
It actually adds very little wind noise...there was much more when it was installed on my accord. You can shut it out completely by closing the sunshade.
Was about $279 CDN last summer, bought from Canadian Tire store. I beleive it is 15 cubic feet. |
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| Curtsan |
| and one last one... |
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| norcalchuck |
quote:
Originally posted by Curtsan
I had to drill new holes for the mount ing bolts to go through, but no big deal, I just plugged the other ones with some rubber grmmets and duct tape inside.
The supplied hardware for mounting worked perfect with the X's racks. They are basically a metal plate top and bottom, as well as one sanwiched in between the rack and the box. Bolts go from bottom up through all pieces, then the nut is one of those large plastic knob things with the nut inside...mounts in less than 10 minutes, off in 2.
When I looked at that type of mounting hardware I had concerns as to whether it would crush the crossbar if tightened and/or scratch the anodized finish. Did you use any material such as rubber between the hardware and the crossbar? Any problem? Thanks. |
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| Curtsan |
I did not use any thing on the "underside" of the crossbar. It seems to "suck up" fairly flat across the bottom of it, and hasn't made any scuffs or scrathes. I did however put a small piece of rubber across the top between the metal plates/box and the top of the crossbar. The MDX has that little rubber piece that sticks up just a bit, and it tends to get flattened out. The piece of rubber I used was a old bike inner tube. It helped a bit, but I didn't want anything too thick to detract from a solid mounting base.
I only hand tightened the 8 large tightener /nuts on the inside, and added a lock washer to each. We used it recently for 2 weeks and 2500 kms, and in variying wind conditions, and although I would periodically check the tightness of them, they were always very tight. I could continue to tighten them a bit more with a wrench, but it would only continue to sompress that rubber strip even more...
When I put it on and off, I always lay a towel under the crossbars first to avoid a scratch while mounting from a bolt that slips or metal plate that slides out before its tight.
Very happy with the way it worked out. The holes in the metal mounting brakcet is just wide enough that it doesn't touch the very front or back of the cross bars, just the top (rubber) and underside.
The 4 compressed rubber areas have retaken their shape after about a week after removing the box..... |
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| jp1450 |
quote:
Originally posted by Curtsan
I did not use any thing on the "underside" of the crossbar. It seems to "suck up" fairly flat across the bottom of it, and hasn't made any scuffs or scrathes. I did however put a small piece of rubber across the top between the metal plates/box and the top of the crossbar. The MDX has that little rubber piece that sticks up just a bit, and it tends to get flattened out. The piece of rubber I used was a old bike inner tube. It helped a bit, but I didn't want anything too thick to detract from a solid mounting base.......
Curtsan --
Just thought I would let you know that your advice here has served me well. I just purchased a new 2005 MDX and we had the same Karite cargo box left over from our minivan (that we traded for the MDX.... he, he). I took a look at the photos you posted, and they were very helpful. I had to mount it more forward that the factory holes allowed due to the spoiler on the rear of the MDX. Hope it is not sticking out to far in front! FYI, I took the metal parts from the carrier that are in contact with the roof rack and double wrapped them in electrical tape to prevent any scratching. We are off our first trip tomorrow to try it out. It will be filled with golf clubs, sleeping bags, and other sundry items we can cram up there. Thanks for the advice and the photos!
jp1450 |
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