Roof Rack and Cargo Carrier

[mikes]

First off, I know myself included doesn't want to see a cargo carrier on top of my 300 but we may have too. We're taking a long road trip next year with the family to go camping, hiking, explorering, etc. We want to make sure if we want to purchase something on any of our 6 stops we will have the room.

Anyone have experience with Thule, Yakima, or any other brands out there? I don't have anything currently on the roof so I will need everything. I've just started looking around for used systems and cargo boxes because new they are too expensive and I don't think I will get the use out of it. I checked both Thule and Yakima websites and it seems new it is coming out to about $700-800 for the rack system, crossbars, and cargo box.

[SnowgodCCR]

I've had exellent luck with Thule in the past. The feet mount up securley, and the load bars can hold quite the amount of stuff without flexing. I've got their bike racks which are absoultey bomber quality.

I reccomend ditching the roof box idea and going with a basket and some waterproof bags instead. It would be MUCH cheaper that way, and more versatile to boot. Instead of being confined to the 8'^3 of a roof box, now you can put in some tall stuff, some wide stuff, etc. Thats what I had on my jeep, and I put stuff into these kind of bags:
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_d...=1202229053112
then you just strap it onto the basket, simple as that. It's a great setup. Also, if you want to haul some bikes along with you, the bike racks will be able to mount to the basket, and you would still retain your load carrying functionality of the basket, whereas with a box, you can fit the box on the roof and nothing more.
Good luck! I don't think it will look as bad as you fear it will.

[mikes]

Thanks for your insight. I'm not sure the wife will go for that. I don't think she wants to deal with the bags and making sure they are secure with the winds up here in WY. With the cargo box, it's locked; out of sight out of mind and you don't have to take the bags in. We will see what comes up.

[andrei]

be very cautious with the roof rack -
MOPAR - Brushed Aluminum, lockable, mounts to vehicle door sill, includes T-slot for carrier installation part no.82208613

i strongly advise if you are using the mopar roof rack to stick some rubbery adhesive tape either on the car where the bend is from the doorsills towards the roof, or on the clamps of the rack, otherwise you will have the surprise to find the paint scratched.

[mikes]

Originally Posted by andrei

be very cautious with the roof rack -
MOPAR - Brushed Aluminum, lockable, mounts to vehicle door sill, includes T-slot for carrier installation part no.82208613

i strongly advise if you are using the mopar roof rack to stick some rubbery adhesive tape either on the car where the bend is from the doorsills towards the roof, or on the clamps of the rack, otherwise you will have the surprise to find the paint scratched.

WOW! Thanks. I've looked at the yakimas and it looks like it has some rubber on them to help with that scratching. I hope you got that fixed.

[andrei]

the factory rubber on those things will not help with the scratching.

in the third photo you can see some horizontal lines, those are marks left on the roof by the rubber.

dealer said scratches can be polished out, will try. if they still are there after polish they will handle it as a warranty claim, probably will paint the roof.