Questions about roof-mounted cargo boxes and baskets.

[digimark]

I recently bought a pair of Yakima Lowrider crossbars/towers/locks for my '07 ML320. Now I'm looking at purchasing either a cargo box or a basket/net to mount on it for trips. It's kind of off-topic to ask about it here (unless of course you think it isn't!) but I'm hoping for a referral to a website or FAQ resource that talks about selection and usage. Specifically, when to choose a cargo box over a basket, how things get secured down so that they won't blow off/away at 70MPH or better, and otherwise what to expect when using them. My family's traveling out of town for Thanksgiving, and I was thinking of using something to store extra bags and luggables up there (subject to the total weight limit, of course.) Anything that will help me increase my confidence would be wonderful.

Thanks in advance for any pointers, URLs or insight. -Gary

Extra points if someone can tell me whether Thule's bags-that-fit-in-the-cargo-box system is
more useful then pretty.

[smarten]

Well you're lucky.

I went through this very query about a year ago and opted for the Yakima Rocket Box. It can hold 150 pounds of stuff; it looks sleek; I do a lot of freeway driving; it has nylon straps which can secure whatever you're hauling; and the ONLY problem I ever had was forgetting it was on top when I entered a very low parking structure.

It's absolutely incredible the amount of "stuff" you can haul in a ML with the rear seats folded down and your Rocket Box on top. I heartily recommend you look no further!

[digimark]

Thanks for the reply. In your estimation, would something like the RocketBox 16 interfere with the liftgate on the back of the 2nd Gen M-Class? I see Yakima also has a SpaceCadet 15S which is shorter/wider.

Do things tend to fly around inside the roof boxes, or is it expected that we should tie things down with strapping of some kind?

If its not too embarrassing to share, what happened when you drove under the parking structure? -Gary

[smarten]

The box fits. When you're mounting the crossbars [which must be 36" apart], you have to come as close to the front of the vehicle as possible. That way when the lift gate opens, it clears the roof box. If you go wider, you'll have a problem reaching distant portions of the box without a step ladder. Also by going with the Rocket Box, there's still room left over adjacent to the box so you can mount something else.

I haven't experienced items "flying around" inside the box even without strapping. It just hasn't been a problem. But the box comes with two straps just in case.

When I drove under the parking structure the box got squeezed down [it did not break] and then popped back up inside the garage [where the roof was higher]. Basically we had to remove the box inside the garage in order to get out. Actually no harm, no foul, but it could have been a disaster.

Don't know where you're located but if I were you I'd start scouring over craigslist looking for a slightly used box. If you're lucky, you'll be able to save a bundle!

Good luck!

[lkchris]

Another reason you'll want the box forward is that you don't want to cover your sat radio antenna.