It's not just a pretty body . . .
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
It's not just a pretty body . . .
It "really hauls" too!
https://mbworld.org/g/picture/7942993
https://mbworld.org/g/picture/7942992
Helps in justifying it to The Wife! ("It's practical!)
Jim G
https://mbworld.org/g/picture/7942993
https://mbworld.org/g/picture/7942992
Helps in justifying it to The Wife! ("It's practical!)
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; 08-15-2017 at 07:41 PM. Reason: Figuring out how to link to photos without PhotoBucket
#5
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2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
![](https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbworld.org-vbulletin/480x197/well_look_who_decided_to_show_up_480x197_ad40917111b6c51325d3761dcb34b5cc38e91cb2.gif)
The following 6 users liked this post by BLKROKT:
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#8
Super Member
Thread Starter
The C63 roofline has a lot of "tumblehome" (side windows tilt inward a LOT), so the actual roof is narrow. Then, Mercedes had Thule use a "captured crossbars" design versus towers that would accept variable length crossbars. They did this for both appearance and anti-theft protection (A thief can't steal the crossbars off of the lockable towers!)
The net result is that the widest canoe (or other cargo) that can be accommodated is about 29 inches.
This is no problem for bicycles, surfboards, skis, paddleboards, kayaks, or cargo boxes, but it is a significant limitation for canoes. Most canoes are 30 to 38" wide - significantly wider than kayaks - in order to displace enough water for sufficient freeboard for the hull to keep a non-decked canoe afloat in non-calm water.
My own canoe is almost 33" wide at its widest point, BUT it too has a "tumblehome" hull design, which results in an external width of just 29" at the gunwales! A set of crossbar-mounted "blocks" keeps the canoe from sliding sideways, and the ratchet webbed tiedowns keep it snugged to the crossbars vertically and longitudinally.
Since I knew about the roof rack 29" width limitation, this was a key criteria in choosing which canoe I would buy!
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Jim G
#11
Super Member
Thread Starter
Why not?" It's my only car and so my daily driver!
p.s. I should have mentioned: the rack Is NOT a permanent install! It is installed or removed in under 5 minutes!
Jim G
p.s. I should have mentioned: the rack Is NOT a permanent install! It is installed or removed in under 5 minutes!
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; 08-19-2017 at 04:36 PM.
#13
Super Member
Thread Starter
The use of those solid threaded bolt holes was a BIG feature in my liking the MB-Thule solution. Much stronger than the more typical "clamp-on" roof rack towers. Also, the MB-Thule rack towers NEVER touch the paint ANYWHERE. The ONLY contact points with the car are the 4 bolts (3/8" diameter!).
Also, when hauling a canoe or kayak, the space between the crossbars and the roof is needed in order to get your hands in to install a tiedown that ties from a solid point on the canoe to a roof crossbar in order to prevent the canoe from sliding forward under hard braking in an emergency stop, or if fighting a strong headwind at highway speeds. With a bicycle rack, you don't have that issue, as the bicycle rack is not "tapered" like a canoe or kayak and also is usually far less weight and wind-catching cross-sectional area.
Interesting fact from the canoe and kayak manufacturers: Way more canoes and kayaks are damaged or destroyed by falling off of vehicles at highway speed than are damaged in whitewater incidents. The cause is usually inadequate tieing down of the canoe or kayak OR the roof rack detaching from the vehicle - sometimes pulling pieces of car roof sheetmetal with it, and of course trashing the car's paint job! Not something you want to have happen to your C63!
Jim G
p.s. A C63 with a canoe on it will successfully handle the clearance height of a typical public parking garage. A C63 with a kayak or bicycle on it will not!
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Last edited by JimGnitecki; 08-21-2017 at 10:58 PM.
#15
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Thread Starter
Very sleek for a roof rack! Also "clears the way" for you better than my MB-Thule setup, as it looks even MORE like a police light bar in a driver's rear view mirror!
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Jim G
#17
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#19
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Jim G
#22
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2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
[img.]photolink.jpg[/img.]
except remove periods, as said above.
Imgur seems more reliable than the bucket but like ya said you never know.
Regardless tho Jim this isnt a diy ahaha
except remove periods, as said above.
Imgur seems more reliable than the bucket but like ya said you never know.
Regardless tho Jim this isnt a diy ahaha