taeandji

does anyone have mercedes OEM cargo box/container installed on roof?
how is small compared to large size?
do you use it often or is it practical to store luggages in it when you travel...?
do you have to have the basic carrier? I already have the crossbar installed... can I just use them?

a2j

I use mine every time I take a 500+mi trip with wife and kids. Its always a planned one so I install it a day or two before we take off. Because we also put a stroller in there, I personally wouldn't use a small one. I think I have the largest OEM box available. I also use aftermarket (black, flat) crossbars. This enables us to have more room in the back for the (3) kids or possibly taking another passenger or two, like parents for example. On the long trips, it just becomes part of the vehicle that we can't go without.
I hope this helps.

N_Jay

We have the Thule Sidekick Cargo Box (GM Branded; I really need to debadge it) that I have used for years on my E and just started using on the GL.
We use the standard cross bars (The low curved ones).
It works very well, but is a bit hard to load because it sits so far forward with the standard bar position.
I am thinking about seeing if the length of the bars adjusts enough to move the box rearward, but probably won't bother.


EDIT:
The box is actually an older model.
Looks like the Sidekick, but loads from the rear (hence the problem)

wally AMG

I use a OEM set up, MB cross bars and a large MB Cargo box (21 sq f) the good with the large is I don't care if I have extra space, but I do care if I do not have more space... how often? well, how often you travel ? I use my set up 3 or 4 times a year and worth it ! it is unbelievable how much you can put inside.

N_Jay

Or on-top in general.

I have been using roof racks for about 25 years. Either open or with a bag.

We just moved to the box when we got the E. The nice thing about open racks is you can always add "one more thing", (as long as you have rope or a bungee).
As much as the box holds, I find I often have to take one thing out to get it to close.
Part of that may be because of the old rear close design instead of the newer side close boxes.

taeandji

Thanks all.

We traveled to Montreal, Canada last winter and we left couple of luggages, snowboards, laptop backpack and camera bag in cargo area (3rd row seats were down) and somebody broke rear corner window and stole laptop bag...

So, I'm considering getting cargo box and put all valuable in it when we travel as it gets warmer.

I was a bit confused if I needed to get the basic carrier even if I had basic chrome crossbar... and also noticed that cargo box may position better with basic carrier than the crossbar due to where it got mounted...

another question...

I'm assuming i could but can you also mount ski or snowboard carrier with crossbar?

wally AMG

You mean Cargo box + ski rack or just ski rack? if you use oem cross bars you can attach a oem ski rack or small cargo box + small ski rack.

taeandji

I meant just ski rack not with cargo box + ski rack at the same time.
you can get large cargo box with crossbar, can't you?

N_Jay

You can get any size cargo box up to the width of the cross bars.


You are a little limited if you want to put two accessories next to each other.
I.E. Narrow box and Ski rack or bike rack
since the cross bars have a hard limit in width.


A Thule or other set of bars that mount to the top of the rails allow you to go all the way to the edges of the bars.
i.e. If you get the LONG square Thule bars you can literally have things mounted wider then the car.


Thule Rapid System 757 plus 96" bars to go crazy!

goalie_k

Got a Yakima Space case with factory cross bars. Works great

and808

guys, I am complete newbie if it comes to cargo box. how about fuel consumption. do you feel a noticable difference ? second: is it loud once you reach lets say 120 km/h 65 mph ?

a2j

Fuel consumption question has been answered before in other threads, just search.
Noise? I can't tell the difference with my box going 45 or 85mph. I can't even tell its there without looking through sunroof window.

and808

I did a search
I got- in return - the information: 21 mpg with or without
so this made me ask further questions ...


anyway many thanks for your reply

N_Jay

definitely dropped the mileage on the E by a couple of MPG (On trips averaging over 70 MPH, often in the 80 MPH range.


I have not had enough time with the GL, but from my Honda Pilot experience, I would suspect a 1 MPG or so drop at those speeds. (70 to 80)