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I have 2009 / R350
just purchased the roof rack from local MB dealer,
does anyone know if skybox pro 21 will fit, without the hatchback door touching the cargo box?
I have Atlantis 1800 and it's 84" long by 34.4" by 16.9" high.
Your Yakima is 92 x 18 x 36 inches (W x H x D).
I still have pretty ample space at the rear for the hatch. You can check out some pictures through the link in my signature.
We just drove across country with 4 adults and 2 children in our 2008 R-Class. With 6 occupants, there was cargo space inside for just 2 suitcases (and a few bags on top of the suitcases if you didn't mind having no rearview). I had purchased the Thule 688XT Atlantis 2100 for this trip (plus the bars to put the case on) and it was fantastic. Apparently, it's the largest size they make and we needed every bit of the extra space created. We had 3 large suitcases in there and a stroller and there was room for a few other items such as duffel bags). The box, if centered correctly, comes over the top of the front of the roof by about a foot but it's not noticed from the inside. The rear door opens fully without problems. It takes 2 people to take on and off. There was some road noise but it wasn't annoying. It locks and it can be opened from either side. It took me about an hour to figure out how to set the bars up and on but after you've done it once, it takes about 15 minutes.
The box itself fits inside the R-Class (with the nose hitting the dashboard) if you should need to store it there.
Last edited by pacoman; 08-10-2011 at 07:05 PM.
Reason: added content
We just drove across country with 4 adults and 2 children in our 2008 R-Class. With 6 occupants, there was cargo space inside for just 2 suitcases (and a few bags on top of the suitcases if you didn't mind having no rearview). I had purchased the Thule 688XT Atlantis 2100 for this trip (plus the bars to put the case on) and it was fantastic. Apparently, it's the largest size they make and we needed every bit of the extra space created. We had 3 large suitcases in there and a stroller and there was room for a few other items such as duffel bags). The box, if centered correctly, comes over the top of the front of the roof by about a foot but it's not noticed from the inside. The rear door opens fully without problems. It takes 2 people to take on and off. There was some road noise but it wasn't annoying. It locks and it can be opened from either side. It took me about an hour to figure out how to set the bars up and on but after you've done it once, it takes about 15 minutes.
The box itself fits inside the R-Class (with the nose hitting the dashboard) if you should need to store it there.
Your model is sold in Aus as the Thule Atlantis 900, but given its large size it still has a load limit of 75kg. so im unsure whether the additional volume turns out to be unused space? Do you know if the bags moved around much or at all given your large pod?
I'd prefer not to have the overhang but i think its unavoidable.
Like HD TVs and breast implants, you'll always regret not getting the bigger size. (:
The content of my pod did not move. The inside of the pod is ridged which keeps the content from moving, I guess.
I use a Thule Atlantis 1800 on my MB350 (Humblepower ~$520 delivered)
The Thule Atlantis 2100 is a very big box, somewhat harder to take on and off the vehicle singlehanded the the 1600 or 1800. The 1800 can handle my longer X-Country skis.
i managed to pick up a nearly new Genuine MB Large Roof pod with MB luggage set for A$310, but i had to drive 5 hours each way to pick it up!
My R320cdi managed an average fuel consumption of 8.1L/100km.
when driving at 100km/h it averaged 8.4L/100km, but dropped to 8.1 when i was doing 80km/h. (Roof pod inside the vehicle)
Great thread. I have just bought a 2010 R350 and came with a cargo box on roof racks. I have taken it down and want to sell it and it has the name Mercedes Benz hacked on it which tells me it is genuin part but the previous owner did not have the keys and MB cannot tell me which company this was made by. I called Thule and it is not them based on the key code on the lock and Yakama is not it either and I am now stuck with a cargo box that I need a key for so I can sell it.
Would anyone wants to buy it or can tell me what other companies can be the potential manufacturers of this cargo box?
I'm pretty sure that Thule manufactured the boxes for Mercedes.
I have the factory rack and it is compatible with Thule locks (I keyed all my bike carriers to the same key as the rack). If the lock is the same as the roof rack locks then you should be able to swap with Thule locks. If you can't get a proper key match - then either order a Thule "change key", or take it to a Thule dealer (who will have a change key). Some dealers will even take in your old lock cylinders as a partial trade for new ones. If the box is locked, a dealer will have all the variations on the Thule keys to try to unlock it (which is necessary in order to remove and change the cylinder).
I like having the fewest possible keys - so as much as possible, like to match all the roof rack keys with roof rack attachment keys. It was cheaper for me to swap my bike carrier locks (vs swapping four roof rack locks), so that's what I did. Definitely worth it to have it all on one set of keys.
I use the Yakima Skybox Lowpro cargo box - lowest height box at the time I purchased it. I have other threads posted which show the height. Unfortunately, Yakima locks are not compatible with Thule, so I need a separate key for the Skybox... But at least it fits into my garage!
Irvinvali, if you can figure out the key issue, I might be interested in buying the rack and cargo box from you. Actually, even if you can't figure out the box key issue, I am looking to buy a rack system asap. Let me know....
I'm pretty sure that Thule manufactured the boxes for Mercedes.
I have the factory rack and it is compatible with Thule locks (I keyed all my bike carriers to the same key as the rack). If the lock is the same as the roof rack locks then you should be able to swap with Thule locks. If you can't get a proper key match - then either order a Thule "change key", or take it to a Thule dealer (who will have a change key). Some dealers will even take in your old lock cylinders as a partial trade for new ones. If the box is locked, a dealer will have all the variations on the Thule keys to try to unlock it (which is necessary in order to remove and change the cylinder).
I like having the fewest possible keys - so as much as possible, like to match all the roof rack keys with roof rack attachment keys. It was cheaper for me to swap my bike carrier locks (vs swapping four roof rack locks), so that's what I did. Definitely worth it to have it all on one set of keys.
I use the Yakima Skybox Lowpro cargo box - lowest height box at the time I purchased it. I have other threads posted which show the height. Unfortunately, Yakima locks are not compatible with Thule, so I need a separate key for the Skybox... But at least it fits into my garage!
Not Thule, Not Yakima. I called them both....it is really puzzling and MB's North America even cannot help me with this. I mean how can they not know what companies have manufactured these when the MB name is hacked on it! they said we only know of Yakima and Thuli, which as I said are not the ones.
Not Thule, Not Yakima. I called them both....it is really puzzling and MB's North America even cannot help me with this. I mean how can they not know what companies have manufactured these when the MB name is hacked on it! they said we only know of Yakima and Thuli, which as I said are not the ones.
It's possible that Thule North American support don't have the specs so can't or won't help.
Eg: Here is a thread from e-Trailer that suggests that Thule Sweden makes the OEM boxes but Thule North America does not support them over here:
I've taken a picture of the Mercedes OEM roof carrier locks. Notice the code that is stamped on the lock-face. This is actually a Thule Lock Code. If your roof box has a similar looking lock with a similar type of code - then chances are it was made by Thule. If so, you may be in luck. You could try ordering a key based upon the code (if there is one). Here's the Thule page for checking lock and key codes for spares (but since this is a Thule US page, maybe the codes are different for European?):
Even if there isn't a code, and it might be worth your while to go to a rack dealer and try out some keys, especially if you are stuck with a locked box. Eg - go to a Rack Attack store or similar retailer. A good rack dealer will have different sets of keys for various manufacturers. Eg: The box looks similar to an Inno box - so maybe they made the OEM?
Anyway, if you're stuck with the locked box, no harm in trying. (edit to add: If your dealer hasn't been helpful - maybe call the MB parts department directly? A Mercedes dealer should have keys for the roof boxes - I'm sure it's common for people to lose the keys and have to order spares).
Thanks for the info. I already got the keys for the racks from Thule and my issue is with the cargo, which I got a locksmith guy to finally make a key for (which for some reason does not seem to work very well and gets stuck!) but now since I had taken the lock out, I have to take the whole thing to my mechanic and have him put back in the lock that he took out for me.
Also, i did try the parts department of a MB dealer but they could not help either as they said call either Thule or Yakima, and neither seem to be the manufacturer of the cargo box. It has become a quite a puzzle!
08-04-2009, 04:44 AM
