Greetings, programs,

Amy wants a roof rack for her Electric Blue 2004 MCS hard top (with sun roof). I like the look of the Thule unit, but most of the installs I see here have the big honking faring, which I don't particularly like. My questions are:

1. Can the rack be used without the faring?
2. Can the sun roof open and close as normal with the rack in place?
3. Are there any attachments (cargo unit, bike rack, etc.) that interfere with the sun roof operation?
4. Besides a bike rack, are there any "must have" add-ons that people really use and like? For example, the cargo-pod thingie looks really goofy, but if it really adds a lot of convenient storage then it might be someting to try.
5. Any issues de-installing them? Scratched paint, etc.?

Thanks!

 

i love the rack! i've used it to take my girlfriend, dog and i from fort lauderdale to montreal, and last week from montreal to burbank california. you can use it without the faring, and the sunroof can open and close with no clearance problems. i use a cargo box when we are doing alot of moving and in the winter i use it to through snowboards in. i also use it with bike racks with no problem. its a great investment!!!

 

some pictures

last week doing route 66


winter! with the snowboard rack



florida to montreal



misc......



hope that helps!

 

oh!
one more thing
about the scratched paint. the pads are rubber. So i just got little rectangular peaces of vynle (i think i spelled that wrong...)
and i put them unter the feet of the rack just to protect a little more against the rubbing. but so far i have had zero problems with it!
the box is very very convenient doing winters or if your traveling... you can fit alot of stuff in there.

 

Got Thule quick release/ permenant racks. Love 'em. Nothing to tighten, just push down and they're ready to go.

 

any crazy decrease in MPG on the highway with the box on? i would hope no whistling noises too.

with the SUV and a yakama rack with out the deflector on the front it wistles like crazy.

I love the canoe and kayak on the mini i want to strap a couple of 17 foot sit on top sea kayaks to the mini that would be amazing!

 

haha that would be amazing. with the ski racks i get some whistling, but box is quiet. i couldnt really tell a change in gas millage. but i was checking.

 

I didn't want to go with the deflector because it required putting some tape on the roof, and I got whistling. I then stuck a foam pad around the front bar... whistling gone.

this link is for the similar Thule product, but you get the point...

 

Your question that . Can the rack be used without the faring? i think yes it could be used:

 

Hey Malcon,

What size cargo box are you using? Is that the Atlantis 1800 or 2100? It looks really long. No problems opening the hatch? I see you've had to remove the antenna to get it to fit.

 

Do you have the Thule part numbers for your racks?

 

Any part number suggestions to reference?