Fellow motorer,

I'm trying to spec out a rack system from Thule for my 2006 MINI (no OEM rack – don’t want to drill on the roof). I'm looking for something that can carry 1 bike (fork mount) and a cargo box. This is what Thule's website recommends for the rack:
400XTR Rapid Aero
RB47 Rapid Load Bars
2145 Fit Kit

There are two options for the cargo boxes:
Atlantis 1600 dim: 74lx36wx17h
Atlantis 1200 dim: 82lx25wx17h

The 1200 would probably allows me to have the bike on at the same time, but it is a long box. It’ll probably be protruding too far up front off the roof.
The 1600 is shorter, but much wider that probably won’t leave any room for the bike mount. I suppose I could go with the 53” wide load bar, but I think that would extend the bars too much off the sides (watch your head!). I know that the 400XT Aero Foot system comes with 50” (LB50) Load Bar, but would prefer the silver Rapid Aero. Do you know if I can get the 53” and saw off to fit?

If you have or know of a configuration that works, could you please share?

Thanks in advance for you time.

 

I was under the impression the clips Thule and Yakima use to attach the rack can not be fitted to the MINI without damage. Have they worked around this issue?

 

I don't leave my Thule rack on all the time (only when needed) but i've had it on a good 5-6 times with no adverse affects. I wouldn't put a lot of weight on it though. I think I've heard 70 or 90 lbs. to be the max. The most I'll do is two bikes or a kayak (I've yet to haul the kayak, but i'll take pictures because it'll be hilarious).

How much does the storage box weigh and what were you planning on putting in there?

 

Can the Thule rack grip the roof without crushing the plastic rain gutters? I have a Yakima I'd love to put on the MINI but considering how it attached to my Honda I assumed it would cause damage to the MINI when cinched down.

 

The thule doesn't "crush" the rain gutters. It loops under them, pulls up, and the rack pushes down on the roof where the pads are. I said this in another post (of the whopping 3 I have so far =) that you have to find the point where the rack doesn't move and you're not overtightening.

I'm not sure how the Yakima would fit... Sorry.