So, I recently got a dog, which means that ski trips this year in the MINI are only going to be that much tighter. I already have roof rack ski holder for the MINI. I've decided that in my current situation, I'm going to need a rooftop cargo box to be able to haul a lot of stuff.

I'm using the factory roof rack on a 2006 MINI Cooper S, so the rack is the one that mounts directly into the roof.

Basically, as I see it, there are two possible setups.

The first is to have a narrow cargo box that would sit to one side, with the open-air ski carrier on the other side. Has anyone ever done this or is anyone aware if it is possible? I am trying to figure out whether there is any box narrow enough to go next to the ski rack (be it the one I currently have or any ski rack capable of hauling at least 2 pair of skis).

The second setup would be to abandon the idea of salvaging my current ski holder altogether, and just getting a larger box that could both haul 2-3 pairs of skis in addition to a decent amount of other cargo (backpacks, poles, ski clothes, etc.). Would this be the better approach? If so, does anyone have an experience with boxes that they would recommend for this purpose. I've been looking at the Thule Frontier, which seems to be a decent option, though it might not provide the maximum amount of possible cargo space. I also like the look of the Yakima Skybox 12, but am not sure if it is too long.

I know there have been roof box topics in the past, but I haven't seen anything on this particular subject when I've searched, so I'd appreciate any helpful advice anyone has. Thanks!