Which Cross Bars to Select for Mountaineer box?

[4033]

Anyone have any advise on what crossbars to purchase if I'm going to buy the Mountaineer Cargo Box? I plan on taking the box and bars off when not using them.

The dealer suggested the square one's because they tell me that the aro ones may damage the cargo box because of their rounded shape. He said it puts more stress on the box at the point ocontact....

[bouvier]

The dealer is correct. I have the aero / rounded bars and had to remove them to carry a glass door on the roof. I use a soft water proof bag when I need extra storage which is not effected by the curve.


Bouvier

[4033]

but i'm wondering about the noise factor as well.

i figured that with the large box up there, the areo bars vs the square ones wouldn't matter that much in terms of noise, only if i was going to keep the bars on would it make a difference, right?

[XChuck]

I had the square ones originally and returned them the next day. Thay are way too noisy to leave on. If you go square then be prepared to take them off everytime or put up with lots o' wind noise.

I agree the curve is a pain for some things but I like just leaving them up there. I know I'd be way too lazy to take them off everytime so I'd end up "getting used to" the noise. I bought a soft carrier so the curve is not a factor. Not as cool but you can really cram stuff in there and it gets the job done.

Hope this helps...

[Jack]

I agree that the square Thule style bars are much noisier than the wing shaped bars, though my square bars don't seem as loud on my V50 as they were on the XC70. I had a Thule Evolution 1800 box on wing shaped bars on my XC70 all last winter. It wasn't bad but for some reason the locks would bind at times. I can't say if it was because of the curved bars because I never mounted the box on the straight bars. I probably should try that!

[Art]

Jack,

I have the square profile bars and, from time-to-time, the locks on my Evo 1600 also bind up. In my case, it usually means that the top isn’t completely seated. I find that by applying a bit of downward pressure on the cover always works.

[JsR]

For what it's worth, if anyone is thinking of getting the 'Experience' roof-box, for use with the curved, wing profile roof-bars, Volvo do sell a spacer kit to allow for the curve - the Part No. is 8690158 and you would need two sets (there's a pair of spacers in each pack - to cater for one bar). I'm not sure if they would be suitable for other (non-Experience) boxes.

John R