skiracerdad

on the A3. My concern is that I wish to keep the box on the roof for 3-4 months at a time without compromising function too much. On previous cars I've had problems with the hatch banging into the box. So far, the thule/yakima handbooks have not provided me with satisfactory data on the subject, and the jokers at the local stores are even worse...help!

ABarthol

This is my setup:
672 Evolution 1600
Foot pack 400XT
Fit Kit 2168
Load Bar: LB50

I have not driven with it for months at a time. I have, however, put a lot of miles on it, in a single weekend, with it packed full. A few months back, I loaded it up, and went down to Phillie for the weekend. Car handles fine with the box fully loaded at 80 on the highway. I think we did 700 miles over the course of the long weekend. But, I only had the box on there for 4 or 5 days.


<img src="http://bibax.com/pictures/audirack/box1.jpg">

<img src="http://bibax.com/pictures/audirack/box2.jpg">

<img src="http://bibax.com/pictures/audirack/box3.jpg">

audiboi

it significantly reduces fuel economy. With bars alone or bars and bike rack, my Accord, A4, and S4 lost 2-3 mpg when I ran with it for a week or so (I didn't have a fairing). I ended up dis mounting whenever I wasn't planning on surfing or biking over the next three days.

skiracerdad

the winter and I'm hoping to not dismount/mount all the time.

skiracerdad

Thanks for your fantastic info'

RB

ABarthol

I know my snowboards will fit, but if you have really long skis it might be a tight fit. The thule site lists it as being 76" long.

I see a lot of cars around here that have a similar Thule box that's a bit longer and narrower. I think thats the Evolution 1200. Considering how little the box was moving while I was driving at higher rates of speed (80+), I'm would suspect, going with a slightly longer, but thinner box, wouldn't be a problem.

When figuringing out where it's going to sit on the car, the Thule Racks mount right at the same spots as the factory racks. If you look at the door jams with the door open, you'll see two indents. Thats where the racks will mount. As you can see from the picture below, the back of the rack will lineup pretty much with the seam at the top of the back door. So, you can measure how far forward over the windshield a longer rack will go, and how far off of the front of the forward rack.
Yakima racks use different mount points, but I dont know what they are off of the top of my head.

boki-san

you need a full length one for skis.

as for the hatch rubbing, thule and yakima books cannot carry that level of detail for all vehicles, and i've dealt them both for almost 20 years, and i'm not a "joker at the local stores". the only way to know is if a customer comes back with some specific feedback. it seems you know far less than a "joker", so what does that make you? a dummy?

as for constructive suggestions:

find someone who owns one and do a test fit, joker.

if your hatch contacts the box, use a piece of clearbra on there, dummy

A3pex

Nice color match, eh. Do you thnk they'll make me one in seal grey? ; &gt;

ABarthol

They made one in CF, but I couldn't seem to find one.

A3-Mojo

We are like Olive Garden - "When your here your family"...