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@johnsonmc2000 - Have you looked at the Owner's Manual of the XT yet? Appears that it has it's own pretty cool mounting system. I wouldn't do anything until I put it up there and found out it wouldn't work. I think you're probably good to go.
A bloke on FB I asked about mounting his box (same brand as mentioned above) did just this . Used the existing clamps without issue. Seems I may have been imagining a problem that doesn't exist.
Will give it a try once I can be bothered to take all the junk camping gear out of it and manhandle it down from its lofty perch.
Well sure enough I had imagine a problem that didn't exist. I'm an idiot. Been turning this over in my head for months. Even before I had the Defender.
Roof box clamps down just fine. All I need is a little spacer to allow the clamps to cinch down tight to their specs without bending the box too much. Maybe 3/8" is all that's needed here. An easy solve.
Got my ski rack all buttoned up too.
The roof box. Thule Motion XT.
Box
Space between bars and box floor <0.5"
Clamp tightened with spacer in place
View of clamp from below showing adequate engagement of crossbars.
Ready for the season ahead.
Cross bars positioned to allow ski placement and more light into sunroof as a bonus.
Max Traxx fit nicely on the rearmost portion of the rack with just two attachments in this position. I shortened the metal posts with a hacksaw as I'll never be carrying more than 2 and they have a lower height this way
Getting my Blizzaks 275/55/R20 on on Friday. I am the excite.