Decided to goto REI today just to poke around, got there are they were having a returned/defect sale, picked up some headlamps, a GPS unit, and.......two thule atlantis roof boxes.

They had a New Atlantis 1800 and a New Atlantis 1600, The 1600 is new and was returned because a key broke off in the lock right after the person got it(they said in the parking lot after the person bought it), so it had 1 good key, and one side had a broken off key stuck in it, we quickly compared the size to our Evolution 1600 on the CRD and saw it was pretty similar in overall dimensions, since the price was VERY GOOD we decided we would get it.

They then brought out a larger 1800, we hustled over to it and compared the size and after the guy wrote the price down we decided we would get it as well, it was missing the lock cylinder on one side and had a broken key.

So here we were ready to buy both the thules, we moved them aside and decided to remove the keys so no one would take them, well the REI guy started to remove the key in the thule 1800 when it broke off in his hand.

Well we said "sorry but we cant pay that much if its not working and doesnt have any keys" So he offered to lower the price for it as is. We asked how much - $50.

So we bought a brand new Thule Atlantis 1800 without any intact keys, missing one lock cylinder and with a key broken off in the one remaining cylinder, we also bought a brand new thule atlantis 1600 with one key broken off in the lock and with one good key(that is close to breaking).

So, the Thule Atlantis 1600 retails for $500 new. We got it for $160, 2 new keys for it are $5.

The Atlantis 1800 retails for $550. The original REI sale price was $200, after the guy broke the key off it was $50. 2 new lock cylinders with 2 new keys, $19.

So the total price for 2 brand new thules, with 4 new keys, and 2 new key cylinders was 239.95 plus some sales tax on the thules.

The REI seemed to think that they got a bad batch of keys since both of those thule were bought and returned right away in the same week.

So we brought them back in our yellow jeep.....I got to ride in the passenger seat under the thule.....lucky it wasnt far to drive:

Managed to get it in the back though:

The atlantis 1800 will go on the CRD:

The 1600 will stay on the yellow freedom:

All the jeeps, all the thules:

hauling the booty:



So, we are gonna sell one of the thule evolutions which should cover the purchase cost of the two new atlantis's. Not a bad trade eh?

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

Very nice! I absolutely love my Thule roof box. Great for cramming more gear in for a week-long road trip (we just used it for this last week.) It is also nice for storing wet/nasty gear that you don't want inside the rig.

I'd be interested in hearing how the box affects your mpgs. Our's went down noticeably. On our 1000 mile week-long road trip last week, winter diesel + roof box + skis on roof + 250 pounds of camping gear/food/ski gear, we averaged between 23.5 and 26 mpg, according to the EVIC

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2006 Liberty CRD Limited
Mopar engine, transmission, transfer case skids
245/70/16 Michelin Latitude X-Ice (winter)
235/75/16 Firestone Destination ATs (summer)
Thule roof rack, cargo box
V6 airbox mod
Flowmaster 50 2.5 inch muffler
Edge EZ module (set for fuel economy)
SEGR
TDIWagonGuy CCV filter
B99 (summer), B20 (winter)

I dont really notice a difference at all on out XJs........

Verdict is still out on the KJ, but it seems minimal.

Let me ask you this, how how does your thule sit? Most roof bar setups place the thule gawdawfully high in the air......meaning ALOT more air drag. Even just 2-3 inches is alot up there.

_________________
http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic