Let’s talk about the Mini Cooper Roof Box!
The Mini Cooper is a great car that looks fantastic. The only trouble with it, is that it doesn’t have much space for your stuff. This is where a Roof Box can help. Get more from your Mini by taking more gear with you on your “mini-adventures”.
Here’s a few reasons why you need a cargo box:
- You can carry more stuff on your travels
- They provide a safe and secure place to store valuables when you are away
- They can double up as storage units in your garage
- They are available in several sizes suitable for different cars
So if this has provided you with enough of a reason to buy a cargo box, you now need to think about what works with your vehicle.
Table of Contents
A bit about the Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper comes in five different models:
- Countryman
- Clubman
- Convertible
- 5-door Hatch
- 3-door Hatch
Depending on your model, you will need to determine whether you must buy a roof rack first. Subsequently, you need to be sure of the maximum weight that the rack will carry.
Usually, the Countryman comes with a roof rack which can take a maximum weight of 75kg (165lbs). Furthermore, the roof racks you can buy for the other models of Mini usually handle up to 75kg.
The weight load is essential as you will need to consider the weight of your cargo box and the weight of your potential contents.
Also, be mindful of the fact that Mini’s can carry up to 75kg on their rooves so roof rack + cargo box + contents must weight less than 75kg.
- Best Hard Rooftop Cargo Carrier - JEGS Performance Products 90098
- Best Soft Rooftop Cargo Carrier - Rightline Gear 100S20 Sport 2
If you don’t really want to buy a roof rack, there are cargo carriers that don’t necessarily need one.
Don’t forget to make sure you take account of clearance of roof-mounted antennas, the rear hatchback, and any navigation fins.
The one thing that you might worry about with a cargo box for the Mini Cooper is whether there is any overhang. It is annoying to look up from your driving position and see a cargo box sticking out from your rooftop.
All boxes recommended here take up a smaller area than your roof, so no overhang!
Overview of Our Favourite Boxes for the Mini Cooper
Below are our top choices, which hopefully will take away the hassle of choosing the best Mini Cooper Roof Box:
Last update on 2023-03-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here's Best Cargo Roof Boxes for the Mini Cooper
Below are our top choices, which hopefully will take away the hassle of choosing the best cargo roof box for your Mini Cooper:
#1 JEGS Performance Products 90098 Cargo Carrier
This box boasts a whopping 18 Cubic Feet capacity – it’s massive. It is 57″ long x 39″ wide x 19″ high and weighs 28 lbs.
We love the “no-tool assembly and installation” feature. It is black and aerodynamically designed.
This box must be mounted on a roof rack and is intended only to fit on cross rail systems.
It came equipped with all the necessary mounting hardware and 2 keys – and a limited lifetime guarantee! It can fit on aero bars and also those that are square and round.
This is American made and super easy to open and close irrespective of weather conditions. We loved the grip-friendly outer handles and supporting lid-lifters.
This is the best option when it comes to volume for the Mini Cooper.
- Lots of space
- No-tool install
- Load capacity remaining 137lb
#2 Rightline Gear Sport Carrier
This is a good quality choice for the more compact cars and even those Mini’s that don’t have a roof rack.
Weighing less than 6lbs and available at 9 cubic feet and a size of 36” x 30” x 13-16”, it allows you to store a lot of stuff.
This carrier comes with 4 attachment straps, 4 car clips and a stuff sack sewn inside with a user guide attached. We found that it was easy to install, and the low height affords some aerodynamic qualities.
The installation took a few minutes, and all we had to do was attach the straps to the Mini’s door frame weather molding.
The coated zipper can be found on the underside of the flap, making this water-resistant and keeping your belongings dry. And just for the extra peace of mind, this came with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
- Easy installation
- Good for compact cars
- Water-resistant
- Load capacity remaining 159lbs
- Attaches with or without a roof rack
#3 Goplus Cargo Box
The dimensions of this box are 63” x 31” x 15” so this will fit nicely on top of your Mini’s roof with no annoying overhang. It weighs 25lbs, so it only takes up about 15% of your load capacity.
With 14 cubic feet of storage space, it offers the opportunity to take more essentials. It has a dual-sided opening and is available in three colors: black, white and titanium grey.
At the bottom, it has metal lid stiffeners making the box very stable and secure while you travel. It’s highly durable as it is made from ABS and plastic.
It can withstand heavy weather conditions. When this arrived, it came with 4 quick connect anchors to easily install it. We also noticed the super latch security, which ensured that the lid firmly secured to the base, keeping your gear safe.
This is suitable for square, round, and most aerodynamic bars. You might at first be concerned that the locks need keys that could get lost easily. Don’t – these keys can easily be duplicated.
- Dual-sided opening
- One side opening only – but on the passenger side for added safety
- Load capacity remaining 140lbs
#4 Amazon Basics Rooftop Cargo Bag
This extra cargo space is an excellent choice for those of you on a tight budget. It offers a lot of space, 15 cubic feet and has 8 cinch straps.
The straps have functional buckles for a secure and simple connection to a Mini Coopers’s roof rack. It is fade-resistant for protection against sun, dust, rain, and wind and is waterproof.
We loved the oversized zipper closing mechanism with stay-dry flaps. The seams are strong, and after use, this can fold away and be stored in a tiny space.
Additionally, a carrying case is included so that your bag does not gather dust when you are back home.
It’s made with waterproof materials and fits any roof rack. When it looked a bit slack, all we had to do was tighten the straps and got a really secure fit.
With 1-year limited warranty and tool-free installation, it really does make for a great budget buy.
- Water-proof
- Low cost
- Load capacity remaining 158lbs
Final Thoughts
We feel that these are the best Cargo Boxes for the Mini Cooper. We have looked at the pros and cons of each type so that you can individually pick the best one for you.
Before you buy, think about the layout of your roof as you don’t want to have to take off your external antennae, for example. Don’t forget that also the weight of your box will limit the number of goods you can take with you in your box.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but our favorite was the JEGS.
