Make roof racks more aero?

[iikhod]

I carry my racks all the time nowadays because i haul one or two mountain bikes a few times per week. Yes, the bikes do fit inside the car (stw) but now that muddier time of year is coming i dont want the interior to be filled with dirt&sand. Foggy windows is the other thing. Not to mention winter time and all that.

The rack itself not that quick to take off/put back on so is there any way to make that rack more aero? Some kind of deflector?

One thing to do would be a hitch rack but they cost A LOT here.
If this is already discussed here, please do give me a link to that thread, i didn't find anything with search.

[Snax]

Unless you are prepared to remove the bike adapter, nothing you get is likely be very aerodynamic.

The Thule AeroBlade or Yakima Whispbar look like best bets. Probably not saving money over the hitch mount though!

[aardvarcus]

I bought a generic hitch mounted Cargo Carrier for fifty bucks. I would suggest something like that figure out a good way to mount the bikes on it or just put them on it. It would also be useful for other things. I have deleted the roof mounted racks from all of my vehicles that I have gotten with them.

If you really wanted a roof-mounted Cargo Carrier, I would suggest a smooth relatively heavy stick of aluminum flat bar or other material with drilled tapped holes that you can thread eyelets into but remove when it was not in use it would be nearly flush with the roof but you could quickly thread some eye bolts into it. Get real fancy and you can make it over hang the back and hold something like a boat tail.

But fundamentally cargo should not go on the roof of your vehicle, it is better to store it lower for center of gravity and not in the Wind.

[Hersbird]

This has come up before. I pointed out the foldable rack on my 2011 Town and Country.
https://youtu.be/kVuScwomMa4

[oil pan 4]

Take it off when not needed is the best aero.

[redpoint5]

There's always driving slower too.

I'd invest in a hitch mounted rack since it can be used on other vehicles, and it only takes 1 time forgetting bikes on top while driving under something low to erase any savings of a roof rack.

[freebeard]

Make roof racks more aero?

"Don't do it bad idea" doesn't really answer the question. I have a rear bumper rack now, but I used to carry the bike on a removable rack like so:



I took the picture to record how to dispose the pedals so they didn't bear on the roof. I used a 4" thin redwood board on the front like Thule does to cut down the humming from the crossbars at 45mph. They're quieter faster or slower. Lengthwise wooden slats are preferable:


http://vwparts.aircooled.net/v/vspfi...91-01988-2.jpg

[iikhod]

I suppose some kind of deflector/shield-board doesn't have much effect on fuel consumption?
Surprisingly my roof racks are very quiet. At least up to 110km/h, have not gone faster than that.

I'll see if i can come up with some sort of deflector and test it out.
Thank you for your replies.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by iikhod

I suppose some kind of deflector/shield-board doesn't have much effect on fuel consumption?

It'll increase frontal area, full time
Might be just as bad, or even worse


Best option is a rack behind the car

[freebeard]

Agreed:

The point was acoustics, the rack is removable.