Thread: To rack, or not to rack...

From my understanding any roof-racks will cause an increase in fuel usage (it definately did when we put some racks on my missus's hatch). This is because they alter air flow over your car and that increases down-force and therefore drag (like a rear spoiler does).

Like anything you need to weigh up whether you need them, are you carrying to much to fit inside, have you got things you dont want to put inside, etc and what type you need as there is plenty of variation out there. Also good to get a set that are easily removeable for the times you dont need them.

Also make sure you look into the weight rating of any rack you choose to make sure it is sufficient, as different racks have different ratings.

They're heavy - like really heavy so don't just come on and off and they drag in the wind. I like mine because I can just throw stuff up there to cart around, but I'm always paying for it at the bowser. I've got an ARB 3/4 rack which was bought for a Cape York trip and had some heavy stuff up there, like a 35" Simex, bulky goodies like swags and rubbish crates and my plan was to sleep in it because of the crocs.

If its for general and light weight carting, then I think a better setup would be Rola bars with a basket that is relatively easy to remove.

As per Slunmie post.

Stupid heavy. No real change in economy under 90, but increases of 3 to 4 l/100 for speeds up to 130kmh

Originally Posted by Slunnie

They're heavy - like really heavy so don't just come on and off and they drag in the wind. I like mine because I can just throw stuff up there to cart around, but I'm always paying for it at the bowser. I've got an ARB 3/4 rack which was bought for a Cape York trip and had some heavy stuff up there, like a 35" Simex, bulky goodies like swags and rubbish crates and my plan was to sleep in it because of the crocs.

If its for general and light weight carting, then I think a better setup would be Rola bars with a basket that is relatively easy to remove.

Totally agree, when I bought my rack, it went onto my D1V8, I noticed fuel usage went up straight away, but it was bought to fit the RTT and BBQ and chairs for our Tassie trip. Same unit was transferred to the D2V8, when we actually "did" the trip, same deal, excess fuel usage, and now it's on the Puma, it's even more noticeable. Smaller engine, takes even more to push through the air. It's taken basically 100k's off my fuel range, although its carrying the spare instead of the BBQ and chairs.
It may be better when I've shortend the legs to make it sit closer to the roof, but it won't make it that much better
I have at times taken it off the vehicle, but to do this, I had to build a gantry and use ropes/pullys to do it,, and it always proves to be a hassle.
If it was only me, I'd not have a rack at all, and just make a better plan for storage inside the vehicle, and cut down on what stuff you take away with you. We always have a tendency to "over pack" what we really need.

I put 3x Rhino HD bars up there to carry the foxwing awning. Didn't really notice any change to the fuel economy ... but when the Rhino 2m tray went up there my fuel economy took a hit.

When I can find the right sized one, I may swap the Rhino alloy tray for a flat steel mesh platform to cut down the wind resistance. With the step down in the disos roof line under the front of the rhino tray, and the wide floor panels in the trays floor, the wind can't easily pass thru and the whole thing acts like a giant wind sock ... a mesh tray would solve that problem, but finding a 2.0-2,2 mesh tray was the issue ... need to carry a 2m long oztent up there (canvas bag & stuff).

A basket (quick to mount/remove) would be good ... the rhino tray takes a bit to remove & refit.

Theres pros and cons to having a rack, and you have to way up what you will be using it for, if you intend to just carry a few light items, then one of those shopping basket style things would do the job, and all you need is a couple of cross bars and off you go...

If you are intending on having a roof tent,boat.canoe, then you could use a couple of cross bars ( but they should be the heavy duty commercial type, Rhino ones are rated at 350kg per bar ), but this method would allow no room for further storage so a full length rack would be better for extra load capability.

The ARB racks are very heavy, and have a fixed rail, reducing your ability to carry/load bigger items.

As for using more fuel, the Hannibal rack we have does not really impact on the fuel we use all that much, having north to south running planks, allows for better air flow, say over a Frontrunner rack, or even the ARB one, that have east to west planks.

However once a tents up there, plus all the expedition gear, the fuel economy starts to drop, but it would if you pulled a trailer or caravan, and alot more too.

On top of that... ARB now do an alloy version of their rack, for a considerable weight saving.

Cheers guys.
Ideally, I'd want something that could go on and off pretty easily.
The reasoning for the cross bars up the back is a place for my shovel and high lift jack, which I could have put across the factory ones but I'd rather not have a heavy jack right above my sunroof.
Cheers for all the input, will certainly be keeping my options open.
Cheers
Muppet