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

Originally Posted by Franz

Kev,

I went from Rhino Aero Bars to a Windcheetah rack and my consumption went up. My Supa-Wing is mounted better now but my fuel economy has gone to s....t.

Cheers,

Franz

Franz, mine seems to have brickwalled at approximatley 12L/100 once the Rhino tray got put on. It's not catastrophic, and occasionally it'll go down to 11.5 or so. I used to be able to easily get mid 10's down to low 9's before the tray went on. The 3x Rhino HD bars and foxwing (without tray) didn't alter the fuel economy.

That said, coming back from the 10th anniversary gather last year, loaded up with 3 people, all the camping gear and the usual roof load (oztent, oztent side and front panels,rhino canvas bag with sleeping bags, pillows and air mattresses, and camping chairs) we got 10 L/100 ... and it was driven harder than usual trying to keep up with Chilly (V8 D2 towing a trailer, 1 dog as a passenger).

Always seem to get better fuel economy when loaded and pushing it (that's driving at or just above the speed limit on the open road).

Then, I'm not loosing sleep over 2L/100 either

Sent from my iPad using Braille

Originally Posted by Tombie

If you are referring to my comments on Hi-lifts...

- Because they're heavy
- Because they're outdated
- Because they're cumbersome
- Because they look ****
- Because you never need the damn thing

And because I've seen them tear through and launch from crashed 4wds...

Put it in the shed, next to your 8-track, VCR and your Records... Its time is done....

I have a Hi-Lift. It goes out on every trip I do as it does get used. Sure it's not the most stable device out there but used carefully it sure beats a hydraulic jack to change a wheel.
Of course, you also need some metal at the ends of the car & preferably sides to use it so it may not be a useful item on a newer 4x4.

Just because you don't like it, it doesn't mean it doesn't have it's place in the right circumstances.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Put it in the shed, next to your 8-track, VCR and your Records... Its time is done....

I think those might be lost on the average 18 year old

Originally Posted by Tombie

If you are referring to my comments on Hi-lifts...

- Because they're heavy
- Because they're outdated
- Because they're cumbersome
- Because they look ****
- Because you never need the damn thing

And because I've seen them tear through and launch from crashed 4wds...

Put it in the shed, next to your 8-track, VCR and your Records... Its time is done....

Very true words, In all my time 4wd'ing. working on the cattle station and so on I may have seen 1 actually used as intended, and it only because of a "I must, can , will get through there! " driver!

not to rack...

I carry a hi lift and use it on average 1 out of 3 trips, most often not as a jack but as one (or more) of the following

a press,
a winch
a tie rail.
a guide bar (dis assemble, anchor bent tie rod to it and beat back to straight ish)
2 of them make great line spacers for bush cloths lines
vice bar
a vice
bead breaker
brace bar for a deadman anchor
ground anchor stake retriever
tie of point for swags (when vehicle mounted)
a place to store a spare cheater bar
a frame splint for a trailer