Roof Rack advice

I put rhino racks on my D3 with the oval shaped bars for the versatility of changing between roofbox, platform and fishing rod carriers. They do a good job however I can't stand the wind noise they create! I take them off when I'm not using them, which is 99% of the time. They just live in the boot now. How do others find the noise with rhino racks? I have Thules on the wifes forrester and I had rola racks on an old golf in the past. Essentially these racks make no wind noise at all. I was wondering whether its an issue with Rhino racks and whether the Thules are a better option or is it just that the D3 is a much bigger vehicle and wind noise with racks is unavoidable.

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Originally Posted by Nate

They do a good job however I can't stand the wind noise they create! I take them off when I'm not using them, which is 99% of the time. They just live in the boot now. How do others find the noise with rhino racks?

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I have Rhino tracks and feet but with Thule Aero cross bars (I already had them).

They do make quite a lot of wind and like you do not leave them on. A Roof Rack place suggested moving the front bar back a little - my front one was right at the front and the guy said that is probably where the air flow over the car is still down low and moving them back a bit might place them where the air flow has de-laminated from the car and is slower.

I haven't tried it yet though.

Garry

I have the Rhino bars and legs on factory long tracks. I get a little wind noise around 70-80kph but it isn't always there.
They can be totally quiet but go around a corner and the wind whistle will appear and likewise will also stop.
The vehicle has the alpine roof so when I first fitted them I played around with the front bars position to reduce the wind entering the vehicle and noise. I found a position where the bar is just rear of the centre of the main window of the second row seats (conventional back seats). This position is also about as far back as they will move without having to change the leg position on the bar as the distance between the roof tracks taper slightly.

Stupidly expensive, but I have also just orders online the Rhino gas bottle strap, and a half size rhino rack bag.

I am hoping I will be able to have a 2nd spare in one corner, a 4kg gas bottle behind it and then tent sleeping bags and other assorted stuff in the bag.

Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

What's the height of the D4 at normal height, with long tracks fitted, but no rack in place? Am wondering if it will hit parking station height limit.

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Originally Posted by phl

What's the height of the D4 at normal height, with long tracks fitted, but no rack in place? Am wondering if it will hit parking station height limit.

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On the website they say with the vehicle at access height with roof rails it is 1,841mm.

When I get my rack on, I am planning to do my own measurements and then write it on the sun visor where the original measurements are so I don't accidentally remove it in parking stations.

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Originally Posted by SBD4

On the website they say with the vehicle at access height with roof rails it is 1,841mm.

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That's the problem; they only quote access height, which is lower than normal. Any idea how much lower? Most shopping centres around my area tend to be at 1.95m.

Guys, has anyone got the full length pioneer platform rack? I hear you can add small Rhino tracks at the front of the car (using the existing bolt holes designed for the Expo Rack mounting) and thereby benefit from the 2m long pioneer platform rack (so you can have a rooftop tent and a spare wheel up there).

cheers

I have the full length....but it is not full length. I have a roof topper and room for a spare and jerry cans. The spare does hang over the front though (I have the front end barriers mounted on the platform). Roof topper hangs over the rear of the platform (about 50cm from memory), with enough clearance for the rear door to open up. Roof topper opens to the side and bolted on to the platform (semi permanent, as will be too hard to remove by the way I secured it). Roof topper is winched to the garage roof when not required. They don't actually make one long enough and narrow enough to fit the D3 or D4. I went with Rhino as my dad is mates with the owner of a Rhino in Australia. Got a deal too good to say no to.
Short rails on the front.
Brett...