Roof Rack MPG costs....

[velociT]

The other thread got me wondering if anyone here has removed a roof rack and documented the MPG before/after?

I still have the stock one, and might remove to try to eek out a couple MPG.

 

[1tdi]

Mine went far down like 3-4mpg, not fun watching the fuel gauge dropping that quick.

 

[manual_tranny]

When I mentioned that the roof rack takes off 5mpg all the time, I should have mentioned that I have the VW-brand roof rack. It seems to sit pretty high over the car and makes a lot of noise.. throttle position is noticeably deeper at cruising speeds. I think it is less aerodynamic than most other racks I've seen. As far as documented losses go I can only use my memory... but the several tanks I filled with my rack left would have averaged to about 41-43mpg. I remember that most of these miles with the rack installed were at only 55-60mph! Without it I would have been at 45-49mpg.

 

[1tdi]

When I mentioned that the roof rack takes off 5mpg all the time, I should have mentioned that I have the VW-brand roof rack. It seems to sit pretty high over the car and makes a lot of noise.. throttle position is noticeably deeper at cruising speeds. I think it is less aerodynamic than most other racks I've seen. As far as documented losses go I can only use my memory... but the several tanks I filled with my rack left would have averaged to about 41-43mpg. I remember that most of these miles with the rack installed were at only 55-60mph! Without it I would have been at 45-49mpg.

Yeah i get your mpg with a thule rack with fairing, but my speeds are higher...

 

[shizzler]

What kind of rack do you have? I borrow a Yakima rack for kayaks sometimes, and I NEVER drive around with it on without the boats, because it costs me 3+ mpg (even driving slower).

Plus it takes less than 10 minutes to put on and less than one to remove! So easy. I am always surprised how people leave their racks on 24/7 - unless its intentional for style. Lots of that on vortex.

 

[ccs32]

I dislike my VW OEM roof rack... The tubes are HUGE and they DO sit rather high on the roof... SO incredibly loud - the vibrations are somewhat offensive (esp on a LONG trip). .

I think that I get atleast a 4 mpg increase with out the racks. I don't keep them on unless I need them. I have a rollo collapsable roof top box that had to have modifications to the connectors so they fit around the thick bars.

 

[nicklockard]

What kind of rack do you have? I borrow a Yakima rack for kayaks sometimes, and I NEVER drive around with it on without the boats, because it costs me 3+ mpg (even driving slower).

Plus it takes less than 10 minutes to put on and less than one to remove! So easy. I am always surprised how people leave their racks on 24/7 - unless its intentional for style. Lots of that on vortex.

It's a big West Coast thing too. People like others to think they are really 'outdoorsy'. Hence lots of 4X4's and jacked up 'off-road' vehicles that never see a single speck of mud in their lives, too.

 

[Honeydew]

^^ The rack is often the vehicular version of functional-looking outerwear.

My yakima with bike trays seems to cut 3-5 mpg.

 

[nicklockard]

LOL. I forgot about that. The people that walk around in "North Face" this and "Extreme Gear" that when it's only 50f outside? Pretentiousness knows no bounds.

 

[greiter]

yakima + bikes

I get about 43 on highways without a rack, 40 with Yakima base, only 35 with bike rack and 2 bikes on top - ouch. loud too. whistling with racks only, whistling and high-pitched singing with bikes.

 

[velociT]

It's a big West Coast thing too. People like others to think they are really 'outdoorsy'. Hence lots of 4X4's and jacked up 'off-road' vehicles that never see a single speck of mud in their lives, too.

Don't even get me started on douchers with SUV's that are afraid to pop those little half-curbs...

I bet my Subaru sees more off-road time in one week than they do ever.

 

[ScottSutcliffe]

Roof Racks on TDI Wagon

I put Thule bars and a Thule box on my roof. It's fairly quiet but takes off 4-5 mpg. It's easy to install and remove.