About to make my trip across the desert and although the music will probably be so loud and drown out the wind-noise, I wonder if I would notice any difference if I took the crossbars OFF for the road trip? I am sure the music will be quiet some of the time...like between songs!

Has anyone removed their crossbars?

Does it make a huge difference in wind-noise?? (will be driving an average of 70-85 MPH for almost 7 hrs)

Does it really affect gas mileage??

I think it looks MUCH BETTER with the crossbars and they would be going back on as soon as I got home.



Thanks!

EDIT: Sorry totally misread the topic =|

This is about the crossbars and not the rails...

I would be leaving the rails alone.... Just removing the removable crossbars for the road trip since I don't need to put anything on the roof....


btw - I get 19-20 MPG in city WITH crossbars. I am expecting 25+ on the trip and would love it if I could bump that up to 26-27!

I drive mixed but mostly stop and go traffic. On long drives I average 70-85mph I have managed to get 28mpg (straight road with cruise control or unless the computer in the car is wrong lol), its been a while though. For a better answer to your original question. I still wouldn't think it would affect mpg that much unless the crossbars weighed more than 25lbs (or at least weighed less to nothing on my Mercedes ML).

Thanks for the input. I wasn't even thinking about the weight factor, just the wind-drag / resistance factor. I guess they all play a part!

I have been wondering the same thing and Plan to take them off in the fall to see What effect it has on MPG and noise. If yoU give it a try let us know how the experiMent turns out.

I think I will give it a try and let you know...

I just took them off and it probably took less than 60 seconds... have a couple freeway errands to run today so will know tonight whether there is a real noise difference or not.

oh, and they are super light too. like a feather.

I honestly could not tell any noise difference...

Back on they go!

I was going to say hey ... its eight screws ! try it ! but I won't now

Yakima & Thule make both fairings(very visible) & slip covers (much less visible) that are supposed to help with noise, but those are aimed at the larger round & square bars. Flatter "oval" bars should be less noisy on their own.

Rex, I think you are right. They are definately flatter and angled in such a position that it must really reduce any possible wind noise. Good engineering.

XIS wrote:I just took them off and it probably took less than 60 seconds... have a couple freeway errands to run today so will know tonight whether there is a real noise difference or not.

oh, and they are super light too. like a feather.

Thanks for the info XIS some good guinea pigging u've done there

That oughta silence the roof rack noise hypothesis. I personally think its the rear view mirrors They are so big BUT useful too - the moment I look in there to back up they always pay for themselves as to whatever noise they might be putting out at speed.

I couldn't see how the crossbars would affect mileage at all. The dealer had the cross bars install on my vehicle but was not charged for them. The first thing I did when I got home was to remove them, wrap them up in plastic and stored in the attic so could not tell if they had an impact on milage or noise. I never did notice the noise issue but that may be because I always have my windows up (?) and kept the sat radio on. My wife also has a very pleasing voice that would drown out any unpleasant wind noise.