Rack with SUP = 19% mpg reduction

[Dusk Patrol]

If you’re driving a Buick “adventure wagon”

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a19493686/roof-racks-hurt-gas-mileage/

[laszlo]

That is a very useful article. I have always wondered how much mileage I was sacrificing for my racks. I think I will now remove them on road trips when I know I wont be using them.

[PonoBill]

Even worse when you leave a SIC 17.5 Bullet V2 on the roof because you're too lazy to take it off. Cuts my gas mileage in half, I'd guess.

[Rider]

I have always been a van guy myself.

[supthecreek]

Great subject, since it affects most of us.

I should take the racks off my Honda Civic when not using them.

On long trips, I get 42 mpg when the board is inside..... 35 when it's on the racks.
I wonder if the effect is as dramatic at "around town" speeds, which is the only time the boards on the rack.... road trips, it's always inside.

I get even less in my Honda delivery truck 

[TallDude]

My Honda Element isn't exactly wind tunnel worthy to start with. Proof is how my windshield has 5 or 6 chips from rocks hitting it. The windshield pretty much goes straight up and down. It's been called a 'Box' or 'Toaster'. It's a 4 cyl that gets 21 mpg. I can feel the racks resonating and even worse with the rack pads, which are always on. The price I pay. I bet my unlimited has less drag than that 14' they tested it with I'm guessing 17% reduction....??

[pdxmike]

I have an Element, too.  With a board on the rack, I think my gas mileage actually improves.

[stoneaxe]

I have an Element, too.  With a board on the rack, I think my gas mileage actually improves.

I'd love to see it tested...you could actually be correct. I could see one of the old 14' Naish Glides with its huge rocker putting the nose down near your hood being more slippery than an Element on it's own.

I wonder if there is much difference depending on how the boards are racked....a couple of boards stacked fins to the rear certainly looks far more aerodynamic than fins front.

[eastbound]

for years i have been using the "creek method" for transport:

front passenger seat fully fwd, fully reclined, headrest removed--rear seat flipped down, headrest removed--board(s) slide right in--stacked boards in bags are a filing system of sorts

limits me to one passenger behind driver's seat--but i aint much of a carpooler for surfing--my windows to surf are too limited to be waiting on friends--"let's meet in the water--see ya there" is my general approach

i use the "creek method" with my highlander or forester, and i have padded racks up top--go figure--started with this bc i hate racking up--25f mornings, the slide-locks annoy my arthritic fingers, and post sesh my shoulders hate to lift overhead--so i slide board(s) into bags and go

this fall i plan to replace both of those cars (gotta have auto brake tech--nuther story) and, where i have always tried to get factory rack or rails, i may pass this time and just use a thule in the rare case that i need a rack

and racks are seriously noisy--tough to know if youve got a factory rack or rails, bc you cant know how quiet your car is without

re noise, i have a 15 golf too (yeah 6 driver family--nuther nuther story) no factory installed rack available--so i bot the offiicial VW aero attachable rack--ive run the car with and without rack and the driving noise is shockingly louder with rack on

so, yeah, likely i will go rack and rail-less with new car purchases