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Roof rack effect on mileage/mpg ?

16K views 18 replies 16 participants last post by  OpenRoad 
#1 · (Edited)
Query - for all of you who have installed some type of roof rack on your Transit - what effect has it had on your mileage? In your response, please give a description of the size of your rack, your engine type, roof height and, of course, the effect on mileage. Any thing else that may be relevant should be included too.

I'm asking cause I'm considering a rack and if the effect on mileage is too costly, I'll make the rack temporary instead of permanent.

Thanks for your responses!
 
#2 ·
No rack here but I bet most who mount them don't pay attention to mileage or need the rack and don't care. Depending what you mount it will cost you a mpg penalty, for me the bigger cost is the noise it creates.
 
#4 ·
The sold Sprinter had a 80/20 rack and a single panel. Did not notice any change in MPG or noise.

The Transit does not have a rack. Just 4 angle feet on single panel. Did not notice a change in MPG or noise.

More info on the Transit panel install:

http://www.ortontransit.info/solar.php
 
#5 ·
I have a Vantech H2, 120" on my Transit, detailed below.
http://vantech.us/H2-120-Aluminum-Cargo-Rack-for-Transit-Cargo-Vans-H2-120-TCARGO.htm

My van is used almost exclusively on highway, going back and forth from OR to CA for work, and I lose approx 1.5mpg. I had hoped that using a shorter rack would help (maybe it has), but the noise can be annoying. Also, the Vantech rack sits higher than it needs to by almost 2". At some point, I will either re-make the rack supports to bring it lower, or just rip the rack off, as a new pickup is on the way and will take away most of the reason for the rack.
 
#7 ·
it is fun to torture normal people! i drive the speed limit on all 2 lane roads, (sometimes slower.) city people choose to live in the country for that quiet laid back country life, and i figure it is my job to remind them why they chose to move to the country. (i was here first, plus i am getting old and they expect older country gentlemen to drive slower.)

(Prime Design AluRack roof rack, a big aluminum ladder rack with 4'' high sides, rack on van since about the first 500 miles. it is noisy, but less so now that the van is insulated. i did need the rack but not a rack this big, but it was so pretty! average about 15.8 MPG, mostly 2 lane back roads. about 10 MPG hwy, i am eco-boost love lead foot!)
 
#8 ·
2016 Mid-Roof, long wheel base Diesel Transit. Aluminess full length rack with "low profile" design and side ladder. It's big, burly, not at all stealthy but I can throw the SUP's and Thule box up top with 2 renogy solar panels and have room to walk around or enjoy a sunset. Wind noise seems to be fairly minimal, get a slight whistle around 70-75mph with the windows down and radio off, rare combo at that speed. I was getting around 22-23 mpg hwy before and think maybe dropped 2-3mpg highway since the rack has been added. Hard to say how much precisely a) rarely driving the same routes b) winds in the SW always seem to be kicking, but there is definetly a slight drop off. It's the 'ol different strokes thing but I'm happy with the setup.
 
#9 ·
That's an impressive amount of stuff on that rack. Can you show any pictures? Or a simple napkin sketch of how your rack is laid out?

I'm in process of trying to figure out my roof layout and cant seem to make it all fit.
 
#11 ·
Vantech aluminum bars

On my midroof wagon I have two Vantech aluminum bars with a single 100 Watt solar panel plus the Maxxair vent.

I can't post links to these things because I don't have enough posts.

I feel that it has had a large impact on my fuel economy. I drive mostly city, so on average it has gone from 16.8 to 15.1. But on the highway I used to be able to get 22 if I drove carefully. Now the best I can get is 18.2. I plan to take the rack off to verify this is the cause. Mind you, these are more impressions than careful measurements. But fuel economy was a one of the reasons I bought the van and I do pay attention.

As far as noise, I don't notice much, but my wife and kids hear noise. I guess years of playing in a band limits my hearing range.

Also, for those who might be interested, when I pull my travel trailer I get 13.1 MPG. Its a Coleman 15BH that weighs about 3000lbs.
 
#12 ·
I have a 2 bar Vantech rack that I put on and take off as needed. Mostly to haul extension ladders.

I can get a 24' extension ladder inside my 130" wheelbase van (couldn't in my old E250). So I just need the rack for 28' and longer ladders, which I use less and less as I get older and older.

I'd probably leave them on all the time if my son-in-law didn't own an automatic car wash. My low roof will fit through there with the racks off.

Four bolts holds each one and I can get them off in about 10 minutes. About 15 minutes to get them back on.

They do emit extra noise. Certain wind directions are worse than others. And they do affect gas mileage. How much, I don't exactly know, but guessing it's 1 to 2 mpg.
 
#13 ·
I think unless it's a substantial rack it isn't the rack itself that affects the mileage so much as what you put on it. Add things like ladders or pipes or a storage bin and you'll see a bigger hit.

I put the Ford bars on (only the front three since the fourth is blocked by a MaxxAir fan) and heard no noise, had no drop in MPG.

With two solar panels mounted to the bars I get a fair amount of noise at highway speeds (rumbling of turbulent air - keep meaning to try putting a fairing of some sort at the leading edge) but still no significant mileage drop. Maybe 1/2-1 MPG? My driving is too variable to really tell.
 
#15 ·
Had the ford rack installed and didn't notice any noise or difference in economy at freeway speeds or below. Week before last installed 160 Watt solar panel and headed to the rubber tramp rendezvous in Quartsite AZ, 3,000 mile round trip. As Random Joe reported there is noise, Not really bad but will try some fairing. Running west into a fair wind cruising between 68 and 73 mph got 18.2 . running East with tail wind running mostly 75 to 80 got 20 mpg wind noise was worse with a quartering tail wind.

MM
 
#16 ·
camp&ride would you care to enlighten me on your wind fairing please.

MM
 
#19 ·
I have a HR EB 250 with a aluminess rack (not the low-profile one, regular, mega sized one). I have two 100w solar panels on it and aluminess slats on the other side.

Mileage went down by about 1-2 MPG (less on the city, more at faster speeds) when I added the rack + panels.

Pre-rack I was getting around 18.2MPG (about 15 city and about 20 Freeway...my best MPG was around 60MPH at around 22ishMPG, but it drops quickly and at 75-80MPH was around 16-16.5MPG). Now I am getting around 16.5ish MPG with the same driving habits.

It is quite noisy but I am fairly certain it will be less so when I add a wind deflector to the front.

Cheers,

Open Road
 
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