Folks -
Mine is a 2013 SR5, and I am singing the roof rack blues! I currently have the factory rails, and want to add cross bars to facilitate: 1) occasionally carrying simple cross bar loads of modest weight like 2x lumber, a fiberglass step ladder, etc; 2) occasionally mount a roof cargo box from either Thule or Yakima to hold lighter weight stuff when camping and on hunting trips.
I ordered the oem cross bars because: 1) they are cheap (about $115, two day shipped); 2) my projected load weights are modest; and 3) they sit low on the rails compared to other cross bars.
I mounted them today. The quality is fine, but as soon as they were mounted, I realized what I think was a mistake.
First, they are not designed for regular detachment. You have to remove both of the $90 plastic caps from the rear of the roof rails every time you want to take the cross bars off. So, realistically, you will never take the cross bars off.
Second, given that the cross bars will live permanently on the roof, one is stuck with whatever wind noise and fuel efficiency hit come with the OEM cross bars. I have not been able to find anything definitive re: wind noise and mpg loss with the OEM cross bars, but there must be some of both.
My roof rack and cargo box use will be occasional, less than once a month on average. Thus, I may well be a dummy. It makes no sense at all to leave potentially noisy, mpg robbing cross bars on all the time, when they are only infrequently in use.
Perhaps I may be left to spend my way out of this jam, by removing the oem cross bars and exercising one of the following options:
1) Thule Crossroad base + Aeroblade cross bar system: $330 - $350;
2) Thule Crossroad base + old school Thule rectangular bars: $280;
3) Thule Whispbar system: $450ish (nope, maybe if I had a Cayenne GTS).
I would appreciate some input, as follows:
1) has anyone noticed increased wind noise from driving around with the oem cross bars installed;
2) has anyone quantified an mpg loss from driving around with the oem cross bar installed;
3) are there other cross bars you folks ight recommend in the not much more than $300 range to fit my projected usage?
Thanks-Mawgie
Mine is a 2013 SR5, and I am singing the roof rack blues! I currently have the factory rails, and want to add cross bars to facilitate: 1) occasionally carrying simple cross bar loads of modest weight like 2x lumber, a fiberglass step ladder, etc; 2) occasionally mount a roof cargo box from either Thule or Yakima to hold lighter weight stuff when camping and on hunting trips.
I ordered the oem cross bars because: 1) they are cheap (about $115, two day shipped); 2) my projected load weights are modest; and 3) they sit low on the rails compared to other cross bars.
I mounted them today. The quality is fine, but as soon as they were mounted, I realized what I think was a mistake.
First, they are not designed for regular detachment. You have to remove both of the $90 plastic caps from the rear of the roof rails every time you want to take the cross bars off. So, realistically, you will never take the cross bars off.
Second, given that the cross bars will live permanently on the roof, one is stuck with whatever wind noise and fuel efficiency hit come with the OEM cross bars. I have not been able to find anything definitive re: wind noise and mpg loss with the OEM cross bars, but there must be some of both.
My roof rack and cargo box use will be occasional, less than once a month on average. Thus, I may well be a dummy. It makes no sense at all to leave potentially noisy, mpg robbing cross bars on all the time, when they are only infrequently in use.
Perhaps I may be left to spend my way out of this jam, by removing the oem cross bars and exercising one of the following options:
1) Thule Crossroad base + Aeroblade cross bar system: $330 - $350;
2) Thule Crossroad base + old school Thule rectangular bars: $280;
3) Thule Whispbar system: $450ish (nope, maybe if I had a Cayenne GTS).
I would appreciate some input, as follows:
1) has anyone noticed increased wind noise from driving around with the oem cross bars installed;
2) has anyone quantified an mpg loss from driving around with the oem cross bar installed;
3) are there other cross bars you folks ight recommend in the not much more than $300 range to fit my projected usage?
Thanks-Mawgie
