Roof Rack Info Sought

[Khjphoto]

OK, I have searched and have not seen a definitive answer. So allow me to put it out here:

2015 Limited, I drive out to CA from PA once or twice a year - approx 6,000 + miles RT. Most of the time I spend time in SW Colorado camping, and having a Gobi would be a nice to have. Problem is what "real world" negative impact can be expected with the rack and a couple of boxes on the rack?

Thanks for your comments

 

[RiDE]

You will definitely lose some MPG. 2-4mpg depending on your load. That's about the only negative thing. If you actually need the rack to haul items that can't be stored inside the trunk than the pros definitely outway the cons.

 

[Khjphoto]

You will definitely lose some MPG. 2-4mpg depending on your load. That's about the only negative thing. If you actually need the rack to haul items that can't be stored inside the trunk than the pros definitely outway the cons.

Thanks for the quick response. Don't plan on more then 100# on the rack, plus the Road Shower. Struggling with, while it may look cool, the reality ten months out of the year it will be bare, and of course not that many miles when in town.

 

[KwisatzHaderach]

Struggling with, while it may look cool, the reality ten months out of the year it will be bare, and of course not that many miles when in town.

I feels you on that one. I would love to have one of these too but how much will it really be used.

 

[3wbdriver]

Thanks for the quick response. Don't plan on more then 100# on the rack, plus the Road Shower. Struggling with, while it may look cool, the reality ten months out of the year it will be bare, and of course not that many miles when in town.

Then you are a prime candidate for a rooftop carrier. That would fit fine on your factory rack and could be stored when not needed.

 

[flying fuzz]

I have an ARB aluminum rack, loaded it up front to rear with three large Hardigg cases, drove from Tucson to Seattle and back, roughly 3600 miles of loaded up highway miles and my MPG dropped from 15.5 to 13.5 and sometimes into the 12's when in the mountains. Wind noise increased obviously but it wasn't that bad, high winds will push you around a little more with a loaded rack

 

[Plano26]

I get around 15-16mpgs when traveling up North from the Phoenix to the Grand Canyon; that's loaded down with camping gear and my OZtent on top; normal/mixed driving I'm getting around 18mpg; the K9 is fairly light and low profile so not much resistance.

 

[Cymon]

Then you are a prime candidate for a rooftop carrier. That would fit fine on your factory rack and could be stored when not needed.

The other thing about a rooftop carrier is that they are lockable and fairly aerodynamic, so you can keep your gear stored up there when you are in more urban areas. I have a yakima skybox 16 with thule aerobars to elevate it above the "shark fin" on the back of the truck and allow for the rear hatch to fully open (the factory bars sit too close to the roof). I originally got it for my Outback for ski trips (to keep skis and snowboards out of the elements and locked on our trips) but was easily converted to the 4Runner. Drove from Miami to Maryland in December and averaged 18.5 mpg with the cruise control set between 70 and 75mph most of the way. I have also drove cross-country twice with it on my Outback and worked great.

 

[Khjphoto]

Then you are a prime candidate for a rooftop carrier. That would fit fine on your factory rack and could be stored when not needed.

Yes, I did consider one; the issue is when mounted can't get the Runner in the garage. Take it off and where to store it! To many toys and ancillary stuff.

As Shakespeare said: To rack or not to rack?

 

[Cymon]

Yes, I did consider one; the issue is when mounted can't get the Runner in the garage. Take it off and where to store it! To many toys and ancillary stuff.

As Shakespeare said: To rack or not to rack?

I had the same issue. Ended up buying two bathroom handicap (250 lb loadbearing with anchors) handles from Home Depot and hang it on the garage wall from the roof rack attachment hooks. I don't have a picture with it up on the wall as its on my car now but I can send you one when I put it back up next week. Here are the handles FWIW.

 

[delloro]

I put a full-length drabbits on my 2015 SR5 and lifted the front 2" and my mileage went from 15.5-ish to 14.9.

worth it though as hot chicks throw their tops at me screaming "NICE RACK!"

 

[Jhalko]

I put a full-length drabbits on my 2015 SR5 and lifted the front 2" and my mileage went from 15.5-ish to 14.9.

worth it though as hot chicks throw their tops at me screaming "NICE RACK!"

Yup, I never saw a change with the roof rack (it was all the other steel and tires that made the bigger difference) and my wife thinks it's cool and she's hot.

OP, you do realize that a steel roof rack requires maintenance right? I mean they will all rust at some point so sanding and painting will be in your future, you can go aluminum, there was a thread about those options. It seems like a lot of cost and effort for something you won't use regularly. I have a roof box I use here in the winter for hauling ski's to the mtns. I use my rack and even still question the value sometimes, but maybe there will be an RTT in my future and I do have an awning now.

 

[Miguelon]

I put a full-length drabbits on my 2015 SR5 and lifted the front 2" and my mileage went from 15.5-ish to 14.9.

worth it though as hot chicks throw their tops at me screaming "NICE RACK!"

I am also running drabbits

 

[MeefZah]

Thanks for the quick response. Don't plan on more then 100# on the rack, plus the Road Shower. Struggling with, while it may look cool, the reality ten months out of the year it will be bare, and of course not that many miles when in town.

I'm not clear from your original post if you re asking specifically about a Gobi or just musing about a rack in general and what sort of negative MPG might come from having a rack?

If you are not set on a Gobi but just generally inquiring, the it sounds like one of the lighter and cheaper basket / racks that is more easily removable might be the ticket for your needs? I have a Yakima basket which, once set up for the first time, can be put on and taken off by one person and takes about 5 minutes to tighten down with no tools.

I paid $300 for it, the middle extension, and the locking mounts on CL.

The Yak still fits (with 1/4" to spare!) in my garage (2.5" lift and 285s), but I take it off when not in use just to keep it from rusting, and I hang it from the garage rafters using 4 bicycle hooks. If 10 months out of 12 you aren't going to be using it anyway, no point in leaving it on all the time, and no point in buying a high dollar unit whose construction pretty much necessitates leaving it on all the time.

Downsides, it's not full length like some racks, it's not as cool as a Gobi or whatever, and it can't support a RTT (which I don't care for anyway, so no loss for me).

Upsides, cheap, easy to install, lifetime warranty, easy to find on the used market, hauls your specified load (100 lbs of boxes) just fine, no obvious MPG change (empty), elevated sides make it easier to secure gear.

 

[Khjphoto]

Thank you all for taking time to respond with good info.

Still don't know. Thinking of buying a Peterbuilt and 80 foot trailer. That way I can put the Runner inside and allllll the other stuff! I mean if you are going to reduce the MPG down so much, might as well go to a BIG RiG!

Sidebar: always thought the perfect "adventure camper" would be a C-130!
Carry your Runner, the boat, the Porsche ....

Now what did I do with that Lotto Ticket?

 

[Land_Shark]

[MENTION=129385]Khjphoto[/MENTION] - I would like to echo what some others have said regarding going with a basket instead.

I started with the Yakima Megawarrior, then added the extension. It says you can only haul about 130 lbs or so, so that would suit your needs. For reference, I've climbed up there and it supported my 185 lbs.
MPGs went down slightly with the megawarrior. I believe because the rack can sit further back, it doesn't effect economy as much. Any fairing that's closer to the front of the roof will hurt MPGs more.

I even hauled a full size canoe with it multiple times. I ended up purchasing the BajaRack, but that's because I knew I'd end up putting more weight up there and I like the utility of it. MPGs went down significantly with the full length baja rack.

Go for the Megawarrior! That should suit your needs just fine.

 

[Khjphoto]

Thanks CODY TRD4 for the heads up.

 

[codyHTX]

[MENTION=129385]Khjphoto[/MENTION] if you think a cargo basket would better suite your needs you may want to look at the Rockymounts 14'er. This was the basket i was going to purchase if i didn't jump on the gobi train.

it has a nice design, sleek and low pro

the dimensions seem to fit perfectly over the factory rails (43"x53") so its 4" wider and 9" longer than the yakima load warrior (w/out extension). it is also only 4" high compared to the load warrior at 6.5" high, this is about as low pro as i've seen a basket get.

it's only $270 on their site, includes cargo net, compared to the load warrior listed at $299 on their site, or the larger mega warrior listed at $399

14'er- Cargo Cage Roof Basket

 

[Cymon]

Yes, I did consider one; the issue is when mounted can't get the Runner in the garage. Take it off and where to store it! To many toys and ancillary stuff.

As Shakespeare said: To rack or not to rack?

I know you probably already decided to go another route but I mentioned I would post pics of how I hang my skybox in the garage with $30 worth of handicap bathroom handles (with anchors rated to 250lbs).

Sorry for the sideways pictures, haven't learned how to rotate after uploading.