Roof racks

[Freddo11]

I know some of you will tell me to hit the search button and I have. I've spent hours pouring through this site and gotten most of the answers I needed even prior to buying my 2014. I would like to get some current input on the roof racks out there, Gobi, Baja, and Drabbit's.

I have a sunroof on mine and am concerned about wind noise. I'm hoping to use the rack for the usual camping supplies but also to load two small 10' kayaks on. I've looked at the Baja 3/4 rack and like it but hear some complaints about wind noise. It also sounds like Drabbit is now making a 3/4 too, but I have yet to see a picture. The price on both of those racks is appealing. I love the look of the full Gobi rack, Desertdawg, your rig was an inspiration when I started building mine. I love the look. I wonder though about the wind noise with the rack in front of the sunroof.

Please let me know what you guys think and what your experience is with all of these products.

Thanks all...

 

[3wbdriver]

I have a full length Baja Rack, but no sunroof. I did pick up a slight increase in noise after install but nothing drastic. I know this is no help to you but you seem to have done your due diligence, so hopefully some other folks will chime in.

 

[mattleegee]

I just got done installing a Gobi rack, and everything fits perfect and everything was professional about there kit and shipping

They come with a ladder and a deflector free
also i got $100 and free tool box so was a decent deal that trailduty runs

 

[SavageRunner]

I love my Drabbits, I will be going with a Gobi ladder to go with it.

 

[Misterquad]

I have a full length Baja Rack, but no sunroof. I did pick up a slight increase in noise after install but nothing drastic. I know this is no help to you but you seem to have done your due diligence, so hopefully some other folks will chime in.

Let me chime in here too. I had a Baja Rack and a Yakima rack and both make some noise that you can hear with the windows closed. But let me comment about the sunroof. When the sunroof is open it makes more noise than either roof rack did. With the sunroof open, you cannot hear the noise of the roof rack.

The bigger drawback of the roof rack was the intermittent lose of satellite signal. That bothered me and pushed me to sell my rack. Looking back on that decision, I should have just cancelled the satellite subscription sooner and kept the rack. :sobbing:

 

[nguyenn]

I have a full Gobi rack on mine with ladder on my 14 TEP. Awesome rack is all I can say. Fitment is perfect, great craftsmanship, and no wind noise. Hope this help.

 

[SigSense]

Full-length BajaRack here also. I did not have sunroof either. Slight noise increase, but not noticeable with music on. BajaRack makes a sturdy, streamlined rack capable of hauling most gear.

 

[jrob]

I have a full Gobi rack on mine with ladder on my 14 TEP. Awesome rack is all I can say. Fitment is perfect, great craftsmanship, and no wind noise. Hope this help.

We must have 2 different Gobi racks.

I definitely have wind noise with the Gobi stealth. Craftsmanship doesn't match the price they want and their customer service is the worst I have experienced with any vendor ever.

If I had it to do over I would buy a Drabbit rack.

 

[chmura]

I have a full Gobi rack on mine with ladder on my 14 TEP. Awesome rack is all I can say. Fitment is perfect, great craftsmanship, and no wind noise. Hope this help.

Same here. No wind noise on mine at all and build quality is top notch.

 

[mdogg]

I have a full Gobi rack on mine with ladder on my 14 TEP. Awesome rack is all I can say. Fitment is perfect, great craftsmanship, and no wind noise. Hope this help.

We must have 2 different Gobi racks.

I definitely have wind noise with the Gobi stealth. Craftsmanship doesn't match the price they want and their customer service is the worst I have experienced with any vendor ever.

If I had it to do over I would buy a Drabbit rack.

This illustrates the pointlessness of this thread. Wind noise (any noise, really) is completely subjective. Everyone has different tolerances and sensitivities to every combination of volume and frequency. Nobody can tell you what your ear will hear and be comfortable with. OP, your best bet is to find locals with the exact combinations (sunroof, rack type/length/brand, lights/other accessories, loaded/unloaded, etc.) you plan to have and go for a ride in each if you are that concerned about the potential disastrous effects of wind noise.

 

[jrob]

This illustrates the pointlessness of this thread. Wind noise (any noise, really) is completely subjective. Everyone has different tolerances and sensitivities to every combination of volume and frequency. Nobody can tell you what your ear will hear and be comfortable with. OP, your best bet is to find locals with the exact combinations (sunroof, rack type/length/brand, lights/other accessories, loaded/unloaded, etc.) you plan to have and go for a ride in each if you are that concerned about the potential disastrous effects of wind noise.

I think it illustrates people's inability to objectively assess products simply because they dropped some coin on it.

Anyone claiming the "craftsmanship" on a Gobi rack is "top notch" hasn't seen good craftsmanship. The build quality of Shrockworks products is top notch. Gobi is obviously built for volume not quality, and doesn't justify the price they ask.
I'm talking about wind noise with the sunroof open. I thought that's where he was going since he mentioned sunroof. With the sunroof closed there is no noise. With it open there is a lot of noise, even at low speed, where there was none before.

 

[Ducmonsta]

This illustrates the pointlessness of this thread. Wind noise (any noise, really) is completely subjective. Everyone has different tolerances and sensitivities to every combination of volume and frequency. Nobody can tell you what your ear will hear and be comfortable with. OP, your best bet is to find locals with the exact combinations (sunroof, rack type/length/brand, lights/other accessories, loaded/unloaded, etc.) you plan to have and go for a ride in each if you are that concerned about the potential disastrous effects of wind noise.

Yup. Pretty much all of this.

Also include:

Exhaust, is it too loud? too quiet?
Suspension, is it too hard, too soft, brake dive, etc.
Tire noise, are these M/Ts too loud.
Stereo systems, sound good or not?

 

[nguyenn]

Yeah thts strange what's going on with your gobi rack. Fitment was dead on. No modded needed. I have a few buddies tht has same rack and zero issues too. Have to try calling gobi and seeing what's up?

We must have 2 different Gobi racks.

I definitely have wind noise with the Gobi stealth. Craftsmanship doesn't match the price they want and their customer service is the worst I have experienced with any vendor ever.

If I had it to do over I would buy a Drabbit rack.

 

[Jhalko]

I have a drabbits rack, very happy with it. The powder coat is maybe better on a Gobi, although Alex just changed pc'r, and if you get a Gobi ladder it won't match the drabbits perfectly. That didn't bother me and it was cheaper so a positive. I love having my sunroof open and get no extra noise when it is open. The only noise I ever get from my rack is from the fairing at high speed with a crosswind and it is a slight rattle of the fairing against the bar in one spot. I highly recommend getting the gobi ladder either way, every time I use it I tell myself how much it was worth it, maybe I'm getting old.

It also looks bad@$$, for what it's worth. Haha

 

[cd121082]

I just got done installing a Gobi rack, and everything fits perfect and everything was professional about there kit and shipping

They come with a ladder and a deflector free
also i got $100 and free tool box so was a decent deal that trailduty runs

what deal did you get?

 

[kpd1999]

I have a drabbits rack, very happy with it. The powder coat is maybe better on a Gobi, although Alex just changed pc'r, and if you get a Gobi ladder it won't match the drabbits perfectly. That didn't bother me and it was cheaper so a positive. I love having my sunroof open and get no extra noise when it is open. The only noise I ever get from my rack is from the fairing at high speed with a crosswind and it is a slight rattle of the fairing against the bar in one spot. I highly recommend getting the gobi ladder either way, every time I use it I tell myself how much it was worth it, maybe I'm getting old.

It also looks bad@$$, for what it's worth. Haha

Did you notice how much your gas milage went down after you put the rack on? Just curious, as I will probably order one this week

 

[Jhalko]

Did you notice how much your gas milage went down after you put the rack on? Just curious, as I will probably order one this week

Little to none, now if I put something up there it drops a lot. It's hard to say as I added lift shortly after, I had been averaging about 19.3 and now I'm at 18.5. That is with rack and lift though, I don't remember much change in the mileage between the two though. That's from the truck readout so don't know how accurate and to me that's in the range that it could be my driving.

 

[KiruxaT4R]

Slimline 3/4 Roof Rack...really liking it. Let me know if there are any questions you have. Check out their website for tons of accessories that you can attach to it including most important a beer opener.

 

[AirspeedX]

I love my Baja Utility rack. Great quality and finish. No noticeable drop in fuel economy. Definite wind noise. Not very noticeable, although with a strong crosswind at highway speeds, it does develop a sort of 'howl'. I raised the front lip up an extra 1/2" after the first installation which seemed to quiet things down.

Last I heard, Baja Rack was coming out with a ladder. Some guys are using the Gobi's on theirs. I haven't looked into this as I'm tall and can jump up onto it from the rear tire if needbe.

I also love the fact that it takes a beating on some of the trails I run. Branches glide off the rack and my attached Hi-Lift rather than the roof. At least most of them.

I would order one again in a heartbeat.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

I love my Baja Utility rack. Great quality and finish. No noticeable drop in fuel economy. Definite wind noise. Not very noticeable, although with a strong crosswind at highway speeds, it does develop a sort of 'howl'. I raised the front lip up an extra 1/2" after the first installation which seemed to quiet things down.

Last I heard, Baja Rack was coming out with a ladder. Some guys are using the Gobi's on theirs. I haven't looked into this as I'm tall and can jump up onto it from the rear tire if needbe.

I also love the fact that it takes a beating on some of the trails I run. Branches glide off the rack and my attached Hi-Lift rather than the roof. At least most of them.

I would order one again in a heartbeat.

And it makes really cool xylophone sounds when you drive under a low hanging branch!
Seriously though, the Baja Flat Utility Rack is one of the best out there, for all the reasons listed above, plus there are lots of accessories available for it. So far I have the spare tire attachment, hi-lift attachment and shovel/axe attachment; all very sturdy and easy to install/use.