The LFD Off Road Thread

Did you get a fairing? The fairing is supposed to help with the wind buffering / vibration when the rack is unloaded. I installed the fairing when I installed the bars and never had any noise or vibrations. I would check your hardware to make sure that everything is still tight.

No. Faring was in redesign at the time. All the hardware has been checked and dbl checked. Guess my next step is to remove them to make sure they are the issue.
 
Well, I decided to buy four wide bars and the fairing. $399.96 including shipping to California. I decided to go this route as the mounting plates were $45 each for the Rotopax or other accessories and I would have bought two, which would have cost me close to $100 extra.
Also, I like the extra footprint, mounting locations and load carrying capacity, and for $100 more than the standard bar bundle I felt it was worth it. Thanks

I ended up doing a mix of bars... bought the integrated fairing crossbar, 2 wide ones, and 1 regular one. the 15% off pretty much just paid for shipping.
 
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No. Faring was in redesign at the time. All the hardware has been checked and dbl checked. Guess my next step is to remove them to make sure they are the issue.
From every member running the LFD crossbars the fairing was the key to omit wind noise and turbulence. Also, the aluminum bars, as members and LFD have stated, seem to make more noise unloaded than steel.
 
No. Faring was in redesign at the time. All the hardware has been checked and dbl checked. Guess my next step is to remove them to make sure they are the issue.

From reading on the LFD website the fairing is mostly needed on the aluminum crossbars. I got the stainless steel 2" bars and the fairing to make sure that it would not make any unusual sounds. Maby the fairing will help.
 
Finally made my first LFD purchase, crossbars set with fairing. If anyone has some installation tip please let me know! It should be quite straightforward from what I can tell.

I forgot to mention one of the most versatile tools in my tool box. I call it the "stickum". It is a 8" piece if garden irrigation tube with duct tape wound a few times normally then flipped and wound with the sticky side outward. This will help you install the fairing. The "stickum" will hold the nut while you thread the bolt. When you try to install the nut and bolts in the center of the fairing it is difficult to hold the nut stable. Put the nut on the "stickum" and a put it under the bar aligned with the hole. Then thread your bolt from the top. It is so easy with the "stickum". I hope that this helps.
 

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No. Faring was in redesign at the time. All the hardware has been checked and dbl checked. Guess my next step is to remove them to make sure they are the issue.

It probably is the crossbars, especially if they're empty. You can try moving the first one farther back and play with the positioning, which can help sometimes. There's lots of variables involved in noise/resonance: position of the crossbar, vehicle rake, load on the crossbars, etc.

The only sure way to prevent it is a fairing. If you need one send me a PM and we'll help out.
 
lol thanks, I'm not following but maybe it will be more clear once I get my hands on the hardware!

Reach out if you have questions! Its usually pretty straightforward. T nuts can be challenging, but there's a few tricks too. A lot of times you can assemble the T nut and bolt and drop it through the slot on the fairing, rotate 90 degrees, then drop it through the slot on the crossbar and then just tighten.
 
Reach out if you have questions! Its usually pretty straightforward. T nuts can be challenging, but there's a few tricks too. A lot of times you can assemble the T nut and bolt and drop it through the slot on the fairing, rotate 90 degrees, then drop it through the slot on the crossbar and then just tighten.

HAHA! Wow, why did I not think of this when installing!!! Hardest part was just getting that thread started!
 
lol thanks, I'm not following but maybe it will be more clear once I get my hands on the hardware!

I only used it for installing the two center nuts and bolts of the fairing. They can be difficult to install because of the distance from the side of the truck and the angle of reaching under the cross bar while balancing the nut on your fingertips. I stuck the nut on the tape, aligned it with the hole, and threaded the bolt from the top. It makes it easier to get the bolt started in the nut. Once the bolt is started you can reach with your fingers to keep the nut from spinning as you tighten it up.
 
Anyone getting a resonance or slight "rattle " with the wide crossbars? I'm running two. Getting a vibration/resonance coming form some place and its driving me crazy. Normally above 30mph and not exactly constant. Goes away when i open the sunroof, but will come back while driving slow and hitting road seams "old concrete roads". Getting ready to pull interior panels and roof rack.

I noticed some vibration / rattle at 80 / 85 mph on my steel crossbars with fairing. Don't notice it at lower speeds. Probably just need to check the tightness of the hardware.
 
Should I be able to mount a crossbar in one mounting hole in the side rails (see red square in pic)? Currently, the carriage bolts just barely do not fit. They go in but the square part of the bolt makes the bolt slightly pop out and not sit flush. I could get non-carriage bolts and it would fit, but if there is a structural or safety reason for not being able to use one hole, I would not want to do that. Moreover, the bolts provided should fit.
 

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It probably is the crossbars, especially if they're empty. You can try moving the first one farther back and play with the positioning, which can help sometimes. There's lots of variables involved in noise/resonance: position of the crossbar, vehicle rake, load on the crossbars, etc.

The only sure way to prevent it is a fairing. If you need one send me a PM and we'll help out.
@LFD I purchased two aluminum cross bars a few months back and get noise at 70+ mph unloaded. I have a fairing on the front, but not the rear. Any help would be appreciated!
 
@LFD I purchased two aluminum cross bars a few months back and get noise at 70+ mph unloaded. I have a fairing on the front, but not the rear. Any help would be appreciated!

If the second one is way back from the front the air could be dirty again by then. Move it up some.
 
Anyone have any experience with the minimalist roof rack? I just ordered mine and haven’t seen a ton of reviews. Love to hear some opinions/issues/etc


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Can someone get a measurement from the roof to the top of the LFD crossbars please? I have LFD crossbars on my OEM rack now and I am looking at getting LFD siderails, but I don't want to lose any more overhead clearance if possible.

Thanks!
 

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