CO_FlyFisher
New member
Leave it off when you're not using it.
My main reasons - first is gas milage. It will reduce it, as you have already noted. Second is theft. Everyone always says, "it won't happen to me..." but do you want to find out? If it so easy to take off, why not leave it off unless you need it (plus the theives can be gone with it pretty quick too).
I have a large Yakima roof box that I use when camping. It has 4 easy lever-action clamps inside that make it a breeze to take on and off, plus it locks too. However, I paid a fair amount for it, and wouldn't like to find out it had been stolen because I left it on.
Interesting MPG note - The recent handful tanks of gas of mine have been significantly better MPG. On the second and third tank since it got better, I drove up a little past Steamboat Springs a couple of weekends ago with the rig and roof box fully loaded (2 adults, 2 kids, 1 dog, 10 gallons of water, and all my camping/fishing gear). Usually this means I only get about 15-16 MPG based on past history (I log EVERY tank). I was cruising around 70mph after I got off of the interstate going up hwy 9 and 40, and not exactly taking the mountain passes slowly. Even still, I got around 19 MPG on the trip. Everyday driving I've been getting almost 20 versus the normal 17, and I didn't change anything. This means that on my trip, I got about 4 MPG better than usual, and I'm getting an easy 2 better than normal in normal driving around town. Odd (not that I'm complaining).
My main reasons - first is gas milage. It will reduce it, as you have already noted. Second is theft. Everyone always says, "it won't happen to me..." but do you want to find out? If it so easy to take off, why not leave it off unless you need it (plus the theives can be gone with it pretty quick too).
I have a large Yakima roof box that I use when camping. It has 4 easy lever-action clamps inside that make it a breeze to take on and off, plus it locks too. However, I paid a fair amount for it, and wouldn't like to find out it had been stolen because I left it on.
Interesting MPG note - The recent handful tanks of gas of mine have been significantly better MPG. On the second and third tank since it got better, I drove up a little past Steamboat Springs a couple of weekends ago with the rig and roof box fully loaded (2 adults, 2 kids, 1 dog, 10 gallons of water, and all my camping/fishing gear). Usually this means I only get about 15-16 MPG based on past history (I log EVERY tank). I was cruising around 70mph after I got off of the interstate going up hwy 9 and 40, and not exactly taking the mountain passes slowly. Even still, I got around 19 MPG on the trip. Everyday driving I've been getting almost 20 versus the normal 17, and I didn't change anything. This means that on my trip, I got about 4 MPG better than usual, and I'm getting an easy 2 better than normal in normal driving around town. Odd (not that I'm complaining).
