|   Roofracks & Sunroofs?? | The Weasel
Apr 28, 2003 6:43 AM | | Who here has this combo? Does a faring really cut down on the noise? I'm pretty much set on a car that always comes delivered with a sunroof, but I could do a factory order to exclude it. Thanks. |
| I've got a sunroof & roof rack | Birdman
Apr 28, 2003 6:50 AM | | My sunroof tips up or slides open.
A fairing helps with wind noise, but with the sunroof open, it's pretty noise. With the sunroof tipped up, it's still noisy, but not as bad.
Given the choice, I'd prefer not to have a sunroof, but it was a standard feature on my '97 SAAB 900SE coupe.
JMJ |
| I've got a big old sunroof on my Forester, and a Yakima Rack | Mackie
Apr 28, 2003 7:05 AM | | The fairing helps, but it will never be quiet. I love the sunroof though - at slow speeds it's tolerable with bikes up there and the roof totally open. At highway speeds, the roof is about 6 inches open, and it's fairly loud. The radio can compensate for this, but deep conversation is not going to happen. A fully open roof at highway speed is unbearably loud with bikes up there.
But, as I said, i love the sunroof... it gives me visual reassurance that the bikes are still up there.
Whenever I'm in my buddys car without a sunroof, i find myself staring at the cieling, wondering....what's going on up there??? |
| Yes, the faring helps but not as much as I would have liked... | Rev Bubba
Apr 28, 2003 7:29 AM | | I had a '97 VW GTI with a Thule rack and Faring. As the others have said it helped but esentially, I just did not use the sunroof. When I bought a 2000 Passat I opted not to bother with the expense of the sunroof since I use a rack 12 months a year between bikes, skis, snowboards and surfboards. |
| Some stuff to think about... | Steve-O
Apr 28, 2003 8:10 AM | | I have a Subaru Outback with dual sunroofs. I am using Yakima LowRiders attached to the factory rack, 48" crossbars, and 2 Yakima Viper Fork mounts, AND NO FAIRING...
The wind noise is bad with the sun roofs open and bikes on the roof but not really an issue with no bikes. Here are some issues I have seen:
- Some factory sunroofs stick up too high and can contact the crossbars. This is common on coupes that do not have a long enough roofline so the sunroof pops up and out (like a spoiler). If the crossbars are too close to the roof then you will have issues.
- A fairing will help but if you tend to use your sunroof alot and carry bikes alot then get used to the noise... It can't be totally prevented.
- On my car the addition of sunroofs lowers the load capacity of the roof rack. If I remember correctly, on my Subaru it drops the load rating from 150 lbs. to 100 lbs. (which isn't much!). Forget loading up 4 downhill bikes if you plan on having a sunroof (or at least consult with the mfr.)
Hope that helps! |
| Love it the sunroof w/fairing | Lotusfinger
Apr 28, 2003 8:22 AM | | I have a thule with fairing on my Protege' 5. W/no bikes it is as quiet with the sunroof open as if I had no rack at all, even at highway speeds and beyond. Sometime I think it is even quieter. With the bikes however, Highway is nearly unbearable but 50 or less is tolerable. Maybe it depends on the car/rack combo I don't know. I would not give up the open airy feeling of having a sunroof, especially since I can always close it. |
| re: Roofracks & Sunroofs?? | laffeaux
Apr 28, 2003 8:37 AM | | I have a 4Runner with a sunroof and a Yakima rack. The bikes sit behind the sunroof (unlike most cars). It is noisy with bikes on top and the sunroof open. However, with the sunroof closed you can always look up and see your bike while you drive. The reassurance that the bike is still there makes having a sunroof well worth it. |
| re: Roofracks & Sunroofs?? | The Weasel
Apr 28, 2003 9:48 AM | | Thanks guys, Steve-O great points of consideration. It is a tuck under sunroof, but I think I'm going to go the factory order route (if I have to). Might be one of those last minute decisions. |
| have em now. Next car will have sunroof & hitch rack (nm) | Hollywood
Apr 28, 2003 5:54 PM | | |
| I got 'em both | pimpbot
Apr 29, 2003 8:44 AM | | Both of our cars have sunroofs. For me, the sunroof is a gotta have non-option.
I have roof racks for both cars, but generaly leave them off. I commute (when employed :) close to 30 miles a day, and it most definately eats into the gas milege. The Jetta gets 31 MPH with the racks on and 35 with them off. The '96 GTi gets 31 off and about 26 with (the thule racks for the GTi are pretty elaborate, there's a lot of gear up there). For me, it's not a matter of more $$$ spent on gas, but a matter of that's a savings of damage I am doing to the atomosphere. I know, it's a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but I feel guilty if I at least don't make the effort. Let's face it, the racks go on and off in under 5 minutes, it's not a big deal.
Anywho, with the racks on I open the sonnroofs only at low speed. Too noisy otherwise.
I plan on getting a hitch rack for the Jetta. It's a lot less hassle. The roof racks are great for other things, tho. I transport 2x4's, pipes, ladders, garden edge strips, and plywood on a regular basis with little hassle. I keep thinking about getting a truck, but I'm getting by fairly well with the Jetta, if you can believe it.
Beaters rule! "Aw, man! I dropped a pipe while loading in and it ganked the paint! Hmmm, adds charactor! That one looks like Pollock!" |
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