Rack Fairing Cuts Wind Noise Big Time
07-25-2003, 04:05 AM
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Rack Fairing Cuts Wind Noise Big Time
Putting a fairing on my roof rack has cut the wind noise down dramatically. I'm surprised at how much of a difference it makes. Now I can have the moon roof open on the interstate and still hear my tunes. Now it sounds pretty much the same as when the rack is off. This is a great mod for folks who do long highway trips with roof racks.
I picked up the fairing on ebay for around $12, got the edging from JC Whitney for cheap, bent up a couple pieces of aluminum flat stock, and used stainles hardware. Very cheap and easy. The fairing has to be touching the roof or it vibrates.
I picked up the fairing on ebay for around $12, got the edging from JC Whitney for cheap, bent up a couple pieces of aluminum flat stock, and used stainles hardware. Very cheap and easy. The fairing has to be touching the roof or it vibrates.
07-25-2003, 06:08 AM
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Definitely one mod worth doing for anyone with any type of rack. I had very noticable whistles from the wind whipping over my rack/lights - the fair cut that to nill. Now I just have typical wind noise.
07-25-2003, 08:08 AM
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Originally posted by <96 Runner>
Hey Jay-
Looks good. Just curious if you knew the fairing was upsidedown...
Hey Jay-
Looks good. Just curious if you knew the fairing was upsidedown...
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07-25-2003, 08:22 AM
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Maybe the truck is upside down? Or maybe it's a british or australian design and it's supposed to be backwards?
Now I'm feeling insecure about it. :pat: OK, maybe not but thanks for noticing . . .
Actually the way it is now the fairing matches the roof line perfectly. I tried it both ways and decided to go with the non-traditional installation.
The other way around there is a big gap on the edges that caused a vibration.
Now I'm feeling insecure about it. :pat: OK, maybe not but thanks for noticing . . .
Actually the way it is now the fairing matches the roof line perfectly. I tried it both ways and decided to go with the non-traditional installation.
The other way around there is a big gap on the edges that caused a vibration.
07-25-2003, 09:21 AM
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The other way around there is a big gap on the edges that caused a vibration
07-25-2003, 01:06 PM
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rightside down?
Even though it is technically upside down, I'm thinking that you are better off that way. It looks like it fits the roofline much better.
That shape is designed so that the fairing comes down over the windshield, just past the top trim, and follows the contour of the glass. In this installation, you can't reach the glass and need to follow the roof contour.
That shape is designed so that the fairing comes down over the windshield, just past the top trim, and follows the contour of the glass. In this installation, you can't reach the glass and need to follow the roof contour.
Last edited by grobbins6; 07-25-2003 at 01:08 PM.
07-25-2003, 02:33 PM
#14
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Transalper,
Very ingenious turning the fairing upside down. I did this mod last summer w/ my old Thule rack wind fairing which looked very similar in size to Jason Burtman's.
Yakima has a great wind fairing that is much smaller that fits well w/ rail mounted systems. I imitated that and cut down the original fairing. I also took the original metal arms and cut them down too.
Original
Cut down to size
I used some high school geometry (a2 + b2 = c2) to determine the height of the fairing, marked it up w/ a grease pen and cut it down to size w/ a jig saw. Twas fun The only thing wrong w/ my high school geometry was my 3rd grade measuring ability. As you can see, it is a bit taller than it should be. The ol' jig saw can take care of that but I've been too lazy to cut it down.
Bob
Very ingenious turning the fairing upside down.
I did this mod last summer w/ my old Thule rack wind fairing which looked very similar in size to Jason Burtman's. Yakima has a great wind fairing that is much smaller that fits well w/ rail mounted systems. I imitated that and cut down the original fairing. I also took the original metal arms and cut them down too.
Original
Cut down to size
I used some high school geometry (a2 + b2 = c2) to determine the height of the fairing, marked it up w/ a grease pen and cut it down to size w/ a jig saw. Twas fun
The only thing wrong w/ my high school geometry was my 3rd grade measuring ability. As you can see, it is a bit taller than it should be. The ol' jig saw can take care of that but I've been too lazy to cut it down.Bob
Last edited by Bob_98SR5; 07-25-2003 at 02:41 PM.
07-25-2003, 06:36 PM
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Transapler,
If you actually have the fairing touching the roof, you're probably still getting some small amount of vibration that could eventually wear through the paint where the fairing touches. I can't guarantee it, but I'd worry about it. I'm not sure what to suggest, but perhaps something that you can stick to the roof non-permanently that the fairing can rub against.
As I said, I don't know for certain that this will happen to you, but I have an old pickup truck with a canopy that has a rubber flap on the rear glass door that rubbed against the tailgate enough to wear the paint off where it touched. Its basically an old beater truck now, so it doesn't bother me too much, but I'd be much more irritated if it was a newer rig. I'm sure you don't want rusty spots on your roof.
Alan
If you actually have the fairing touching the roof, you're probably still getting some small amount of vibration that could eventually wear through the paint where the fairing touches. I can't guarantee it, but I'd worry about it. I'm not sure what to suggest, but perhaps something that you can stick to the roof non-permanently that the fairing can rub against.
As I said, I don't know for certain that this will happen to you, but I have an old pickup truck with a canopy that has a rubber flap on the rear glass door that rubbed against the tailgate enough to wear the paint off where it touched. Its basically an old beater truck now, so it doesn't bother me too much, but I'd be much more irritated if it was a newer rig. I'm sure you don't want rusty spots on your roof.
Alan
07-26-2003, 05:50 PM
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Originally posted by alanh
Transapler,
If you actually have the fairing touching the roof, you're probably still getting some small amount of vibration that could eventually wear through the paint where the fairing touches . . . but perhaps something that you can stick to the roof non-permanently that the fairing can rub against . . . I'm sure you don't want rusty spots on your roof.
Alan
Transapler,
If you actually have the fairing touching the roof, you're probably still getting some small amount of vibration that could eventually wear through the paint where the fairing touches . . . but perhaps something that you can stick to the roof non-permanently that the fairing can rub against . . . I'm sure you don't want rusty spots on your roof.
Alan
Thanks!
07-26-2003, 06:01 PM
#17
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Transalper,
3M sells clear protective tape. I've seen it sold in a roll at Pep Boys and Autozone too.
I'm going to do that as well, but I think I have enough of the Xpel stuff left over from my hood install kit.
Bob
3M sells clear protective tape. I've seen it sold in a roll at Pep Boys and Autozone too.
I'm going to do that as well, but I think I have enough of the Xpel stuff left over from my hood install kit.
Bob
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