I installed a yakima rack onto the stock roof rack rails, it uses a couple pair of control towers with the bars that go across. I installed it to carry a Yakima box for my ski trip. It was noticeable when I had the box on there, but after taking the box off, the wind noise is horrendous! I can't imagine how it could be so loud. Has anyone else experienced this problem. I guess I'll have ot take the bars off whne I'm not hauling the box, but it's such a PITA to get everythign aligned that I was just going to leave it up there. Anyone have any similar experiences?


Here's a pic with the roof rack installed (testing out stock articulation... def better than the talon was).

 

Yeah, same with mine too.
Quiet with the Loadwarrior up there but the bars alone are loud.
They make a fairing (like Calrockx uses), and also some little clip on guys like these

 

Installing Yakima fairing should solve the noise problem for you. It also looks better as well. Check out the link in my signature for the picture.

-- Andrey

 

Yeah i 3rd the fairing idea. I got one on mine (take a look at my pics) and I never hear any noise. You can't even tell it's on there.

 

How much do you pay for that?

 

try ebay i'm sure someone's sellin them for cheap!

 

with the control towers that you have...you should be able to just lift the towers and cross bars out of the mounting foot that you screwed into the factory tracks...you dont loosen anything so there is nothing to get re-aligned...just pop the releases and take off the rack...to put it back on just set it into the little feet and click the latches back down...shouldnt take you any more time than tying your shoes


ohh yeah...count me in for the vote for getting yourself a fairing...about $50...it'll not only make the rack silent but will also really improve the look of the whole system...IMHO

 

If you run your towers and bars naked, yes they will howl.
Been there done that.

I also have that little $14 part that goes on the front bar.
Wind Jammer it's called, and it does work.

You can see it on the left side here.

 

Just buy the fairing. All these companies get you with all the little accesories you need, lock cores, accessory lock mount, etc, but the fairing is a must have.

I put my Yak up a couple weeks ago and thought something was wrong on my way to work in the morning. It occured to me a few seconds later all that noise was the rack, but I had to take it down and carry it around in the truck until I bought the fairing. It was weird the way it was a low end wind.

The downside is the fairing is another $50 or so, but if you're not in a hurry, you could get one used on ebay a lot cheaper I myself had an REI gift cert from xmas still, so I just went ahead and bought it there.

 

You need the faring or you'll be whistling dixie...

 

WHat's the technical name I should search for on Ebay? Also, are they all the same width, because i know the bars come in a variety of widths... i wanna say mine are like 58 or something.

 

ebay searches:
Yakima fairing 38
fairing 38
yakima fairing

You might try mispellings of yakima as well such as "yakma" sometimes you turn up something and nobody finds it and you buy it cheap.

If you have the control towers it's a 38" fairing. The Q towers use a slightly wider one, not sure of the width off hand.

Bill

 

Would a 44" work? Or would it be too wide and should i go with the 38? 44" is less than 4 feet wide... I'm just not sure how this thing even attches to the rack system.

 

Four plastic hooks attach to the fairing with snaps. Then you hook them over the bar, and two of them have a screw and nut that you hand tighten.

I'll take a pic when I get home if I remember of mine. They don't look like the one Jason B posted anymore, they're not just a big rectangle. They sort of have a swoop.

Bill

 

Thanks