Is fairing required with roof box?

[spcamno]

I have a 06 Odyssey with thule crossbars and Ascent 1600 and was wondering will adding a fairing improve fuel economy and or reduce wind noise?

I will be taking a 2200 miles round trip this summer so any input will be greatly appreciated.

[lord of the racks]

Good question. This is something the car rack companies don't do a great job of addressing. Adding a wind fairing to a roof rack system that has a roof box will actually decrease fuel efficiency. I roof fairing directs the air up and if there's a roof box it will be blocked by the box. Instead you want to encourage the air to flow under the box.

A roof rack fairing does reduce the wind noise however. A lot of people have success with wrapping a small bungee cord around the front load bar from end to end in a corkscrew fashion. This will eliminate any wind noise and still allow the cargo box to mount properly. A thin black bungee cord is ideal and no one will even see it. I still don't know why car rack compaines don't make an acessory like this for when a fairing can't be used or when people just don't like the look of the fairing.

[spcamno]

Originally Posted by lord of the racks

Good question. This is something the car rack companies don't do a great job of addressing. Adding a wind fairing to a roof rack system that has a roof box will actually decrease fuel efficiency. I roof fairing directs the air up and if there's a roof box it will be blocked by the box. Instead you want to encourage the air to flow under the box.

A roof rack fairing does reduce the wind noise however. A lot of people have success with wrapping a small bungee cord around the front load bar from end to end in a corkscrew fashion. This will eliminate any wind noise and still allow the cargo box to mount properly. A thin black bungee cord is ideal and no one will even see it. I still don't know why car rack compaines don't make an acessory like this for when a fairing can't be used or when people just don't like the look of the fairing.

Thanks for your reply!

Yeah, this is what I thought too unless the box is so low (impossible) and so far behind that the fairing can actual direct air flow over top of the box otherwise I totally agreed that it will do more damage than good with a roof box.

I understand what you were saying about adding wrapping / twisted bungee cord around the front cross bars but how close between each loop is most effective?

I don't want to go out and get the longer bungee cord and twist the hell out around the front cross bar??

Thanks again

[speakeasy]

No need to go crazy with tight wrapping. 5 -6 should do the trick. It's actually better to space it out.

[spcamno]

Originally Posted by speakeasy

No need to go crazy with tight wrapping. 5 -6 should do the trick. It's actually better to space it out.

Thanks will give it a try!