PrInSu Design Studio Roof Racks BS Thread

Im also curious about reason for the switch to the current style fairing. Was the larger fairing with the unbroken windshield curve noisy? Or was it a production cost move?

Just trying to figure whats causing the current noise I have.

 

The side rails are different shapes for all three different style of the fairings that I have seen. The shape of the front edge of the side rail dictates where the wind fairing will sit and in turn dictates the shape of the fairing to make it match the windshield.

 

I've got a LeerXQ. Zero issues with Zach's product:




And I wheel the hell out of it while it's up there too...

 

Sorry guys. I have been out of town for a week and am just getting some time to go through questions and give responses. I will try to hurry.

 

I have had my toprac and tent on two shells now. Neither were commercial models, both were fine. Althought the commercial models are a bit stronger and reinforced, there really isn't much difference in the roof. The reinforcement is actually in the sides and is there primarily because the commercial models usually have big tool bins as an option built into the sides. Yes that reinforcement helps the overall capacity of the shell but its not like the roof itself has more reinforcement. Most shells nowadays come with the honeycomb roof. If you have that don't worry about it at all. Even if you don't I wouldn't be too worried. Plenty of people do it and it works just fine. Xoverland has been doing it for years now.

 

1. Unfortunately I don't have everything in one place. The original post has a table of contents that has various links but I haven't updated it for awhile so it isn't complete. I have a lot of stuff in the works as far as resources, instructions, tutorials, FAQs but it is a slow process getting them all done with the time I have.

2. I can definitely work out something with you. When the time comes, get in touch with me and we can settle on something. Since you bought with the group buy and the new taller rails will be custom a straight swap wouldn't be completely fair but we can work out some sort of deal.

3. The wind deflector has been in a constant state of change as you can probably see by the various models out there. I started with a straight rectangle piece in the beginning. This worked ok but I wanted something that looked a little better and was a little tighter fitting. So I redid the side rails to bring the rack further to the front and drop it down closer to the windshield and then the curved deflector came into play. It stayed like this for awhile until I made a custom on for my truck with cutouts purely for style. When I noticed no change in wind noise on my truck, I started considering adding them to all deflectors purely for aesthetics. Wind noise has always been very subjective and varies greatly. Some people say it is awful, some people say it isnt bad and some people just don't say anything. So I go off my truck and try to be as picky as possible and make things that are adjustable. With the cut corners you will see that the wind deflector can be moved up and down without the edges sticking out past the side rails in the front or on top. If the deflector didn't have these and was a solid arc along the bottom, it couldn't be adjusted without sticking out and looking bad. I decided that since I wasn't seeing any added noise, that the adjustability and aesthetics of the cutouts were a worthwhile change.

It doesn't save me any money. If it does it is pennies and at the scale I am producing these, it is negligible.

If you guys are experiencing bad noise, play around with the deflector. Move it up and down and try tilting the angle slightly by only using one machine screw per side to hold it in place. 4 is ideal so the deflector can't move but two are all that is needed if properly tightened. I have used 2 a few times just trying things out and haven't had any problems.

The rack is meant to be as adjustable as possible while still being custom. I know there are others out there that say certain other racks have "no" noise. I have seen reviews on a variety of racks and the story is always the same. Some say no noise, some say some noise, and some don't say anything at all.

The noise will also vary greatly depending on what you carry. I have found that when my rack is loaded with low profile objects it actually seems quieter than when empty. Guessing that is due to the lack of turbulence across the bars. My hope is that each person can set-up their rack in way that fits their needs and then adjust the wind deflector for ideal conditions.

 

The only thing I have ever used is the ski-snowboard holder as mentioned below. I actually have been conceptually playing with a rod case similar to big sky's case but am still trying to figure out how to make it cost effective.

 

$25 unless you purchase with a lightbar and then I typically do a package deal.

 

get louder tires or exhaust...problem solved

 

The xtra-cab model is done. Working on posting up details soon. The double cab model is still in the works.

 

Yeah, for awhile my KM2s took care of any noise coming from anywhere on the truck. Now my ST Maxxs allow me to be more critical.

 

Thanks! PM incoming for a quote!

 

Aw sheeeeett! can't wait for the details! Probably get one next year after the bumper

 

I have also noticed that it is quieter with stuff actually loaded on the rack, I had a couple of very large surfboard " coffins " that hold 4-5 boards per bag ( bags are 2ft wide x 8ft long ) on the rack and it made less noise then the empty rack. My assumption is the square edges of the cross bars are what make the noise I am hearing because when I remove the deflector completely the wind noise on the exposed cross bars above approx 35 mph is so bad it is comical

 

Do you think it is the front edge of the bar that is making the noise? If so what about a aerodynamically shaped wing that could attach on the hd bars in the front slot?

 

I would venture to say that the noise comes from the channels in the bars themselves. Similar affect as blowing across the top of your beer bottle. That would explain why it is quiter when the rack is loaded. Someone on here has a piece of plexiglass mounted to the top. I would be curious as to the difference in decibels between the plastic on or off.

 

@DoorDing has a platform on his rack. Getting a good read with a decibel meter may be tough though.

 

This would be good but I wonder if it would help. I had the thule xporter before and it has an aerodynamic shape with an extrusion slot in front, it whistled like crazy though unless the slots had the rubber strip in them. Even then, if the bars were above the cab I could hear them.

 

I refuse to put anything aerodynamic on my truck, I have around 6" lift, 35" tires, shell, bumpers front and rear etc etc etc over 5K lbs and I'm about as aerodymanic as a toaster... actually my toaster is clearly more aerodynamic than my truck - no sense in bucking the trend now

 

With you shell you actually gain quite a bit of aerodynamics. But I dp understand what you are saying as I too am running 35's on a 6in.

But this is in reference to isolating noise not for fuel efficiency.