What size Thule wind fairing....

Anyone using a Thule roof rack and have a fairing?

Looking into a thule wind fairing for their rack system and curious what size looks best on a 2005+ Tacaoma. This is my second thule rack, first time around I went with the fit guide suggestion size and ended up having to buying a longer one that looked better.

What size fairing are you guys using? Any pics?

 

I can't remember what size it is..probably the one that was recommended.
I bought it at Rack Warehouse locally. Pics are the day it was put on Apr2007.
Its been on since. Every truck I owned has had a thule rack.



An older one that shows the back of the fairing

 

Forgot what size but definately larger than spec one. I have a custum rack and it looks more proportional.

Evan if I had spec thule or yak rak I think I would want the longer one.

 

the idea of the fairing is to guide the wind over and around the load bars and towers therefore reducing wind noise (in most cases) and increasing aerodynamic flow. in the case of the tacoma with its 50" roof width, the 52" fairing is the proper size. nicp got it right. sorry mom. ya got shorted by the man yet again. as ya can see in the pic below, some vehicles will not allow the use of a full width fairing. often factory roof racks get in the way as it did on my passat.

some users have found the fairing increases wind noise rather than reducing it and prefer to take the relitively small hit on mpgs so their ears survive the trip. im not sure why some do and others dont but its likely it has to do with the windshield and fairing angle or height of the towers. my old passat had no such issue but it mileage still sucked even with a empty rack. given i stayed below 70mph, a loaded 4 tray rack gave me about 19 on average (same with 3 bikes and the box), empty saw roughly 21, high 20's and sometimes low 30's without the rack installed.

 

Wind fairing definately helps reduce NOISE, probably primary reason for getting one. The increase in frontal volume decreases mileage fractionaly compared to thule/yakima bars only, but the noise can be substantial. The other reason to get one is aesthetics.


Like he said. a rack addition will be substantial in decrease MPG and increases exponentially with increase in speed.

 

quite true. its imperitive you cover yer fairing in bitchin stickers!

 

I don't feel I got shorted at all, or yet again
The OP asked for input & pics. I did not realize it was right or wrong but hey thanks for clearing that up

 

these are jokes people! relax and laugh a bit. its good for the soul.

im just a old man in a young smartass's body, mom. dont read too much into it or take me too seriously. if it ever sounds sketchy, chances are im just poking fun.

 

Cool...I didn't know ..now I do and feel like an
I'm sorry & thanks for letting me know usually I take things in a joking manner.
So....I take back my sarcasm. We good?

 

we bitchin!

 

BUMP Im trying to decide what size to get

 

FYI
post #2 = 44"
Post #3 = 52"

 

I went with 44”. IMHO 52” would look wrong. And Thule recommends the 44” for these Toyota models.

 

Back when I had my Yakima rack, 44" was the right size for it. 38" is for OEM rack and 52" likely will have fitment issues with the Q-towers.

 

I also assume that when Thule did engineering and wind tunnel tests, that the results are used in their sizing recommendations.