**CLOSED**Front Runner Racks - Group Buy**

I'm located in Orlando

 

I have a question for the people with wind noise after installing their front runner roof rack. I took some measurements yesterday of my roof rack front/back 53 7/16", side/side 49 7/16" and got to thinking about turning the roof rack 90 degrees so that the slats run parallel to the roof/flow of wind going over the cab thus decreasing or even eliminating the wind noise altogether. I know the rack isn't square and may look weird rotated 90 degrees but would be curious as to how it affects the wind noise without using the front runner air dam. I should have tried this out before ordering a Prinsu design full wind fairing which will be here tomorrow and I'm going to start mounting it up next weekend! Anybody willing to try this out and report back with the results?

 

Would the mounting points still line up?
Regardless, I'm skeptical it would reduce a lot. I found major improvement with the air dam pieces with the rack.

 

I believe the mounting points would still line up according to the measurements I took. I have the air dam installed too and my wife still thinks it's too noisy. I have an alternative solution I'm working on at the moment.I hope it ends up working and reducing the wind noise even more than the air dam.

 

all the power to ya. hope it works out.

 

We're you able to mount up the prinsu deflector pretty easily?

 

Not yet. I'm waiting on some aluminum extrusion parts so I can place the wind fairing where I want it so I can mark/drill holes in the front runner side rails..

 

Prinsu wind fairing has been installed. The fairing does not come into contact with the roof of the cab (which is how I wanted it). I know it looks unfinished and it is, I just have a slight whistle to attend to and a few hardware bits to figure out and it will be complete!

 

How much did the fairing on the front run you? Do you have any pictures of your mounting brackets?

 

The fairing was $45 from Zach at Prinsu. I received the fairing with 40" light bar cut out. I think the full fairing would have worked too but would need spacers to push it out more towards the front of the truck so it wouldn't hit the front runner tray due to the angle of the front runner side rails.. I will take pictures of the bracket tomorrow because I have to monkey with it until the whistle is gone..

 

Here are 2 pictures of the backside showing the mounting brackets. I added a 1"X1" piece of aluminum angle to brace the middle section for now so it would keep the fairing from bowing. I had to cut the 25mmx50mm aluminum extrusion so I could make smaller sized brackets to mark my drill points in the front runner siderails. I will post those pictures tomorrow when I have the fairing off.

 

Looks good so far. Notice any difference in gas mileage or performance? Mine catches the wind like a sail at the moment.

 

I haven't driven it enough to notice a difference yet. I felt the same thing you are describing with the standard front runner air dam installed driving at highway speeds.

 

I've thought about removing that air dam but not sure if it will make it worse or not.

If your mod is successful, I might go that route instead.

 

I was thinking of removing the air dam as well but I was bored and wanted to see how it would look/perform with another style of wind deflector. I may order the full fairing from Prinsu later down the road to see how it works..

 

I removed the fairing and made a trip to get a new blade for our miter saw. The diablo blade kicks ass at cutting aluminum! On the way to homedepot I jumped on the interstate to see what would happen without any sort of wind deflector. It was a little quieter than having the airdam installed and there was a loud whistle noise. Those were the only 2 things I noticed.. I finished modifying my fairing for now. No more whistle at all. Haven't had a chance to take it up to highway speed yet! I don't really like the bare aluminum look so I may have it powder coated at a later time...

 

More pictures

 

Those of you that mounted a light bar to the rack ......did this make wind noise worse or better?

 

Wind noise has been decreased by at least 75% while driving at 70mph! I can hear the roof rack making the same amount of noise as the exterior side mirrors it seems. No mpg to report yet!

 

noticed some minor increase from rack with air dam installed. But still less than just rack with no dam