I got everything from the local hardware store. Ace i think. the rubber strip was 11$from napa auto parts, its called door edging and comes in chrome or black.
This is really great. We have a roof-top tent on top of our Subaru Outback and it really is a drag on the mileage. We're actually looking at finally going on a trip with it and I really want to do something like this before we go. The distance between the top of the windshield and where the roof tent starts is about 18 in though so that are damn will have to be quite large. I don't really care what it looks like actually I want just to be functional and I don't want it to blow off. Thanks for the ideas.
I have purchased the same materials and I can see why the aluminum braces are needed because the 0.100" Plexiglas is so flexible and needs stiffened. I am planning on working to get the front part of the wind fairing to be conformal to the roof as you did. My fairing goes out a foot from the cross bars so it will be pretty large when done. I am not going to be able to knock this out in 3 hours as I have a knee replacement last week so I can only work an hour or so couple times a day but I am excited to do this project. I too tried the Thule and other manufacturers but they all left me wanting as nothing was custom. Thanks again great job...
your welcome. couple things i learned... take your time. this project took a lot of planning but i assembled and painted it in one night...use thicker plexi. the thin stuff flexes too much and vibed some paint off...plastidip is your friend
Well my fairing install went well however I made the mistake of taking it through a car wash and it broke both corners off the fairing since I used Optix 0.10" and isn't that strong. I have a great template now and will get some 0.20" which will take care of the strength issue. I originally used zip ties then switched to Adele clamps as in what the original poster used. I am going to stay with the zip ties I found them very good to work with and will have plenty of strength. It will certainly survive a car wash now. Great DIY I used 90% of the ideas in this video......
Looks pretty decent and curves that roof well for better wind deflection. I feel a bit inspired just have to figure out what to use as my cross bar clamps because they are bigger, oval.
Hi from the UK. I love what you have done.Very well made, I have a serious wind noise problem.(Roof rack not me)hehe!! I've got to have a go at your idea.You should patent it. Thanks again Dave.
Did mine last year with some mounting hardware which I got from the local bolts and nuts store, while the plastic sheet was from a window maker, then painted it black and applied some copy cat decals.
Wind Drag is a Drag Altamonte Springs, Fla. (May 12, 2020 8:40 a.m.) -- Man, I wasn’t expecting the drop in performance after putting roof racks on my ford transit hi top. At 60 mph it’s like driving underwater resistance against the van, and acceleration is impacted as well. I didn’t thing about the material either regarding weight and aerodynamics with the four heavy gauge 2 inch square bars. Did manage to install it successfully though, and will post that video when produced. It was rather plug and play for installation. But tedious and methodical. So I now have the two issues of weight and wind resistance streamlining to deal with which brought me to your video regarding the wind resistance issue. My first impulse was to remove the racks and return them while looking for the perfect alternate - which really doesn’t exist in terms of value in light of how the aluminum racks are more expensive for a quality setup. And forget about Aluminumees brand. What? $2,500 and up? I have noticed specific aluminum based racks which will fit a ford transit 250 2018, but the prices are more.P than what I paid for the ones I have now already mounted. So maybe it’s in order to design custom materials to make it work from here. I thought of just absorbing the cost of the heavy cross bars, scraping those or maybe seeing if the seller can swap them out for aluminum versions if they exist. But shipping back and forth, etc. You get the picture. In that respect, acquisition of replacement 2 inch aluminum, 60” bars, seem to be about $35 each or so x 4 bars. My mounting approach will be to measure them to fit inside the brackets and not on top of the brackets like bookends. I may be able to invert the square U brackets used for over the bracket mounting, by placing them under the bracket support which seems to have enough clearance still rising about six or so inches above the roof.. My need for the racks were not necessarily to hole weight, but more for supporting me accessing the roof to mount and maintain light weight accessories for off grid applications like solar panels, antennas, perimeter lights, security cameras, etc.. Learning as I go. Had to make this mistake to start working on the solution. Your video is helpful because it applies DIY fortitude and motivation which helps us with similar issues grapple with and push through our related challenges. Thanks. Ref. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gtcsS5foO9g.html
only thing I can't seem to find is the aluminum stock all I can find is stainless steal brace and I think that will be to heavy for the plexiglass. any suggestions?
Christian Castillo, work with what your comfortable with. Looking back, steel might have been an option for added strength I had not considered. Try another hardware store?
@@BarbarianElite btw- I have since replaced this peice with a straight cut help off the actual roof.labout an inch. Primary reason is installed in a newer escape with a sunroof.
Did this improve your fuel mileage? I have taken a 2- 2 1/2 mpg hit with my Rocky Road Outfitters Rack and hope this fairing will help get back some mileage....
Learning About Generators I have noticed only a drop in mpg if I only have the bars on with no fairing. I've taken the complete setup off several times to go through the wash and over the winter, no noticable mpg drop with the fairing on. Im getting 20-23mpg 2011 Escape Limited awd
Greg Ward- it's worked wonderfully! No noise at all. No flapping (unless you go through a carwash) I built it because of the whistling from the bars by themselves. Still have it.
The idea sounds good, just need to speak up or get a better mic. Have the volueme turned all the way up and can't hear you very well. Can't watch the entire video because of it.
Cultus Mechanicus i know this is three years later.. it people do still read the comments as I am here. So to answer the question of “how to get the curve right” that is where the cardboard he used comes in. You get up on the roof and make a template to create the perfect fit to your roof curve.
My name isn't Jesus. Oh and btw I didn't make the video for people who have an abundance of knowledge or have power tools at the ready. Thanks for your comment tho.
