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Subject:Re: ~2mpg reduction in fuel economy: confirmed when sporting a roof rack.
From:Chris S.
Date:Wed, 7 Dec 2011 22:23:04 -0500

I use a small enclosed trailer built up in a 40x48 inch Chinese kit.  Cheap in the long run, keeps the weight off the van chassis, and I even got pretty good at backing up with the thing. 

Chris.

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Dnia Dec 5, 2011 o godz. 11:51 Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> napisał(a):

>   I posted recently that with a Quick n Easy roof rack with 2X4 cross bars
> on my tin top Vanagon, I noticed a significant reduction in gas mileage.
> Between   jobs, I popped off the rack and my fuel consumption returned to
> it's normal level of ~23mpg.   Then,  I found some more work and put the
> rack back on, for two tankfuls...again dropped to just below 21mpg.  Then,
> two more tankfulls,  but  with the rack again sitting in my shop, not on
> the van's roof...back to 23 mpg, +/-.
> 
>  Some will say "so what?  What's a few miles per gallon difference
> anyhow?"   Well, I was just budgeting for my annual "trip to the dentist"
> this winter....to the desert Southwest near Yuma, Az.   It's about 3000
> miles round trip from near Portland, Oregon.  I will be able to go 460
> miles further at the 'no rack' fuel consumption rate.  Roughly $100 bucks
> in savings on gas costs.  That will pay for  a tooth-filling (+) at the
> dentist there in Algodones, BC, or a couple of sets of eyeglasses..The way
> things are right now for us 99ers, every expense that can be avoided is
> important...so a few mile per gallon better gas mileage does make a
> difference.  The Quick n Easy  racks do go on quickly and easily with the
> flip of cam-type levers...
>  Don Hanson

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