roof racks -- time to say goodbye?

I removed the cross bars on my Forester, it helped MPG a little bit. I never considered the rails down each edge, they seemed not to block much wind. (Forester cross bars were shaped like wings,)

 

It is my "opinion" people that purchase SUVs like the RAV4 know it comes with a roof rack and that is figured into their decision...mpg not being the primary concern. 2018 Toyota RAV4 Crossover SUV | The right choice for any adventure. We have a 2017 RAV4 Limited Hybrid which was the compromise.

 

Speed is the main factor here; probably common knowledge. Wind drag ~ third power of velocity or some such.

Keep 'er under 40 mph and Prius can get 80 mpg with a legal file cabinet on the roof. Yeah I did that (cab was priced very low).

 

I'm thinking that the UC Berkley study was for racks that were actually being employed.

My principle ride is either my pickemuptruck (09) or a GMC Envoy (06) and the latter came with roof mounted luggage racks as standard equipment. This I know because IIRC it was a bone stock base model, and I never buy vehicles from dealers who put their own aftermarket junk on cars.

I removed the bars from the rack because (a) they added to the wind noise and (b) I always considered them to be extra-redundant since waaaaaaaay back in 2006 they used to make SUVs and they had and have adequate towing capabilities as well as sufficient cargo space.
I just never saw the need for the luggage rack, but they're a cheap add-on and I still run across the bars every now and again when I'm rummaging around in the shed looking for something ELSE I stashed away a dozen years ago.

Today's drivers are more concerned with fuel efficiency, and people who make cars are more concerned with that too.......and also profit margins, which is why SUV's are starting to be replaced by cross-overs (cars dressed up like a truck.)

Since only people on reality TV shows have large families these days, x-overs with third row seating is car-speak for:
There's sufficient interior room for your junk, otherwise....please feel free to use the receiver hitch that we bolted to the car to make it look more like a truck.

Markets respond.

 

I no longer needed my 3/4 ton, V10 full length pickemuptruck with camper and tow pkgs which I eventually replaced with a 2010 Prius...w/rcvr. BUT the MiniVans and full sized SUV's w/rcvrs and racks were needed for the kids, their friends, team-mates, band members, fellow scouts, Christmas, Thanksgiving, family reunions,ect... Now that they are grown, the Wife's RAV4 (car, cross-over, whatever) has replaced them, but it has a roof rack and tow pkg...which are used. My 2015 Prius the Son has been using in College Part II will come back to me this week when he returns home (very briefly) with his BS and a job. The 2010 Prius will likely be traded in for "his first very own"...a used Tundra due to his profession.

My point is...different needs, different options, different vehicles.

 

I never saw too severe MPG loss until I put a box or canoe on there. With a box on there, the MPG loss can be dramatic 10-15 MPG loss on a Prius.

 

Try pulling a loaded trailer. Knocked my mpg almost in half.