How bad is a roof top carrier?

[Anonymous]

How bad for mileage and pickup is a rooftop carrier? We were given a really long one, and I'd rather just leave it on the roof once I put it up there. Would that be a huge waste of gas? And would it otherwise affect performance? TIA

[Anonymous]

What type of car?

[Anonymous]

Just don’t do a Mitt Romney. Woof!

[Anonymous]

If you’re talking about load bars, like Thule, I’d say it’s not a big impact. If you’re talking about a box I’m sure that would be a bigger impact.
I always removed my bars after use, but I would go months between needing them. Didn’t make sense to leave them on when I wasn’t going to need them for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Just make sure you never have to use a parking garage.

[Anonymous]

It just doesn’t look very prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just doesn’t look very prestigious.

I’m DYING to know what you drive.

Please, do tell!!!!

[Anonymous]

We have a fabric one and not an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just doesn’t look very prestigious.

Lol. What?

[Anonymous]

I'm talking about the clamshell on top. Does it not have a significant effect on the mileage?

[Anonymous]

We use one all winter and I’ve never noticed a major difference, but I don’t know what it would take for me to notice something like that. I drive a lot.

What’s your alternative? Buying a bigger vehicle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use one all winter and I’ve never noticed a major difference, but I don’t know what it would take for me to notice something like that. I drive a lot.

What’s your alternative? Buying a bigger vehicle?

Taking it back off and dragging it inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm talking about the clamshell on top. Does it not have a significant effect on the mileage?

Of course. But we often leave it on for a few weeks (empty) when we're away and don't notice a difference in acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We use one all winter and I’ve never noticed a major difference, but I don’t know what it would take for me to notice something like that. I drive a lot.

What’s your alternative? Buying a bigger vehicle?

Taking it back off and dragging it inside.

It’s not that difficult.

[Anonymous]

How often will you use it? We just got one this summer. Was easy to put on and take off and now that we know where all the holes should line up for the best fit, it’ll be even easier to put on next time. We won’t use it again until Christmas so I can’t imagine leaving it on. Any gas mileage difference wasn’t super noticeable.