Roof rack essentials: dos and don’ts

When you want to carry a variety of bulky items but don’t have a huge truck to get the job done, you shouldn’t lose hope. Your car can be equipped with roof racks and in most cases it may already come with one pre-installed. The set of bars installed on the roof of the car can carry luggage, kayaks, bicycles, skis and much more. These accessories can work miracles for you if you don’t have the space inside your car to fit a huge container. Check out some questions you should find answers to:

1. Are they compatible with my car?

2. Can I easily remove it?

3. Are the roof racks noisy?

4. Is it easy to install?

Here are a couple of shopping tips to help you get the best deals. See the list below for more information:

Decide what you’re going to use them for – Roof racks are versatile and are used for a variety of purposes. They can be used for commercial or recreational transportation tasks. Regardless of the type of vehicle you have, you should always consider the type of use you have in mind to better plan the type of accessories to obtain.

Decide what type of restraint you will use: Selecting the type of luggage rack for a vehicle is not judged by size alone. There are a few things to consider. This includes considering existing attachment points where the rack could be attached. If there are no pre-drilled holes, you can go for the types that hook onto car doors.

However, installing a roof rack also comes with a few caveats. Despite some minor problems you may run into, there are solutions for each one. Are the roof bars making noise? The short answer is yes. As the vehicle travels at faster speeds, roof racks, because of how they are located and designed, tend to cause hum or hiss. However, some simple designs or tricks will make the sound disappear.

To get rid of that annoying hiss that your setup generates when your car picks up speed, try tying a bungee cord in a spiral pattern around the front crossbar. This generally eliminates the sound. You do not have to fully wrap the crossbar, just a few turns will do. You can also install fairings to reduce wind resistance and eliminate noise. Also, check to see if the end caps of the crossbars have come off and if your setup allows you to easily remove the grates, remove them when not in use. This eliminates noise and saves fuel.

Decide on a modular or complete configuration – some configurations come in one package. However, these systems will not allow you to change another part of any third-party brand. You’re lucky if you can find out. However, the most preferred are the modular variants. Most car owners like this option mainly because it is almost everywhere. Different pieces can be found and bought at different outlets. It is easier to find and can be modified to suit your needs. If you’re constantly carrying different items, you should go for a modular setup so that you can easily swap out accessories when you need to.