better mpg?

[Field Scout]

Not sure if its from the change in gas formula for summer or that I took my roof basket off so Hummer could replace the plastic roof trim but I've seen a 2.5 mpg increase since dumping the basket. If this keeps up I may have to get something custom done to hold the highlift and pull pal on the back gate out of the wind anyone out there running 33's and no roof basket getting 17 to 17.25 mpg or am I lucky all of the sudden

[evldave]

I was getting 17-19mpg (city/highway) before I put my roof rack on. With an automatic! It was great, but now that I have the roof rack I'm down to 13-16mpg. I don't have a fairing, when I get around to putting one on, I imagine it will get a little better. Sounds like you are right in line w/my experience.

[Desert Dan]

I have a defender rack w/o a fairing and I get some wind noise (not bad kind of runmble) above 65 mph so I know there is some drag. I haven't really compared the mileage lately.

I should make a fairing for the front of the rack and that might help with mpg and wind noise.

Yakima, Thule and teh Xterra rack s have fairings.

The rack is kind of hard to take off so I'll leave it on for a while.

[wannabeH3]

jeez ive never had it that good i got the lux offroad automatic 33's and i get 13-14. maybe cuz my heads cracked

[H3slate]

I have a yakima gear basket and was getting around 14 mpg with it on. I took it off recently and the mpg jumped up to 16.

I'm sticking with my OEM rack.

[wpage]

I like running with extra loops and tie my stuff right to the roof. Getting avg 18 mpg. Now have 8 loops on my roof rails. 4 on each side with mini lamps to keep drag down as well with a cold air ram under 3" mod. If I keep it slow getting closer to 19 mpg.
Got some of the 3m tape for the high points on the roof for when the heavy things are on. Keeps the scuffing under control. Works for me. Especially when the low branches are flying by.