I have a Defender 2020 with a Roof Rack. Has anyone felt it is just TOO loud on the highway? Has anyone seen any cool ideas to make it more aerodynamic?
I love the look but I'm thinking of removing it for long drives.
Thanks

 

you can install a custom wind fairing. it will help but you will always have wind noise. most of the noise comes above 65

i took mine off as i was not using it enough. it does look good while on

 

For me it’s just normal because most of not all roof racks make noise. Even cargo boxes on roof rails are noisy. It’s just a trade off if you want them. If you’re not used to it or haven’t had items on a roof before maybe it’s just not for you. It’s simple physics.

 

yes thanks, I've had several but this one on the DFN felt really noisy. I'm going to try an aftermarket air fairing for it. thx!

 

I agree the rack is noisy at highway speeds, coupled with the vehicles aerodynamic profile makes long trips on windy days less than fun. I find it far more noticeable than the Gobi rack I had on my Grand Cherokee.

 

I'm going to install a wind fairing this weekend.

 

It's the exact reason why I use the crossbars instead. Also they are much, much easier to take on/off.

 

Our expedition roof racks are exactly that. They were designed with the idea that an individual might be placing a tyre and wheel up there along with various supplies in cargo boxes (among other things). The noise generated by the roof rack becomes the least of your issues with 125 kg of gear on top. That said, we spent plenty of time optimizing the rack in the wind tunnel and I think the noise is reasonable given the aerodynamic constrains of the vehicle and rack.

If you are not traversing remote areas or strapping serious cargo to your roof I'd encourage you to consider our cross-bar solution. They are intended for most normal situations on the street and are far quieter (and a bit more fuel efficient).

 

Once again, totally agree with @The Insider . He of course comes with the actual manufacturer experience, but this is likely true of any vehicle that has a rack and, worse, gear up there. I don't put fault to JLR about the wind noise with the rack, that's just true of all of them. Anything added to the well tuned body lines will cause friction to mpg and increase in road noise. Once you pack stuff up there like some of the "Off-road Hooligans" (one day I'll create an image/patch/sticker) then you make it worse.