I posted recently that with a Quick n Easy roof rack with 2X4 cross bars on my tin top Vanagon, I noticed a significant reduction in gas mileage. Between jobs, I popped off the rack and my fuel consumption returned to it's normal level of ~23mpg. Then, I found some more work and put the rack back on, for two tankfuls...again dropped to just below 21mpg. Then, two more tankfulls, but with the rack again sitting in my shop, not on the van's roof...back to 23 mpg, +/-. Some will say "so what? What's a few miles per gallon difference anyhow?" Well, I was just budgeting for my annual "trip to the dentist" this winter....to the desert Southwest near Yuma, Az. It's about 3000 miles round trip from near Portland, Oregon. I will be able to go 460 miles further at the 'no rack' fuel consumption rate. Roughly $100 bucks in savings on gas costs. That will pay for a tooth-filling (+) at the dentist there in Algodones, BC, or a couple of sets of eyeglasses..The way things are right now for us 99ers, every expense that can be avoided is important...so a few mile per gallon better gas mileage does make a difference. The Quick n Easy racks do go on quickly and easily with the flip of cam-type levers... Don Hanson |
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