A roof rack might seem like a great idea for hauling snowboards, luggage, or bikes on your automobile. However, roof racks reduce your car mileage significantly. So is it work it to get the roof rack or is there one more option available?
The roof rack effect
Yes, a roof rack is used to haul a lot of stuff. Merely having an empty roof rack on your car will reduce your mileage by as much as 10 to 12 percent. Your mileage will reduce 20 to 30 percent if you an snowboards, mountain bike, skis, rooftop box, or kayak to the roof rack. Your Prius could now be a gas guzzler.
Other places to haul your stuff
Hauling stuff on your roof rack reduces your gas mileage. That doesn’t mean you can give up hauling gear. So how do we work with this mpg situation? You’ve a couple of different opportunities.
A rear-mounted rack
For bicycles and smaller items, mounting a rack on the back of your car may be your best option. Over a roof rack, this could improve your gas mileage by 10 percent and nevertheless provides many hauling space. Rear mounted racks work on station wagons, hatchbacks, and sedans.
An aerodynamic trailer
You may really improve your miles per gallon with a well intended trailer. The hit you take can be much smaller.
Rent a different automobile
The best gas mileage comes from hauling your gear on the interior of a automobile. It can be financially easier to just rent a car that is big enough to haul every little thing. You can very easily spend less to rent at $ 10 to $ 20 a day.
