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Maybe heathen (wife agrees) but the rack can come in handy. Very fast to remove and install. I added slats to help stabilize the load and did the same for AZS2KDancer.
For some bulky items (inflatable kayak or camping equipment/chairs/tents) the rack is great.
That rack with the enhanced red oak slats made by Cosmo for me, has come in handy on several trips. I'm glad that is is removable, so it can be stored away when not on extended trips. It sure is a nice addition when you need to carry more than can fit in the trunk. My tape on the inside of the latch hooks is wearing away, yet replacement tape is available for a minimal charge, I lost the center top hook on my last trip, and again the replacement was easily supplied by Surco.
I concur that for certain types of trips this can be quite handy. I did ponder it for a bit before I embarked on my trip but thought it would draw too much attention and perhaps even affect performance. When you put a big load up on the back how does it feel or handle when going say, 110 MPH?
The few times that I have used the rack, I have been under the total weight allowance. I never notice any handling issues while on the Interstate highways, and it was unloaded for canyon runs, etc. While it was on and unloaded, I did not notice any difference in handling. I would not leave in on if doing track days or autocross. It's used for temporary purposes, and while I've left mine on for 6 months, it is coming off tomorrow. I'm sure that there is some wind resistance while it is on, loaded or unloaded, and that will result in some disturbance to the air flow. I've not been at 110 mph on the highways with it on. 100 maybe. I didn't notice a thing.
I have not noticed any handling issues. The biggest load I had (spare tire-actually the rear) with the tire on the rack as in the picture because the trunk was full of stuff as my wife and I were on a 2 week trip to Oregon and Washington. With the spare on the front, passenger, and loaded truck with spare on the rack, I was not about to start a high performance test run.
My only complaint is the rear view through the window is obscured with a lot of gear on the rack. You also need to be careful not to slam the trunk lid with the rack loaded.
I put one on the drivers side filled with 5 shirts. It fit, yet I had to move the seat up one notch. The bottom folds up, like shown in the pictures online. It's actually a sturdy piece of garment bag luggage, with a slot that lets it slide onto the handle of a wheeled carry-on suitcase when it's folded up.
02-15-2019, 09:09 AM
