anb957

Picture after a recent snowshoe trip to Winter Park, CO.
200 miles RT with average MPG of 26.2.
4 adults, 2 kids in child seats, and the hitch rack. This thing is awesome!

neynhoj

Nice! I been considering getting a hitch rack/bike carrier combo.

anb957

if you look closely you will see that it is a standard hitch cargo carrier with a thule roof rack clamped to it. It can carry bikes, skies, cargo box all in the transverse orientation.

The benefit over roof rack is that it does not affect Cd and hence fuel economy.

StevethePilot

Making the assumption that CD == coefficient of drag, how is that possible? It's hanging something that will cause drag out of the back of the vehicle, simply because it will be in the slipstream, no? Or is it like when you're "drafting" (either in NASCAR or behind a semi on the freeway) that it gets free slip because it's so close to the vehicle it's behind?

It's pretty slick looking, I'll say that - though it seems awfully far out from the back of the truck!

anb957

Steve...
It does stick out a bit--I put a 7" extension on it to clear the hatchback swing. However, with airmatic the rear suspension does not deflect and when driving I did not even notice it was there.

It does of course obstruct parktronic as well as the rear view camera.

As for the Cd, it probably has a small effect but nothing like a roof rack. As you suggested, that location is a low pressure zone in any SUV or wagon just as on a semi truck and I doubt it has any significant impact on drag force.

I have put many miles on an Audi A4 Avant with this rack (without the 7" extension) and could not document any mileage loss.

neynhoj

anb, did you get the 60" or 48" wide? i'm thinking the 60 might be too wide...

anb957

this one is 48"

SFML320

anb957, where do you get the hitch cargo carrier and do you know what's the weight limit?

dieseldoc

I like it. I need to get one. Where did you get it?

anb957

I bought the 1.25" cargo carrier from www.etrailer.com as well as the converter from 2" to 1.25". The Thule rack that clamped to the cargo carrier is designed for cars with roof gutters. I bought this used so I have no info on it.

anb957

200lbs weight limit

SFML320

anb957, do you get the parking sensor warning (4 led warning on the dash) whenever you come to a stop? It would cycle a couple of times before the system automatically turns off the sensors.

I always thought only the front sensors work in drive. So I assume to avoid this is to plug in the trailer light?

Btw, I went with the CarPod so I can carry the kids' bike, wagon, and everything else.