Thule cross bars are LOUD!!

[Airjunky]

Junky,

The hitch mounts make the skis VERY dirty from all the debris flying about. If you use a rear hitch, you must wrap/cover the skiis first!!! I will take the noise.

I understand your concerns but you asked for a resolution to your issue and a hitch rack will solve it. I've have roof mount racks and hitch mount racks and use them both depending on application. But the ML being as noisy as it is and as tall as it is really isn't suited for a roof rack. Windscreens may help but often make the situation worse and may take hours or days of tinkering to get the right positioning and angle.

[ccweems]

I just installed Thule crossbars in preparation for a ski rack and the noise at over 40 mph is loud. Any ideas or suggestions about this situation would be appreciated. I would like to avoid the free advertising of Thule by using their windscreen.

Stewart

My '89 Taurus didn't make any noise from the roof rack. Agreed though, if MB supplies roof rails they ought to provide quiet cross bars to go with them. Maybe they wanted too but couldn't make them work. Somebody decided that rather than fix the problem lets' leave them off! Problem solved.

[UniquelySanFrancisco]

[Benz4Dirt&Sky]

Now this has got to take the prize for most ridiculous complaint.

IF YOU PUT A RACK ON TOP OF YOUR CAR IT WILL MAKE NOISE.

Oval cross bars will surely cut down some of the noise. Guess what. They don't accept the myriad of attachments that you may want.

Life is about trade-offs.

I LOVE the noise my rack makes above 40MPH. It sounds like VICTORY.

[Stewart]

[quote]
Now this has got to take the prize for most ridiculous complaint.

IF YOU PUT A RACK ON TOP OF YOUR CAR IT WILL MAKE NOISE.

Oval cross bars will surely cut down some of the noise. Guess what. They don't accept the myriad of attachments that you may want.

Life is about trade-offs.

I LOVE the noise my rack makes above 40MPH. It sounds like VICTORY.

Thank you very little for the negative comments. I was merely saying that my previous two Jeep Grand Cherokees with factory racks made NO noise and the much more expensive MB product makes a ton of noise. Go figure??
Remember what your mama said, if you have nothing positive to say, keep it to yourself. These forums are here to help with perceived problems, not to voice your ridiculous opinions.

Stewart

PS Do you really like the noise??????

[Airjunky]

[quote]

Now this has got to take the prize for most ridiculous complaint.

IF YOU PUT A RACK ON TOP OF YOUR CAR IT WILL MAKE NOISE.

Oval cross bars will surely cut down some of the noise. Guess what. They don't accept the myriad of attachments that you may want.

Life is about trade-offs.

I LOVE the noise my rack makes above 40MPH. It sounds like VICTORY.

Thank you very little for the negative comments. I was merely saying that my previous two Jeep Grand Cherokees with factory racks made NO noise and the much more expensive MB product makes a ton of noise. Go figure??
Remember what your mama said, if you have nothing positive to say, keep it to yourself. These forums are here to help with perceived problems, not to voice your ridiculous opinions.

Stewart

PS Do you really like the noise??????

Do you think you can really fool yourself into thinking that JGC racks generate no noise at all? Could it be that the engine noise and soundproofing in that car was so bad that it obscured your rack noise. If you want no noise, put the stuff inside, put it on the hitch, or don't carry it at all. There is no miracle roof mount rack system that generates no noise. Cars that come with factory crossbars, like the JGC, give the illusion of lower noise because you've never experienced the car without the crossbars on. There is a reason why MB chose to not install the cross bars.

Last piece of advice - wrap your entire head in some flexible foam insulation when you drive. This should cut out 100% of all noise, once you get past the initial impact of the crash and your car stops moving.

[tsanjose]

firstly your initial complaint was about the thule cross bars, not the oem mb ones. i dont think you should be comparing your jeep with your ml cause you're not making sense. secondly, my original suggestion was to get a fairing. it's a must when adding cross bars...

now can you see why there's so much hostility towards you?

[Stewart]

If anyone has any intelligent comments to make, PLEASE jump in at any time. Jeez guys, I only asked a question!!!!!!
[:(!]

[tsanjose]

get a fairing, make sure it spans most of the way across the front bars only. trust me, it'll stop most if not all of the noise...

[Stewart]

I will probably just get the fairing and make my life simple. I am not stirring trouble, just making a point that I expected more from MB.
[:D]