Roof Racks and MPG

cocruiser

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๐Ÿ“› Founding Member
Sep 6, 2024
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Colorado
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2024 Land Cruiser
Hello all. I have a LC edition with a little over 1,000 miles on. It's all stock with the stock roof rack. I am considering upgrading to a roof rack from Prinsu or Westcott Designs (I am also open to other suggestions), and I am curious about how it will affect my MPG. I am currently getting 22-27mpg depending on the type of driving I am doing. Has anybody changed their roof rack and noticed a real impact on MPG? Thanks!
 
I'm getting about 23 around town with our prototype 7/8 rack and the pictured items on top of it. Nitto Ridge Grapplers for the tires also being a bit more aggressive tread.

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Funny thing: I have about 900 miles on my LC and have been getting 20 mpg. I replaced the standard FE roof rack with the Sherpa full roof rack and immediately saw the mileage change to 22+ mpg. So, there you go, change to a full roof rack and increase your mileage by 10%! Proof!

Ok, I have no idea why the mileage changed, but it did truthfully change immediately after changing the roof rack. Others have mentioned mileage increases at round 1k miles for some reason so maybe that occurred. Or it's just my clean living.
 
Theres lots of secret sauce around this forum. 23 mpg around town?? LOL
To elaborate, I have a 15 mile commute every day, its a mix of 55 mph highway and traffic. I'm averaging right around 22.7 over 3,000 miles. I dont know what other people are doing with their drives that they aren't getting that.
 
To elaborate, I have a 15 mile commute every day, its a mix of 55 mph highway and traffic. I'm averaging right around 22.7 over 3,000 miles. I dont know what other people are doing with their drives that they aren't getting that.
I do 16 miles commute daily, mostly freeway at 65 mph in eco mode, no roof rack and im lucky to see 21 mpg. And I hyper-mile in the in town part. Sorry for sarcasm but 23 mpg in town is obviously not reality, but I see you clarified your scenario
 
Ok, I have no idea why the mileage changed, but it did truthfully change immediately after changing the roof rack. Others have mentioned mileage increases at round 1k miles for some reason so maybe that occurred. Or it's just my clean living.
Anecdotally speaking, it could be that the Land Cruiser has a programmed 'break-in' mode that kicks off around 1000 miles on the odometer. Several have noted such a possibility, and I know from my experience that somewhere around 950 miles my LCP started using the hybrid motor differently (i.e. more often). I'm still nowhere near 20mpg average (high 17s), though have seen >20 on several legs now.
 
To elaborate, I have a 15 mile commute every day, its a mix of 55 mph highway and traffic. I'm averaging right around 22.7 over 3,000 miles. I dont know what other people are doing with their drives that they aren't getting that.

I guess you did say "around" town, and not "in" town. ๐Ÿ˜‚

The secret to ultra low MPG is to have lots of short drives in town.
 
I do 16 miles commute daily, mostly freeway at 65 mph in eco mode, no roof rack and im lucky to see 21 mpg. And I hyper-mile in the in town part. Sorry for sarcasm but 23 mpg in town is obviously not reality, but I see you clarified your scenario
Idk I am at 1600 total miles LC edition and the first 1k was averaging 22.7 in town, almost no driving on highway it was 95 percent 25-45mph roads with stop lights every half mile or so. Then I went on a road trip for 500 miles at 80-85mph and that road trip averaged 18.5 (pretty heavy winds).

I havenโ€™t finished a full tank since returning from that road trip so have not manually calculated again but mpg seems like itโ€™s gonna be back in mid to high 22s. i never use eco or sport mode and I am running stock tires at 40 psi (came from the dealer like this and ride was good enough I havenโ€™t bothered to lower to recommended psi)

I think enough people have had both low mpg experiences and experiences similar to mine to suggest something is going on or different.
 
To elaborate, I have a 15 mile commute every day, its a mix of 55 mph highway and traffic. I'm averaging right around 22.7 over 3,000 miles. I dont know what other people are doing with their drives that they aren't getting that.
Just the factory rails and crossbars for me, but very similar commute, with very similar results - 22.66 MPG, just about 2250 miles.
 
I was getting 22-24 consistently with a mix of city & highway (after about 1800 miles).

After installing my Westcott rack and doing mostly highway drives I am between 20-22. I still have to install the side molle panel. I don't think that will affect it too much empty but I'm expecting that with rotopax containers it will drop 1-2 mpgs.
 
Me, LFD Off Road. It bolts to the factory holes. We have a few options now and working on more.
I like 7/8 roof rack size. Looks way better in style, proportion compare to full size.
The oem 3/4 roof rack of FE looks great, but 7/8 is better
 
Me, LFD Off Road. It bolts to the factory holes. We have a few options now and working on more.
 
With Wescott being in my backyard here in AZ , they have a good rack and no shipping costs , so I thought my rack choice was going to be easy. But you are making it harder :) Nice racks.
 
I have a prinsu full length roof rack with an ARB Esperance RTT. I have driven nearly 18,000km with the RTT and is reporting 12.3 L/100km avg. That's close to 20mpg and with factory tires. I'm switching up tires soon I think to KO3 with higher pressure and see how that affects MPG. Can't believe how long I've had the factory tires. Will switch up tires again in the spring when I get a lift and see how that goes.
 
Second half of the commute home yesterday (stopped at a grocery store midway).

Last 3 miles of that 7.6 was slower traffic, 25mph at best with some waiting between lights. The LC was moving mostly on battery only.

First 4.6 miles was 45-55 mph with two stoplights in the stretch, but if I recall correctly I only got stopped by one light.

That is the biggest number I've seen so far, normally its right around 22-23.

2900 miles this morning. Full rack with a shovel, maxtrax, hi-lift and axe all up top.

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