truck rack design that doesnt make wind noise?

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I want to add to the rack on my rig. Currently the rack stops at the cab, and I want to add a few feet over the cab for floppy stuff. I have built a few racks that have made noise and some that havent. Is there a surefire way to prevent wind noise? One of the guys that works for me thinks because the rack is made from 3"X2" rect. tube that it wont make noise because its bigger than most of the smaller racks we build. Any tips?
Reply:Originally Posted by Eric CI want to add to the rack on my rig. Currently the rack stops at the cab, and I want to add a few feet over the cab for floppy stuff. I have built a few racks that have made noise and some that havent. Is there a surefire way to prevent wind noise? One of the guys that works for me thinks because the rack is made from 3"X2" rect. tube that it wont make noise because its bigger than most of the smaller racks we build. Any tips?
Reply:It has to be 3"x2" because the rest of the rack is made from that. Attached Images
Reply:heres the rear with tools still on. Attached Images
Reply:Weld angle iron the front side of your cross members.  The angle iron should help "cut" the air and cut the noise.I am tired of Ketchup, I want the Gravy...
Reply:+1 on the angle iron idea.My welding instructor put a frame on over the roof without one initially and did get vibration and noise. He cut that back off, welded angle iron on the front of it, and put it back on and it seems to work fine for him now.
Reply:Originally Posted by partagasWeld angle iron the front side of your cross members.  The angle iron should help "cut" the air and cut the noise.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonRound tube or pipe for the crossbars, reduces the wind noise over square and rectangularshaped crossbars.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepBut I wonder if like with most aerodynamic design issues, it's the trailing edge that really counts.Good Luck
Reply:You have to have it go at least a foot past the front edge of the cab. The wind noise comes from the gap between the cab top and the cross member,s close proximity to it. I've never had a problem with noise on the ones I've built that way.
Reply:Turn up the radio.....
Reply:Originally Posted by jewellerTurn up the radio.....
Reply:Could just angle the front and use some plate almost making an air foil design, i've seen locals do that on racks."...My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun...""...God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy..."
Reply:Well, it all depends.It depends on -why- there is noise.  Is it from air flow over the rack in free air, or air flow issues from the interaction of flow from the truck (windshield, cab, etc) and the flow from the rack, or the rack buzzing and vibrating like a guitar string, or etc, etc, etc.Although I do like and appreciate denrep's answer.  You mean your truck is smooth and quiet enough to hear wind noise?       Get a bigger engine and/or some more aggressive tread tires (ditch that pansy highway tread pattern and get something along the lines of some BFG Mud-Terrain LT tires ought to be noisy enough) and that should take care of being able to hear wind noise.  As to the existing rear part of the rack being made out of 2x3 rectangular tube, so what.  You've got a welder!  On the truck even!  Make the front part of the rack out of what works for that and leave the back part of the rack as is.  It's a work truck.  BFD if the rack doesn't 'match'.  Want 'fancy?  Make the front part of the rack out of 2x3 rectangular tube to match the rest of the rack.  Then take some appropriate pipe/tube of the desired size/diameter and cut it lengthwise as desired.  Weld the half round (or mostly round) sections onto the front and back of the front crossbar of the front of the rack turning the rectangular shape into a quasi-oval shape (round shapes facing fore and aft).Round -generally- lets air flow 'better' around and over it cross-wise than a square or rectangular shape does.  YMMV and there could be air flow interactions from differing elements.  Round is not guaranteed to not make noise though.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Make the front out of pipe and exstend it past the leading edge of the cab 18"Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:The rack on my truck is very silent.  It's built all from pipe, no square or rect tube.  My truck is a crew cab and the rack is made for a regular cab, so the front rack bar is above the roof about a foot, maybe more, back from the windshield.  It also sits low, maybe 4-5" from top of roof.Last edited by DesertRider33; 04-30-2010 at 07:56 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:You can always try this stuff... http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...streamline.php ... pricey thoughWalt
Reply:I think I will build it with a round  front bar and have it stop in between the front and rear doors. I report how it works when the bed is finally back on the truck.
Reply:DR33Nice bed removal system.  Did not think of that one..
Reply:Originally Posted by sixDR33Nice bed removal system.  Did not think of that one..
Reply:I have 1.5" square alum tubing for my rack, mounted about 10 inches back from the windshield and it howls in the wind. But it is very livable because of its function. I will be installing 1" marker lights on it so adding an angle wouldn't be in the cards eventhough it sounds like a good idea. Like I said, if its annoying, turn up the tunes.
Reply:Oh i forgot to mention the rack i built to mount on my 85 flat bed i made WAY Overkill out of 2x3x1/4" square tube and it catches the wind and vibrates the top of the cab roof to no end.   ITS HORRIBLE.   thank GOD i made it removable.   It usually gets set on when needed then as soon as its not needed its yanked right back off.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Keep it low to the roof, low profile, keep the wind from bunching up and causing turbulence, that's what causes noise, if the air flow is smooth it's happy, and quiet.
Reply:On the same token, would doing these mods help with MPG????Come try it out and stay a while.
Reply:turn the radio up