Whistling Cargo Crossbars

[chipchrome]

Just installed the cargo crossbars on my R1S. I’m getting a pretty loud whistling sound that occurs right over the passenger seat. Only really happens between 25mh-40mph, which is most of my city driving.

Does anyone else have this problem? Anything I can do about it?

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[FooF]

Does the little latching handle stick out away from the crossbar farther than the rest? If so it needs to be adjusted.

 

[chipchrome]

I’ve fully pressed in those latches to the point where they click and lay flush.

 

[jeeden]

Sounds like it may not be the issue you're having but just for anyone else reading this thread...

I happen to mess with my crossbars for the first time today. Getting the little door to click shut is not the easiest thing when they're brand new. I figured out you need to grab the end loop on the crossbar and really pull down on the vehicle while shutting it to get it to click shut because it leverages the little clip to grab the anchor on the Rivian

 

[jwanderson88]

I have some crossbars. We are talking about the Rivian crossbars? They are pretty smooth with few places air can enter. I have an R1T, but it shouldn't make a lot of difference. I've tried them on the roof and the bed. I haven't noticed any wind noise. Maybe air is going under them. It takes quite a bit of downward pressure to get them to latch properly. You should make sure they're installed right. The instructions say to listen for two clicks. The second one is hard to hear, but you can feel when the latches grip the anchors securely.

 

[shandel]

The crossbars on my R1S whistle a little bit when I hit about 50mph. It's not too bad, and I can't hear it much with music playing so haven't worried about it.

 

[FooF]

When you mount your crossbar it should click once when you place it onto the mount and a second time when you push in on the latch.

The crossbars should not have a lot of slop when they are fully latched, if so they need adjusted to tighten them. If latch is difficult to get it to click when you push it in it is too tight and needs to be loosened a bit.

When you are looking at the underside of the end of the crossbar with loop facing you there is a rubber cover. Under the cover there is a left and right Allen.

Make small adjustments (1/8 turn) and replace rubber cover to test fit.
If too loose clockwise on right Allen to tighten or counterclockwise to loosen.
On left Allen click latch pushed closed and it clicks adjust until latch door until flush and you can get the click when you push the latch in while mounted to crossbar without having to pull down or wiggle crossbar.

You should have the opposite side of the crossbar latched in position while adjusting each side. You can place a rag under the bar to keep it off of the roof and extend past the roof edge for easy adjusting. Don’t forget the rubber cap between adjustments.

I had a whistle when the latch was sticking out a tiny amount and not flush. I was able to adjust all latches so the click easily and crossbar does not move no slop. I also took a paint marker under the latch to note mounting position so that I always mounted to the same mount points each latch was adjusted to fit.

 

[jeeden]

Just got back from riding at highway speeds about 20 minutes for shopping and back with the cross bars on my R1S. Super quiet on the highway. Way better than our old Ford explorer which had aluminum ones that would rattle and flex.

I wasn't aware of the adjustment on the crossbars but once I figured out to really pull down on the end of the crossbar so I can push the latch closed I don't think I'm going to adjust it as it is really tight right now and very sturdy

I'm probably going to notice the noise from our roof box now more than ever when I put it on considering how quiet the cross bars are

 

[sac602]

There's another thread somewhere on this about how you can stick some foam gasket into the crack. Here's some cheap stuff from Amazon that fits in perfectly.10 feet Weather Seal Strip, Marine Weather Stripping - MD Building Products 01033 https://a.co/d/5P2sxzT

 

[MarkS]

I am having the same problem but with Yakima Surfboard Racks and mySurf Boards. It is so loud that I cannot hear Music and it has prompted me to re-think about my R1S Purchased a two weeks ago as I don't want to hear the whistling on all my surf trips. I never had this problem with my other Cars. I think it is sound proofing issue with the ceiling skylight as it appears to be very thin.

 

[TNutz]

There's another thread somewhere on this about how you can stick some foam gasket into the crack. Here's some cheap stuff from Amazon that fits in perfectly.10 feet Weather Seal Strip, Marine Weather Stripping - MD Building Products 01033 https://a.co/d/5P2sxzT

Just buy a few of these for that specific purpose! ;-)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M31NA6E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In fact, I actually just took the similar strips from my old Thule crossbar that had a similar gear grove along the rail. Then because of the different length, i fill the remainder with what i purchased from Amazon.

 

[ATL_R1S]

Just installed the cargo crossbars on my R1S. I’m getting a pretty loud whistling sound that occurs right over the passenger seat. Only really happens between 25mh-40mph, which is most of my city driving.

Does anyone else have this problem? Anything I can do about it?

I've had the same exact experience until today.

A while back I read on here about this front-facing vertical gap on each side being the source of crossbar whistle, and blocking it off with tape helps. Finally tried it and I’m pleased to report it actually worked to eliminate the high pitched whistling I was hearing from the crossbars at speed! It’s not as if they weren’t up there at all, but for my ears it’s a big improvement that took less than 2 minutes to slap some black masking tape on both sides.

 

[Iamuwere]

Now that you have proof of concept that this fixes you problem, I think it could be cleaner now by filling that gap with silicone for better color match.

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