# Luggage rack and drag **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376 "2005-01-18T15:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/1 "2005-01-18T15:43:08Z")
In [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=297530) I mentioned that I had been thinking about MGs. According to the guy who is doing the mechanical work on my '66 MGB, the body guy is _finally_ (after 19 months) getting the body work done. The car is in the paint booth and is just awaiting new front wings. Maybe I’ll have the car back by Summer. :dubious: Anyway, I’m wondering about a luggage rack for the boot. My first MGB didn’t have one. I had a Yakima rack system on my Cherokee, and gas mileage was significantly reduced due to drag (avg. 18 mpg vs. 20-21 mpg without the rack). I assume that with the hood up the air will flow smoothly over the windscreen, over the hood, and over the boot. With the hood down (or off, since it stows in the boot) the air will flow over the windscreen, some will burble in the cockpit and some will blow on the back of my head, and the disturbed air will continue over the boot. What effect will putting a luggage rack on the boot of the MGB have on mpg? I’m guessing not as significant as the Yakima system on the Jeep, but I’m wondering if it would be noticable at all. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/2 "2005-01-18T15:55:42Z")
“Luggage rack,” “drag” – I need to get out more. This is so not what I was expecting. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/3 "2005-01-18T18:31:10Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “Luggage rack,” “drag” – I need to get out more. This is so not what I was expecting. 😉 I’ve been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/4 "2005-01-18T19:20:46Z")
On an MG with the top (hood) down, a luggage rack on the trunk (boot) probably won’t make damn-all difference - you’re already aerodynamically so “dirty” that I don’t think the contribution of the luggage rack will be appreciable unless you’re carrying something like a fully-inflated Zodiac. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/5 "2005-01-18T19:24:46Z")
> [@SavageNarce](#): > > unless you’re carrying something like a fully-inflated Zodiac. Which reminds me… Maybe I should put a trailer hitch under the bumper. Unless I decide to sell my ‘zodiac’ (14’ Mercury inflatable). What about the luggage rack drag with the hood up? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/6 "2005-01-18T20:11:14Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I’ve been whooshed. Sorry – not one of my funnier jokes, I’ll admit. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luggage-rack-and-drag/285376/7 "2005-01-18T20:29:07Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “Luggage rack,” “drag” – I need to get out more. This is so not what I was expecting. 🙂 > [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I’ve been whooshed. Say, **Johnny** , you’re looking especially ravishing tonight in that outfit – quite the “luggage” in the “rack” on your “trunk”… if you know what I mean 😉😉😉 Anyway, my feeling is the same as **SavageNarce** ’s: with the top down, anything that’s in the lee of the windscreen isn’t going to change the aerodynamics much. Even with the top up, I’m thinking that the rear window is steep enough that the flow over the top will seperate and pass right over the luggage rack. My SWAG is that you won’t notice the difference at all.