Thule Spoiler 555 Bike Carrier

Strengths:
Dramatically reduces wind noise with racks... without Spoiler I COULD NOT Open sunroof 'cause ski racks whistle like crazy... with spoiler the air rushes gently over the racks and I can again open the roof with no noise... very nearly as quiet as w/ out racks at all.

Weaknesses:
nothing. had it 4 yrs, held up great.

Summary:
Awesome product. Must have for everyone with roof racks. I got it an AnyMtn for around 60 US Dollars.

Year / Model Reviewed:
 1999

Strengths:
Firm resistance to wind. Excellent wind defelction. To test noise, listended with sunroof open at 80mph. Noise, with rack only required neearly double the readio volume to wash it out. With spoiler it was nearly back to the noise level with no rack, which next to nothing.

Weaknesses:
Next to impossible to install solo. The knobs to attach the 3 brace arms to the rack had to be forced into the tiny space lfet between the screw and the cross brace on the 444 System for a GTI. To attache spoiler to brackets takes 3 sets of Allen bolt + washers(3) + wing nut. Bolt had to be compress through 2 foam pads for enough threading to be exposed to put on washers. Wing nut barely fit. Recommended direction, washer and wingnut behind spoiler left little space for hands to operate.
No locking feature to secure spolier from theft. Haven't come up with a solution yet.

Summary:
Excellent performance once installed.
Recommend 2 to 3 people install.
Paid $50.00 new at Ski Market, Burlington, MA.

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