We built a simple, easy-to-install DIY wind deflector to help reduce noise and vibration caused by the roof rack on our Ram ProMaster camper van conversion. 
A wind fairing aka wind deflector is a simple add-on designed to improve the aerodynamics of automotive roof racks and other roof-mounted accessories. A wind fairing works simply by deflecting wind up and over the roof rack helping to reduce wind noise and vibrations, making for a more quiet and comfortable ride while also reducing gas mileage.
Do roof rack fairings make a difference? Let’s find out.
DIY Van Roof Rack Wind Deflector
See this project completed in 30 seconds. Shorts Reel Video. Scroll Down 👇
Why We Need a Wind Fairing Deflector For Our Ram ProMaster
What is the point of wind deflectors? There are many benefits of installing a deflector. Here are the top reasons why we decided to build a Wind Fairing / Deflector for our Van.
Reduce Roof Rack Noise
When building our Van’s new Aluminum Roof Rack we knew the front overhang design would cause wind noise. Adding a fairing will deflect air up over the end cap thus in turn reducing the wind noise created from wind rushing past the roof rack cross bars.
Reduce Vibrations
Part of the noise comes from vibrations. The thin edge of the angle material buzzes like a reed.
Improve Fuel Efficiency
A high-roof van has pretty poor fuel economy as it is. But does adding a roof rack affect gas mileage? Definitely! Knowing this, a wind fairing for our roof rack is a must-have.
Looks Cool 😎
While looks shouldn’t be the primary motivation for van upgrades, the trimmed-out finish of a wind deflector in front of a roof rack just looks good. Definite improvement in the overall look of the frame. 
Design Thinking – Van Roof Rack Wind Deflector
Some of my thought processes before, during, and after installing our DIY Roof Rack Wind Deflector. Trade-offs for time and money.
Using A Universal Wind Deflector
When browsing my local Princess Auto I found a Universal Wind Fairing on sale. We picked one up in the hopes of possibly modifying it to fit.
This universal Wind Deflector doesn’t fit without serious customization. Not a loss though as I plan to use the fairing material as part of our DIY solution.
Material
⅛” x6” Aluminum Flat Bar.
Aluminum was the best material I could think of to allow for the least amount of prefabrication and an easy installation. I had a length of ⅛”x6” Aluminum flat bar sheared down to the perfect to cover the gap with only minimal clearance.
Length
How long should our wind fairing be? It would have been optimal to have the fairing cover the full width of the rack crossbar. To keep things as simple as possible we decided to just cover the forwardmost section of the front crossbar.
Angle
What angle is a roof rack wind deflector? Ideally, the best way to get laminar airflow over your roof rack fairing is to mount it at a 45-degree angle. Given the forward depth of our rack, mounting at an angle would require more materials and more fabrication time. We opted to mount at 90 degrees.
LED Light Bar
LED light bars have become a common sight on vehicles recently, a larger 50+ inch LED light bar could be discreetly incorporated into the roof rack crossbar or fairing. Possibly a faux LED Light Bar? Who knows, but it is the perfect place.
Now Let’s Get To The Fun Part – Installing a DIY Wind Deflector for the Roof Rack on Our Camper Van Conversion.
Installing A DIY Roof Rack Wind Deflector On Our Promaster Camper Van – Video
The Tools
- Milwaukee 12v Drill Driver
- Drill Bit Set
- Irwin Step Drill Bit
- 8-inch Flat File
- Tape Measure
- Metal Deburring Tool
- Wrench Set
The Parts and Materials
- ¼-20 x1 Stainless Bolts
- 3/16 Aluminum Flat Plate
The How – Installing A Van Roof Rack Wind Deflector
Step-1 Remove Front Cross Bar
The roof rack front cross bars come by removing four 5/16 bolts. The crossbar hangs over the roof section above the windshield making it a little tricky. We support the bar using clamps while removing any bolts.
Step-2 Removing Sharp Edges
It’s always a good idea to clean up any sharp edges. One edge of our metal was razor sharp after being cut by the shear.
#Protip: Deburring tools are not just for pipe. Use the hook blade to cleanly slice away sharp edges with minimal debris.
Step-3 Drill And Bolt
¼” Stainless Bolts are used to attach the fairing panel to the crossbar. Are wind deflectors easy to install? By bolting the fairing to the cross section this makes the final installation much easier.
Our DIY Van Wind Fairing is ✅ 
What Difference Does Our Wind Deflector Make?
The van wind deflector works. By just adding aluminum fairing to the front cross bar we eliminated noise and vibrations from the roof rack. This wind deflector is good enough and worth the effort.
Share Your Thoughts
Are you considering installing a Wind Fairing? Have experience with other wind deflectors, be they DIY, universal, or third-party? Drop a comment in the box below.
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As always, thank you for taking the time to visit Weekender Van Life. And remember, always take the road less traveled!
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