Anyone see any significant benefit in doing this?

I have a long mostly interstate road trip coming up. Don't know if removing the crossbars would help increase MPG. Know that I need to leave the side rails in place.

 

I think the most you might achieve is a slight reduction in wind noise. I have an OEM roof rack and I have the OEM moon roof air deflector. My thinking is the air defector helps move the air a little better over the roof rails.

I have not notice a significant drop in mpgs even when I have my large roof box on (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mpg on level ground). Anything that makes my turbo engage kills my mpgs (hills, passing, head/cross winds, high altitude driving, max weight in RDX during vacation, slowing down and speeding up because crowded interstate, etc..)

Low rolling resistant tires, performing all routine maint, minimum turbo usage, and keeping your speed down will show more measurable and immediate results in mpgs improvement.

 

I'm with Mr Gold on this. Wind noise was reduced, can't say if the mpgs got better.

 

I took mine off and didn't really see it there, but if you do remove them, the brackets that allow you to slide them to your preferred length will need to be removed, also. They won't be secured by the bars, anymore, and will rattle. I zip tied mine together on both sides instead of removing them and that helped.

 

Thanks for the input. Think I will forgo the hassle of doing this.

 

I just let the dirt hold mine in place...

 

I think it looks better without them. That's why I did it. I never needed them.

I tried that , but when it rained they rattled.