I live in the Pacific Northwest, and am getting the OEM rack so I can haul larger items and (hopefully) start taking advantage of some of the outdoor activities up here (kayaking, camping, etc.). However, I have heard that these roof racks significantly impact fuel economy, esp. on the highway.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the rails can be detached separately from the mount points. Can anyone with the Mitsubishi rack advise as to whether or not the rails on the rack can be easily removed?