It doesn't have to touch if you don't want it to, you can adjust it to a higher mounting point (lowest seemed like it would be pressing against the roof, so didn't use that one myself). Mine touches farily lightly with the weather stripping they offer as additional wind noise reduction. Have to say it is
way quieter than my Yakima basket was on the factory bars.
Agree with keeping it clean under there, good call on cleaning it out when washing the truck, and wouldn't take any additional time.
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