Airtabs installed on My Desert Fox Trailer

[EricBu12]

Just installed the Airtabs on my Desert Fox which has the Aluminum Siding. The tabs won't conform to the ripples so I went down to the HW Store and bought a couple of lengths of Roof Flashing. Flattened them out, painted them with enough coats of primer and HD industrial paint so it wont chip off, and applied the tabs to them. Then screwed the strips to the Sided. Used white caulk to make it look good... .



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Heres a strip of them on the rubber edge of the roof. Just had to clean the rubber REAL GOOD, and it sticks good.



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They said anything that has a right angle to the wind is a good airtab place so here is where I placed a few...



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Also put them on the top edge of my deflector for the truck. (no pic) just a straight line of them on the top edge of it, a 5' X 3' panel... .

 

[SBashaw]

Looks good, have you noticed any difference while towing?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

... unfortunately, Eric now has more $$$ invested in AirTabs than he does the RV - and the additional weight of the tabs has required installation of another axle to support the added weight...



NOT to mention that the bugs, dirt and other nasties the tab deflect NOW get plastered on the windshields of vehicles following him, much to their disgust...



Nice job Eric - will be interested in followup posts as to real life benefits...

 

[y-knot]

I hope you like the new air tabs, and I wish you luck. You went a little crazy on the amount! I personally think they pure bullshiit, and a huge waste of money. We have been looking for a new trailer and have yet to see anyone offering them as options or as standard equipment on their trailers. I have towed large trailers all my life and have never had a problem that a Air Tab would solve. A trailers ability to follow the lead vehicle is determined by design, strength and load. These Air Tab's are in my opinion yet another attempt to squeeze a few dollars out of a few suckers.

 

[Plazman]

air tabs

ouch!!!!! :-{}

 

[Barry]

Y-Knot, don't beat around the bush. Just come right out and say what is on your mind... ... ... ..... no need to hold back... ... ... ..... just tell it like it is.

 

[EricBu12]

I just barely installed these last week. Haven't been out yet although The top strip was on the other week and I went out to the Sand hills you can see in the Toyhauler thread. Since only the top was on and not the sides, I think I noticed the truck pulling the trailer a little easier. Not quite as much wiggle as there was.



Now that all are on, I can test them out. Gonna be taking a 2000 mile trip up to the northwest, (oregon and washington) My set is right up there at 20,000 # but that is with 2 Quads inside. On this trip, both are staying home so will be 1200 # lighter but have a heavier Tongue Weight a bit...



The premise of the airtabs is nothing new, (vortex generators) I have heard of such things on jets and other military craft... Not this exact thing... but close..... and on that computer animation on the airtabs site, the red and blue flows of air trading back and forth, well I have felt that in another big rig (I drive an 18-wheeler interstate), when I get close to one or when one passes in front of me, Shakes the truck from left to right till he is away a bit... . Now if these things lift and spin the air, it should do as advertised. The site says 4-6% guaranteed but they are geered for the big rigs. It seems the smaller RV's had bigger gains. All I know is something that reduces drag is better than the flat square door on the rear. I usually get 9 MPG or sometimes 10 while towing. If I get 10% better, then it will be upwards of 11 MPG. True, not much but the other thing these are touting is stability. I have the Hesley hitch and in a slight wind, it's ok, a heavy cross and I feel it... . still handleable but if these help 10% of stability, it will be worth it... Pluss there is the extra value if I ever sell the trailer. The solar panels I would take off. These Airtabs for the trailer and the extra for the deflector I have was about $200 and $30 for the Metal strips and paint.



My trip is going to be in November for thanksgiving so check back after then...