Has anyone installed Airtabs on their 5ver?

[Sarge]

I'm considering installing Airtabs on my 30' 5ver. Has anyone had any real world experience to share? I know the theory sounds right, but I still would like to hear from some folks that have or are using them. Such as, is there a MPG gain? How about tracking going down the road? Have any fallen off in use? Any wisdom is appreciated... ... ... . Sarge

 

[Steve M]

I could be wrong but I think a rabbit's foot would yield about the same mpg gains.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

I have them on my 28' gooseneck combination unit. The only real difference I noticed was that it takes a lot longer for mud to collect on the back doors and then its not as much. Trailer towed straight to begin with. Might have improved my mileage, don't know, doubt it, bought them to cut down on the mud. Going to install wide mudflaps on the trailer. Also wondering if anyone knows where I can get the wheel well black plastic dangly du-dads you see mostly on bus and some semi-trailer wheel wells?



As far as sticking on, they are all still there (1 year later) and have not come off in cold weather when I shovel the snow off the roof. Just remember to come at them with the shovel as the wind would blow over them.



Lastly, make sure you get a couple of extra units... I dropped one and it landed sticky side down... d'oh!

 

[MLee]

Air tabs

Check out John Holmes article in the past TDR mags. He is a distributor and has run a lot of test on his own, and swears by them. He of course, has them on he out fits. Jim Anderson sells them also, he's back in Tennessee. Contact these guys and pick there brain.



Marv.

 

[Sarge]

Yeah, I figure a dealer will tell you great stories about them. Thats why I asked for member input. I don't need just an ornamentation on the back... ...

 

[tgbol]

Sarge

Kevin has them on his trailer. He had some good thigs to say about them.

 

[Sarge]

I'll have to e-mail him and get his feedback... .....

 

[tgbol]

By the way Hows that new truck handle your 5er?

 

[Dkevdog]

Just got back from w quick weekend trip with them Airtabs... ... Finally got the Taylor wing back up there too (firmly seated on a brand new mount). Both did well.



I gained almost 3mpg and each tab is good for approximately 2hp. I added about 60 so I figure I got 120hp... ... . :-laf



OK Seriously. I put the Airtabs on about 8 months ago. Here's what I have noticed:



The trailer seems to handle a little better, doesn't seem to move around when passing or being passed. As far as reduced drag goes, I would have to say I do agree. On last summers trip through some fields in Oregon, I noticed a Mountain Aire pusher in front of me, maybe 1/8 mile. As he passed the tall waving grass it was sucked up and pulled down behind him by the vacuum he created when he went through. In my mirrors I noticed that the effect was greatly reduced on my rig. It does tend to keep the rear of trailer cleaner, and my wife following me in another car (in the rain) noticed that the spray wasn't being pulled back in behind it.



They make great conversations pieces, everyone at a campground has to come and ask what they are for.



As far as mileage goes??? Well, lets just say I've not noticed an increase that I can reasonably measure. My opinion of ANYTHING that claims to net minimal mileage gains is a "yeah right" skepticism. There are far too many variables, especially when towing a trailer to try and figure out if any mileage is gained, so I think if you want to believe you got a mileage gain, then you will get it . I will leave it at that.



Would *I* buy them again?? Probably. They do a couple things for me that make it worth it to me, and they can't hurt anything. Do *I* believe they do everything they claim?? Nope, but neither does ALOT of things being sold around here these days. :-{}



As far as air tab dealers go?? Not all of them have them on their own trailer, so take that for what its worth. I never ask the cook how his food tastes, but that's just me.



Kev

 

[Turbo Thom]

I have on the top, sides, and bottom of my Teton. The only two things I have observed is the rear seems to be less dirty and the stability of the coach is better. I had a friend follow me to Muncie last year and after getting caught behind a long haul truck and getting back to me, he said later the ride behing my unit was a lot more stable. The turbulence was a lot less and that shows in the towing also.

. . Preston. .

 

[Sarge]

Thanks for the wisdom guys. I kinda expected that may be the case, but it's good to hear from first hand experience. What the heck, I get a few hundred bucks, I'll probably go for it... .....

 

[LFarrar]

I have them on my toy hauler 30ft 5er last trip seemed about 1mpg better. It did stay straighter when I passed other trucks ( especially furds) The front of my trailer is as flat and straight up as a piece of plywood, I think I would have a complete package with a wing or nose to get air around the front smoother. My air tabs so far are only on the roofline and air conditioner cover, still working on getting them on the sides so maybe more is in store.

Lou

 

[Dkevdog]

1mpg (if indeed is true) is pretty good. According to John Holmes and the Air Tab Website, placement of the tabs is CRITICAL to their success- meaning you must place them (approx 3 per linear foot) on all three sides of the trailer.



I say "if indeed is true" to your mileage claim because I have noticed that when towing, my mileage varies considerably depending on conditions, trailer load, temperature, weather, etc. Even on familiar roads, I've seen a variance. Because of these variables, actually tracking mileage gains is a difficult if not nearly impossible task to prove. Not that I doubt mileage improvements, I just feel there are too many variables involved to be certain. Yes, I am a skeptic.



One thing seems to be for sure- they do seem to help with handling, and if they can do that, they are worth it alone IMO.



Kev

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

In the Air Force we called them Vortex Generators, and were on some of the aircraft that were based there. They are for disrupting air flow to create less drag on the aircraft. I cant recall which aircraft they were on but I remember them being there. I guess if your going Mach 2 or so, it probably helps. Like Turbo Horseman says, there wasn't as much mud on the back of the trailer, so they do work but I doubt there is enough there to make a big difference, but I bet there is a little difference.

 

[Byershome]

You will actually find them on most modern aircraft. They are there to help in the low airspeed range when you loose laminar flow and the air wants to separate from the surface of the aircraft. You will find them in front of flaps, ailerons and rudders. I am not sure they do a lot for us but I have them on my truck topper and I think they look cool. Wife hates them though. :-{}

 

[LRamey]

As far as I'm concerned they were the biggest waste of money I've spent on my RV so far.

I didn't net any gain on MPG, I can't see that it helped at all to keep things straight, and to spend over a hundred dollars just to keep the back end cleaner just doesn't cut it for me...



Lonnie

 

[y-knot]

I have read the articles in the TDR and seen the product. I personally think it's a bunch of crap. Something someone (?) came up with to make some money off of others who read the TDR. A scam for lack of a better word. What trailer is this going to help? The trailer hauling the guys money to the bank, I think.

 

[Sarge]

Wow, now there's some strong opinions... ... .

 

[johnrv4]

I started looking down both sides of my travel trailer, and I have a hard time believing that they would work very good at the rear of the trailer. With all the crap hanging on the sides of the trailer, (like the arms for the awning, the door frames, and the covers over the fridge and furnace), I would think the air would be pretty turbulent and separated from the side of the trailer by the time it gets to the Airtabs. Maybe they would work decent on a smooth sided trailer, but in my opinion(for what it's worth), I can't see them doing too much on my travel trailer for the cost. Maybe I need to have somebody drive next to me (on the passenger side of the trailer) and see how the soot swirls . Or maybe tape a bunch of pieces of yarn to the sides and do some tuft tests.

 

[MLee]

John;

You could do that and attach also on the very back, and see, or record on film the action. these tabs would break the air flow/vacuum that is produced on the rear of the unit causing the parasitic drag, of less mileage.

just my penny's worth. and theory

Marv.