Has anyone used Airtab vortex generators on their 5th wheel trailer or RV yet?

[dkosheba]

Please be gentle as I have been a member for two+ years, but this is only my first or second post. I would like to collect the opinions of TDR members good and bad about what their experiences are when using Airtab vortex generators on their rigs. I just installed 45 of them on the back of my Ram and in front of the rear wheel and am so far very pleased. But, then again would like other professional opinions. If you are not familiar with these vortex generators, check out the

following link before replying to post. Thanks in advance.

http://www.airtabs.com

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

What *actual*, no-doubt-about-it benefits have you obtained from them? I've seen pictures of them, but no pricing for a typical installation - any comments?

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Hello, Don.



I am also interested in these little do-dads. I have wondered how they would effect my trailer. I had not considered putting them on my truck. Where did you put yours? On the roof? Or do you have a camper on the truck?



Perhaps you might be able to post a picture or two and give us your impressions of the air tabsl

 

[dkosheba]

Diesel Gunner,

I have a ARE shell on the back of my truck and then put 10 airtabs across the top, 13 on each side down the shell on rear fenders, and the 4 more on each side in front of each rear wheel well. I do believe that the 4 in front of each wheel reduced the road spray driving in rain. It did rain a couple weeks ago and I liked what I saw. It only snows now!

I did a little before and after test with tufting. I attached 110 pieces of yellow yarn 7" long to back of truck topper, tailgate, and bumper. What I found is w/o tabs there was air flow up to about 45 mph and then nothing, a vacuum, only in center of rear a few tufts lifted up, and a couple sucked into the tailgate gap, and under the side of the shell window.

After install, the tufts are moving all the time, and still violently at 70 MPH. This tells me there is now some airflow and no longer a huge separation of air on back end. I also noticed in a cross wind, all the tufts would pull to one side indicating the crosswind direction. I am still trying to evaluate these for myself and will post pictures in reader’s rigs the next couple days, as soon as I can shrink them in size to fit.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Very interesting. I have thought about running a bunch of these all around the sides and top of my TT. Although I do not have any problem with trailer whip or sway, due entirely to the Hensley Hitch, I would be intersted in seeing if fuel economy improved.



How much are the air tabs? Are they most effective installed touching each other on each side? Don, I bet your rig looks kinda funky with those tabs all around the back end. Do you get many folks asking what the h*** they are for?



I will be interested in hearing if you have any fuel economy changes and if your handling characteristics change. Keep on posting!

 

[Diesel Gunner]

OK, I just read your profile and answered most of my questions. I will have to see how the $ go.

 

[dkosheba]

Diesel Gunner,

I have got a few of my rigs pictures downsized now and in the readers rigs. I have plenty more, but these few do show the before and after aerodynamics when evaluating Air tabs with tufting. Please sort by date as it was posted today, 12/24/02.

I still would like to hear from users any Good and Bad experiences with Vortex Generators. Over time, I would like to draw some sort of a consensus on the value of using these things.



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



Don't forget the cookies and Milk.



Don

 

[EOwen]

Don,



I also have these airtabs on my new '03 rig.

I was not as daring as you and only put them across the back edge of the roof. I painted them with Mopar paint code match and they look great. I was told that with these and with the bed

of my truck covered with my Fold-a-cover, that I should see mileage improvement. Can you comment on this?

A co-worker put them on his enclosed toy haulin' trailer and has

seen great improvement of not being "sucked in" when passing

the big rigs. The only semi negative thing I found was the

adhesion of the two-way tape at the back tip edge, but they

have gone thru the carwash, with major blow dryers, without

coming off.



Eric

 

[Doubleclutch]

Hi guys- for what it's worth, John Holmes did a pretty good write-up on the Airtabs in the TDR magazine issues 37 and 38. I'm guessing you don't get the mag, but he was very positive about his experiences with the tabs, both in stability and MPH gain. dkosheba- I'm impressed that you tufted your truck. No better way to see what the wind is doing. That means more to me than more arbitrary "feelings".

Greg