how to increase mpg while towing?

[Dkevdog]

Okie- I wasn't doubting you, Ithe two RV'rs I spoke to before buying my Taylor wing also touted mileage increases. Where exactly is your bug line on the rig?? I have had many conversations with Tom Loker at Taylor about adjusting, and the best advice he could give me was to adjust the wing to where the bugline was about 6-10" from the top of the rig. He also told me that the extended hitch pin (which I have) effects the efficiency of the wing. While I agree that if it keeps the "bugs" off the front it is changing the drag, but I disagree that this means an automatic increase in mileage by lessening wind resistance.

If that were the case, then my bug deflector on the fron of my truck should be good for atl east another 2mpg . Maybe you have gotten lucky with your adjustments. I just don't want people reading this to assume it to always be the case.



Blair- I had MANY problems with my original bed mount- I had complete weld failures of the original one, which was replaced by Taylor. My second one evetually failed too, and that is after modifiying it to stiffen it. I am now on my third, which is the new EZ rack, much better design, and I modified it as well, so far so good.



Kev

 

[rweis]

I wonder if waxing the front of the 5er would have any effect?, or as much as a wing, slicker surface, cheaper too.



Bob Weis

 

[klenger]

I wonder if waxing the front of the 5er would have any effect?

Waxing it makes it look purdy !!

 

[Forrest]

I use a liquid floor sealer. Can't recall the name, but it's for vynal floors. Just pour it into a bucket & sponge mop it on. It makes the bugs come off easier if you keep it up.



I don't have a wing yet, but had one for the other setup. I had a 78 Bronco & 20' Aristocrat trailer. I put the wing all the way @ the back of the Bronco & gained 1. 5mpg ... consistently.



Another advantage of the wing was being passed, both ways, by big rigs & busses. Sure was more stable with the wing.



I used the same wing with the 5'er I have now & a different truck. It's too short for the 5'er. Keeps about 1/2 of the front clean of bugs. However, it creates a neat Monica affect in the back of the truck. With the 5'er hooked up, it would suck a beer can right out of the bed of the truck.

 

[Okie-Go]

Dkevdog, no offense taken from you or anybody else. I just don't see how someone can say they don't help IF they haven't tried one. I have pulled mine with it and without it. My bug line as it is called is about 10 inches down. I wish I had some wings to add to the side of the wing bracket to help with the side of the trailer that the wing don't cover. Look at some of the newer horse trailers, some are just bareley cab high and sloped. This has to help with wind drag and at the same time turn into better fuel economy. I don't recall the numbers but egt's and boost is lower with the chickenslide in place at the same speed.

 

[Wayno]

Sure are a lot of Big Rigs out there with a wing ( wind defector ) on them and I don't think they are using them to help keep the bugs of the refer . Now I know this doesn't help out on the cattle trailer but some folks just might could use a smaller travel trailer to get better mileage . Why pull a hotel around behind ya for just two people and then complain about the mileage .

 

[PPettit]

Has anybody got fuel mileage improvement numbers using the Airtabs advertised in TDR magazine? This is what they are made for.

 

[Gypsyman]

I had the pleasure of installing the Wingmaster Turbo I on my '03 this weekend and couldn't believe the compliments that I recieved on my truck in just two days. HOWEVER, it destroys my non-towing mileage to the tune of 3 to 4 mpg less. Causes an unreal amount of noise in the cab, buffeting from side wind and makes my rear view mirror vibrate like crazy. Sorry, but for the small increase that I see when towing it's not worth dropping from 17 empty to 13 and having to remove, store, and reinstall the wing every third day as I move. Not slamming any vendors or thier product as the Wingmaster is a very nice piece of equipment just not for my needs. Only my humble observations...

 

[Casey Balvert]

My wing gave me about . 5 increase with my last trailer which had a front end about as aerodynamic as a pancake. I am not sure what difference it makes with the new trailer but that sucker weighs 18,000 and I averaged 10. 5 to 11 on my trip south recently. The biggest fuel consumption factor is speed. Just slowing from 70 to 60 will save you around 2 mpg or more.



The wing does seem to add some stability but does cause wind noise and is a pain to store when you don't need it. It comes off the truck fairlly easily. I does cost me 6 mpg solo dropping my mileage to 13 from 19. Another testament to the effect of wind resistance on mileage. Because of the minimal increase and the work involved in using it, I only use it on long trips. I do get a lot of compliments on it so it must look cool.



FWIW



Casey

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'm surprised those wings don't give you the option of merely folding them flat to the roof when not towing...

 

[Gypsyman]

If I decide to keep mine I'm going to shorten the brackets and change the hardware to wing nuts so that I can drop it down as flat as possible when not in use. I'll also add an aluminium deflector in front of the mounts, full width, to direct air up and over the wing instead of under and right into my headache rack. Hope this helps, I'd hate to send it back...