Manufacturer Claims 15-30% fuel savings

[MEREDOG]

anyone using these to tow ?



http://2wtd.com/wtd-index-analyzed_...01-af-4670+wings-48-on-white-dodge-pickup.htm

 

[DPKetchum]

I had a few customers that used a wing similiar to that one. They towed big fivers. They claimed if you took it off a BIG differance in fuel mileage.

 

[JHardwick]

look here, thread in towing/hauling forum

 

[JWChessell]

Mr. Andler: Since Feb '06 I've been hauling a 16' dbl-axle cargo trailer back/forth from so. Calif. to NW Washington and return, almost all of it on I-5; same route almost every time, same fuel stops almost every time, same tire pressure, and almost same speeds each time on each leg. I've keep a detailed log of these trips with approx 30 separate pieces of information for each leg. I've weighed the trailer several times, and wind-resistance appears to make more difference in mileage than weight; also wind resistance increases geometrically as speed increases. Trailer weight has ranged from a low of 2,840 lbs to a high of 7,020 lbs.



Between 2-19-06 and 5-5-06 I drove 5,144 miles on this route with NO wind deflector, except my cab-height shell. Between 7-1-06 and 12-5-06 I drove 11,123 miles on this route, using a Trail-Eze wind-deflector (made by Ultra-Fab) that I purchased in a salvage yard and mounted on my shell (Ultra-Fab mounts these exclusively on a headache rack and advised me NOT to mount one on my shell; in retrospect they were either overly cautious, or "no" was the easy answer). See the attached photo of the rig with the deflector set to approx 40 degrees (it will also fold flat when not in use, and although difficult, I can mount it or remove it without help).



The difference in mileage by using the deflector, calculated over 11,123 miles, is an increase of between 1 and 1. 5 MPG. Without the deflector, the average mileage while towing was 11. 895 MPG. With the deflector, the average mileage has been 12. 941 MPG. That is an average increase of just slightly over 9%.



It's hard to be more definitive, because there are a LOT of variables. Speed and terrain are the most important; rain increases rolling resistance; wind has an effect if opposing, following or quartering; weight does have some effect. The deflector angle makes a significant difference -- I experimented, using deflector angles between 55 and 35 degrees on each leg of the route, both north-bound and south-bound -- the best angles are either 35 or 40 degrees. Heavy vs. light traffic has an influence; tire pressure makes a difference. I started out towing at about 66 MPH, and have gradually reduced that to an overall 61 MPH -- in part because the mileage is more consistent, and in part because my speed is more constant and I can interact more efficiently with heavy trucks.



During the course of using the deflector, I have seen many varying deflectors on pickup trucks towing trailers; I spoken with three Dodge owners regarding their deflectors. One was similar to the one in the photo you posted, but smaller. It fastened to the top of the Quad-Cab with nylon straps which were anchored inside the rear doors. The owner had purchased it on the internet from Canada and the price was about $250. 00 U. S. The second Dodge owner had a Trail-Eze mounted on a headache rack, and no shell (cost of these is around $500, more or less). The third had a curved stainless-steel foil (looks like an airplane wing upside-down) mounted on a headache rack (cost unknown). Each of the owners was towing either a travel trailer or a 5th-wheel trailer, and each said the same thing: They had obtained an increase in mileage of between 1 and 1. 5 MPG depending on circumstances.



I purchased my deflector in a salvage yard for $75. 00 and made the fully-adjustable mount myself. Total cost was approximately $325. 00 -- and I'm unaware of any mounting system available commercially to mount the deflector on top of a shell. Contrary to Trail-Eze' concerns about mounting the deflector in such a manner, I have experienced NO side-effects from the mount, and I've logged this information also. In 11,123 miles of towing with the deflector raised, I can find NO damage to the shell, nor has the shell moved even a fraction of an inch on the bed of the truck. Also, my calculations indicate that I am just now at about the "break-even" point concerning the cost of the deflector and installation vs. the savings in fuel.

The next experiment is to move the deflector farther aft on the shell, so it's closer to the trailer.



IMO, and in those of others I have read on this forum and the towing forum, claims of mileage increases over 15% are exagerated; between 8 and 12 % would be more realistic.

 

[MEREDOG]

Great reply---appreaciate the effort you put into it. I suspect you may be a little ahead of the game moving the wind on by with the topper.

I am pulling a gooseneck and was impressed with the one in the photo because it's design and mounting seems to compliment the gooseneck trailers.

If i am understanding their description properly, this one mounts entirely off the front stake pockets and can be folded down when not in use.

I am picking up a new trailer i had built tommorrow afternoon , kind of excited. It is a 53' American Hauler racecar trailer with a small living quarters area up front. 18,000 gtw . we haul horse buggies so most of the time will only have 3500-5000 pounds of cargo.



http://www.buggy.com/pages.html