2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission The AirTab Experiment

[Turboman]

What is that?

LarryB, is that a U-2 in that picture??

 

[LarryB]

:-laf

 

[Steve Campbell]

mundgyver....

any new results to report, or is the "New Math" still keeping you busy????

 

[Mundgyver]

The weeks have flown by and gotten away from me since I went back to school. To date I have logged over 6,000 miles of driving with them. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I have installed them up on top above the rear window. I hauled a load of leaves the other day to the disposal site. Did not have any problems with anything blowing around in the bed. The ones I have on the hood are still in their same place. We have gotten heavy rains this last couple of weeks and my driving at 60 mph shows that I need to move them back and tilt them up. Currently the air deflection hits at mid wind screen. I'm trying to build a plate to put them on that I can slide up and down the hood for distance and also allow me to vary the angle of attack into the wind with regard to tilt. This is much more difficult than anticipated. It's a style thing. Mileage improvement. Over all I'm not seeing a gain, but I'm not loosing either. I'm hitting 21. 6 around the freeways back and forth to work. John Holmes got a solid 2 mpg If I remember on his trip from Nevada up here to Canby in Sept. He was towing a 10,000 trailer. Both the truck and the trailer were equipped. I've to around 300 tabs in stock now, so I'm working on applications. . My nest step to to get the ones on the hood remounted and adjustable. Thats what I am working on now. The ones I have mounted just aft of the front fender wells are not showing a pattern or dirt. I think I need to put them in front of the fender well. The ones on the hood show the air flow pattern with the dust and dirt showing up as separate small streams of dirt from them back toward the windshield. So they are definitely forming the airflow. Thats where we are so far.



-Wally-

 

[Mundgyver]

The picture files I have are too large to attach.

 

[Walker]

How bout' a wing?

I wrote a while back asking if anyone knew of a place that sold the "cab fairing wings" that you place on the top of the cap (rear edge). Just a small "ramp" to deflect wind up and over the bed. You see the big trucks with them all the time.



JCWhitney had them (Lund) for a while, but quit making them for the Dodge. I called Lund (way back when) and they said they couldn't get a "good mold" to fit the Ram cabs. Now JCWhitney quit carrying them all together (guess they weren't selling), and/or because they've gone to the fancy crap "Racerback" style and the like.



I still see (mostly Ford F-350) some rigs with these wings. They were a rivot on type. But, I think they look pretty good.



Q: Won't these type of wings do the same or better?

 

[DCMille290]

Hey all,

After talking with J. Holmes and spending time on the phone with the great Canadian folks at Aeroserve, home of the Airtabs I have gotten quite an education on air flow and Vortex generators. The exact placement and speed using the Airtabs is important for sure.

I have stocked up on a few hundred of the Airtabs (now a distributor) and I already have an established basline with my truck and trailer combo based on the last 4. 5 years.

This week I will be outfitting the RV (5'er) alone with the Airtabs, both sides, and across the roof.

I will be driving 1250 miles from NW Arkansas to I40 and west from there to Phoenix, then North up to almost Flagstaff.

I've done this trip before and have numbers on EGT and mileage.



If anyone is interested in my results or wants more info on how Airtabs would/could work for your application please let me know.



I will post up results in a week or so. I leave on the 24th of November and will be arriving and staying in AZ from the 29 on until the end of December.

Next leg of the trip will be from Phoenix to So. California and then N to San Fran.



DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[GAmes]

I'm definitely interested in the results from your 5er.

 

[DCMille290]

Everyone,

I will be happy to post info here as soon as I have it.

One of the major concerns towing large trailers is cross wind effect on truck and trailer and I can tell you in most cases severe cross winds are not fun. Anyone who has towed in these types of conditions will tell you.



The rain issue is also one that is improved. Looking back along the trailer behind is difficult at best as rain spray hides oncoming vehicles approaching from behind on the left side of trailer.



I am not sure I can order rain for the trip but it will be noted should it occur.



David

Marbleman

 

[Darel]

Why not glue them to magnets so you can move them in minutes?



I am kind of curious about eliminating the "bubble" in the bed of our trucks. A while back TDR did a study on guys who drive with their tailgates down, thinking it got them better gas mileage. In fact, they found the opposite was true. Truck designers do their homework! The tailgate up creates the air bubble discussed earlier allowing air up and over the bed. Eliminating this bubble (i. e. driving with the tailgate down) actually reduced mileage. Could the same be true here or do the Airtabs do something entirely different?

Darel

 

[Mundgyver]

The air bubble was why I put them on over there rear window. I don't see the rolling of stuff in the bed but my mileage stayed about the same. This next week I will be making a run over to Pocatello, Idaho and will be able to get some hard data on the truck just by itself. If I break 23. 4 mpg on this run then they are working. 23. 4 mpg is what I got the last time I made the run with no Air-tabs. I will post next week probably on Turkey day the results.

 

[dpetre]

There was a thread on pickup caps and would they increase the fuel mileage. Some University back east did a study and said the cap increased the drag. The study showed that the flat type cap reduced drag by 11% and the down tailgate was 3 to 4% decrease in drag. They had a special design cap that reduced drag by over 20%. I do not remember the exact thread maybe one of the other members can pull it up.

 

[DCMille290]

Just an update... ... . I finished out fitting the 5th wheel with the Airtabs yesterday and have pushed my departure date ahead due to orders needing to be filled prior to leaving for AZ.

The install was fairly simple and straight forward. Just a few measurements and a little warm weather yesterday it took about 2 hours total. Took several breaks due to MDW needing help with something.

I'll snap some photos of the install for those of you that haven't seen these yet.

I'll be heading West after turkey day. I will keep everyone up to date with my numbers.



DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[WyoJim]

O. K you guys... How about an update on these air tabs.

I will be heading for Arizona in about a month. Will they help the mileage on my overhead truck camper?

 

[DCMille290]

Update:

My departure date got pushed ahead so I will not be heading to AZ until the 23rd of this month.

I would for sure recommend using the AirTabs on your camper shell. You will need a smooth surface in order to mount the AirTabs up the sides and across the roof.

I believe you would see an improvement in handling, cross-wind effect as well as some mileage gains.

Let me know if you need any help or suggestions or have any other questions about using and installing the AirTabs.



DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[WyoJim]

David,

Thanks for the quick responce. If they work as good as your miracle cloth they will be a must have.



My Camper is aluminum sided so I don't know about the sides, but I am sure they can be installed on the roof. I will look at it when I get outside later today.



Can you e-mail me information and prices and delivery time?

 

[GAmes]

Are the results in yet??

DCMille290, what's the latest??

 

[DCMille290]

Well life on the road has it's interesting times that's for sure, one of which is being able to get here when I want to.

Cell phone is really only good for email.

OK. . the departure day from AR found the RV with 2 inches of ice and 7 of snow on my roof.

I was 2 days late leaving for AZ but went for it anyway figuring it was going to get warmer sooner or later.

The Airtabs on the roof were of no use to me, due the ice and snow glued to the roof and Airtabs.

The sides were OK, but would not give me an accurate test run.

When I was 60 miles North of Phoenix it finally melted, gave me about 200 miles with all Airtabs operating.



First impression... . handling improvement is night and day.

Trailer trucks passing me no longer have any affect on the truck and 5th wheel combo. It is nothing short of awesome.

Did not encounter any winds to speak of, but based on the way the trailer handles I don't think it would be a problem.

As far as mileage goes, not much measurable difference since more than 3/4 of the trip was with the mess on the roof.

Average temp was 6 degrees on the way to Flagstaff. It was really cold.

EGT seemed to be a bit cooler, could have been the Arctic weather, though.

I will be heading from AZ to CA on the 27th, and there is usually some strong winds along I-10 through Palm Springs. It is a short trip, going to LA. The return trip will be the following week to Camp Verde just South of Flagstaff.

I will continue to log fuel, mileage and other vital readings and report as soon as I can.

So far, they were worth the investment just for the handling alone.



DC Miller

Marbleman

 

[Steve Campbell]

Any new news.....

to report here on all of the experiments taking place out there? Has anyone found and "out of the way place" where they really work?

 

[Lsfarm]

Magnetically attached?

Has anyone tried gluing the tabs to a piece of that magnetic sign sheeting, then attaching the tabs to the truck magnetially?



This would allow for easy removal for washing and waxing, and finding the optimal location for air deflection for the windshield.



A person could remove the tabs for around town driving and attach them for the longer road trips.



If the tabs will stay on using this method, then I may just have to give them a try. It will be interesting to see the effect they may have on my tonneau cover at 80mph. Maybe there will be a reduction in wind noise?



Greg L. The Noise Nazi