Towing 5th Wheel with Air Foil

[Big John]

I pull a 32' 5th wheel that grosses @ 10,000 pounds with my '96 3. 54 4x4 5 speed. I have seen many rigs go by that are simular to mine that use an air foil on the truck to direct flow over the trailer. My trailer has a high front and does catch a lot of air.

My question is what gains in fuel efficiency have some of you that have these devices gained, what are the best manufacturers and what do they cost?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Until recently I have towed my trailer only 3 or 4 times a year. I plan on towing many more miles this year.

Thanks... ... ... John


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'94 2500 Diesel Reg. Cab
Auto 3. 54 4X4 TST 230hp
"If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!
'96 2500 diesel clubcab 4x4 5speed

 

[TR7110]

BigJohn,
I have a similar 5th wheel and was wondering the same thing about the wing. I have been looking at http://www.irv2.com and the folks over there said they got about . 5 mpg increase. Several also related the loss of wind turbulence in the bed. There were a few other comments about stability of the tow and some talk of various types. Most that have them are happy with them. For now I am going to do without.
TR

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99, 2500 QC, Laramie SLT, 5 spd, 3:54 LSD, Sprayed Liner, Nerf Bars, K&N Stock, PacBrake, EGT (Pre & Post Turbo) & Boost Gauge, Power Edge, Bosch 275 injectors. Jardine 4" Exhaust, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Rancho 9000's, Tekonsha Sentinel. My Truck

 

[David Phipps/Mike Hurd]

The wind flow comes off the windshield and rises 13 " then starts the downward flow. Before I installed my DOT sleeper on my 92, It was put in a windtunnel and on avg. it was a 13 " rise before it started its flow. I have a 7 " gap between the roofline & Sleeper and catch no bugs/windflow between the 2. I haul very high and wide O/S loads which require permits to haul. Altho the sleeper is taller and wider than all airfoils out there I have picked up 1. 5 mpg. Still would take many thousands of miles to pay for the sleeper unit in regards to fuel costs saving. Just my $. 02 Mike

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92 Std cab. LE. 215 P-pump reman cummins motor. NV 4500 5 speed, 3. 54, 105 gal Aux tank in bed. Borgeson shaft, Banks Power pack. 12cm Hot end housing w/wastegate. 4" Exh, Pyro & boost guage, oil temp guage. E-brake. Galaxy DX99V, Used as a Hotshot/express Reg. at 36,000 lbs in 48 states. Custom built DOT approved Sleeper unit. & Texas Star 400 http://hometown. aol.com/hotshothauler/myhomepage/business.html 2000, Air brakes on truck & trailer. 19,000 miles todate. DOT custom built sleeper unit. pulling a 40' G/N flatbed
2000 FL-70 Pulling a 48' low boy.

 

[BCFAST]

I hauled a G/N race trailer with my 2500. It wasnt as tall as an RV but was still 11ft! I added a wing and got 1-1. 6mpg increase!! Plus the better handling. . without the wing, it felt like I was driving around with an open parachute, and with the wing, you couldnt tell the trailer was back there at all! Mine was on a steel stand that mounted to the bed rail, was fiberglass wing. Got it at Camping world.

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97 2500 CC 4x4 3. 54 5spd, #12 plate, 4inch open exhaust, 235/85 Michelins, PrimeLoc, Red Tops

 

[Guest00]

I have been concidering a wing, not so much for fuel savings but just for reducing wind drag which means more speed!! I Have been considering a Taylor Wing that mounts on bed rail. Stainless wing on sale this month.
www.taylorwings.com
anyone have any other units they are considering.

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2K, 2500,Laramie,Quad,4x4,3:54LSD,auto,reese 15k 5th slider, EISLEY BULL BAR,WESTIN NERFS, TA's,9000's, DD1's,PE-EZ & elbow, ISSPRO pyro & boost, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", DTT VB,TC and COOLER, PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, onboard.
pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA,VFW,SASS

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 12-15-2000). ]

 

[Turbo Thom]

The Taylor is the first one I look at but the one I think I'll get is the fiberglass type with the feature that it lays down at speed and stands up as the wind force decreases. With a large,red Ram head decal on it , of course. I won't buy the type that mounts on top of my truck.
The 13 inches is probably not applicable to my 96 but was told to adj. it according to the bug line. Also the front of the fifth wheel is call a sail for a reason. Only the wind is pushing it the wrong way.
This forum is great. Thanks Steve. Well done.
See y'all.
Preston Thompson #ad


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96 3500 Black 5 speed turbo diesel, SLT, with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , with other goodys on the way.

 

[tony1461571]

I pull a 30ft 5th wheel that is very hi in the front.

I have a aluminum air deflector.
I just started pulling with it this summer.
Before I used it air drag was hurendous. There were times it was so bad I wouldn't have the power to pass a semi on the interstate.
And fuel mileage was very bad 7 to 9 MPH depending on the driving condtions. With the deflector 11 to 15 MPH.
Cross winds are still a problem.
But it has been a good buy. I got it at Camping World.
98. 5 BLACK QC SLT

 

[BPINE]

Well in my case all the air foil did was keep some of the bugs off the front of my trailer. You would think that would meen that there would be an improvement in something but so far (4 years) I don't see a single improvement in milage or anything for that matter. I have a 34 foot 14k 5th wheel. Just my 2 cents worth.

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1996 4x4 3500 4. 10 5spd, Diesel Dynamics stage 2 injectors, #5 TST plate, Govoner spring kit, 16cm2 housing with 4" exhaust, Cummins exhaust brake, US Gear overdrive, Grover air horns, Mag-Hytec cover, and more.

 

[merryman]

Several years ago, either Trailer life or Highways carried a report of a study on this.
They ran a prescribed course with a truck pulling a fiver. I do not remember particulars, but it was several hundred miles of mixed driving. Then they installed a wing and redid the same course.
Their conclusion was that the benefit was negligible and that it would take years to pay for the wing with the savings.
The differences may be more individual rigs. I gross 19K with my fiver (plus or minus a couple hundred depending on how full tanks are etc) and I have never noticed wind problems except when bucking strong winds. I get 11 to 12 miles per gal. towing with the O1 ETH DEE down about . 5 miles per gal from the 93.

Vaughn

 

[BillH]

Turbo Thom, I have the deflector that you are talking about getting and I am very please with it. The mileage difference is minimal but there is a tremendous difference in wind drag, a big improvement here.

 

[Forrest]

BCFAST & 20 FAN,

How tall & wide are your wings? Mine gave me over 1mpg increase when it was on the back of my 78 Bronco. It worked fine for the pull trailers, but doesn't deflect enough wind for the tall 5'er. I'd guess that the wings that are giving better mileage are larger than the ones that don't show any mpg increase.

I found that the effect of big rigs passing in the same direction & going the opposite direction was less with the wing. Another added benefit. #ad
Forget the mileage increase, those bugs are a pain to get off. #ad


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Money Sink - 96, 5 speed, HX40-16, TST #11/280 slid 3/4 way, 300 HP Injectors, Scourge BD Governor kit.
4" CATless turn down straight out back.
ISSPRO Pillar, Delvac 1 & Amsiol, RE-0880, Mag-Hytec, 3:54, 235s on Alcoas, Rancho 9000's, Valentine One.
Clutch days are numbered, McLeod on the way.
Dutchmen 27' 5th Wheel.
GoldWing.

[This message has been edited by Forrest (edited 12-14-2000). ]

 

[Guest00]

Taylor has 2 sizes: 24x60 and 32x60

 

[Guest00]

Just at camping world sit and checking out the air deflector 2. at speed it folds back to the same angle as the windshield. that would deflect the air to half way up the front of the trailer, not good enough as i dont want to spend the money and time on half a deflector.
just my opinion
edit: just got off the phone with Taylor and the rack gussits sit back in the bed about 8" and the wing sets back about the same, so on a short bed it will interfere with jack knifing the trailer to 90*. another no go. Their roof mount would fit ok but I shure do hate to think about drilling holes in the roof, ouch #ad


[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 12-15-2000). ]

 

[NVR FNSH]

My dad has a roof mounted wing on his '96 CC - the wing mounts to 'ears' that slip thru the CC vent windows. No drilling is required.

I'm a little confused here. Some of you are saying that you got no improvement in mileage but that there is a noticable decrease in wind drag. Wouldn't an increase in mileage be the result of decreased drag? something here doesn't make sense to me.

Brian

 

[merryman]

The Jan 2001 Trailer Life mag. came today and on page 76, it "Product Showcase" is an add by Davidson wind deflectors claiming to guarantee a 20% fuel economy improvement. I am skeptical as can be---but...

Vaughn

 

[BPINE]

That a boy Brian just what I was thinking.

 

[Guest00]

<QUOTE>Originally posted by Brian Meadows:


I'm a little confused here. Some of you are saying that you got no improvement in mileage but that there is a noticable decrease in wind drag. Wouldn't an increase in mileage be the result of decreased drag? something here doesn't make sense to me.


Brian: the fuel that would have been saved by less wind drag at lower speeds is being used up by towing at higher speeds #ad

 

[One Old Dog]

I will agree with MerryMan I have pulled with both and did not buy one because it did not help out a bit. Save your money buy some power with it, then you can tell the difference.

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Dirt Water Fox

 

[Turbo Thom]

Call it a bug shield. I had rather clean them off the foil than the front of the trailer.
Also Campers Choice in Red Bay , Alabama has the fiber glass Trail Ease .
Preston

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96 3500 Black 5 speed turbo diesel, SLT, with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , with other goodys on the way.

 

[Jim Gehlen]

The Davidson Air Foil will only guanantee the 20% if you buy the whole package which includes foils for the trailer front and rear. Doesn't enhance the appearance of the trailer one bit. IMHO. However, the air foil for the truck does help with the bugs. Best I've ever got towing the trailer (16K) with the Dodge is 14 MPG through the desert from Cedar City, Utah to Las Vegas. The Volvo runs out at 10. 76 MPG at 29% engine load. It has the Cummins N14 power plant.

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96 2500 SLT, Banks Stinger w/KN Air, Power Vision mirrors, Rhino lining sprayed on. Davidson Air Foil, Firestone Air Bags,

97 Volvo, WIA64TTES, modified from 3 to 2 axles, 370/435 HP Fuller 10 speed. 3. 73 rear end.

2K Alfa Ideal, 34RLTBS