Wind Deflector/Wing: MPG Gain?

[ringneck]

taylor wing

Anyone have any experience towing a fifth wheel trailer with a wind deflector or wing mounted on their truck and if there was a gain in mpg?



The brand I am most interested in is Taylor Wing but I welcome responses/reccomendations for any brand of deflector.

like mine,butt it is for sale.for 450.live in sacramento

 

[GAmes]

Anyone with a basic understanding of aerodynamics can easily determine that a wing/deflector cannot possibly give mileage gain. Adjusting it is a joke. How do you compensate for crosswinds, tail winds, quartering head winds, etc? For anything to be effective it has to be a full sized fairing positioned very closely to the trailer. Anything attached to the roof will increase drag (it is another parasite, like the mirrors) and decrease mileage. Pay attention to how many transporters have one. If having one made a positive increase in MPGs we would all have one.

 

[DClark]

Seems like an expensive bug shield if you are not getting any MPG benefit. Just spray some clear silicone spray on the front of your trailer before you leave and the bugs wash right off when you wash it at the end of your trip.
DClark

 

[Pilgrim]

I have read all the posts for and against using a wing, and felt I should offer my opinion of a practical usage.

1. Towing a 33 ft 5th wheel over 3000 miles with a 96 GMC k3500 7.4 Vortec I averaged 12.2 MPG, which was about the same driving solo without a wing.
2.However what causes MPG to fluctuate is when unattached most people do no fold down or remove the wing , causing a bigger wind resistance and drag.
3. Stability towing is achieved by driving at a reasonable speed of between 50 and 60 mph.
4. Wing or no Wing the most important factor on fuel economy is tire pressures and speed.
5. Modern Trailers are designed to be aerodynamic, which is a reason less Pick Ups use a wing.

So from experiance I would use a wing, however to spends around $500 raises the question of viability, and there is so much more that can be done costing far less. I was lucky the previous owner bought and installed the wing so my benefit was at his expense...
6.

 

[GAmes]

However what causes MPG to fluctuate is when unattached most people do no fold down or remove the wing , causing a bigger wind resistance and drag.

Just having it attached to your roof increases drag and decreases mileage, whether there is a trailer in tow or not. Basic aerodynamics and how a wing functions is easily researched. Now if you have figured out how to make a tow vehicle and it's trailer crab into the wind, then you might have enough to claim an improvement.

 

[Greg Rager]

The one thing everyone seems to forget when it comes to towing gas mileage/fuel economy has NOTHING to do with the trailer.

The underside of the tow vehicle is aerodynamically FILTHY.

Divert the air from traveling UNDER the vehicle, off to the SIDE, and you'll see a noticeable increase in economy.

Ever look at the front bumper on an over the road tractor?
There's a reason why it's so big - and has VERY LITTLE ground clearance.
It appears the mass of flat area would have a negative effect - but the opposite applies.
That's NOT a styling trait - it's functional.

I installed a 2014 Ford F-450 front air dam on my 2003 Dodge Durango and picked up a VERIFYABLE .3 mpg highway without a trailer.
Haven't bothered comparing towing mileage, but I'm certain it's corresponds.

 

[GAmes]

The one thing everyone seems to forget when it comes to towing gas mileage/fuel economy has NOTHING to do with the trailer.

Nothing? Are you sure you don't want to research that a little?

 

[kthaxton]

That statement also gives me pause.....

 

[Greg Rager]

Nothing? Are you sure you don't want to research that a little?

I'm more than willing to research it.
Please tell me how to do that, and how my post about my NON towing mileage observation is flawed.
Because all I referenced was my NON towing gas mileage gains.

I'm not sure what it is you're asking of me.

 

[kthaxton]

You didn't say "non" towing in statement that GAmes quoted from you. You basically said the trailer didn't have anything to do with towing mileage.

 

[GAmes]

Please tell me how to do that, and how my post about my NON towing mileage observation is flawed.

Seriously. that is what your think you posted? Here it is again, no reference to non-towing mileage that I see. " ........when it comes to towing gas mileage/fuel economy has NOTHING to do with the trailer"

BTW, I can easily fluctuate my mileage by .3 mpg just by driving east instead of west.

 

[wyosteve]

So to use your logic, towing my flatbed should give the same mileage as towing my big, wind resistant 5th wheel! Ain't happening!! Just sayin'.

 

[Tractorat]

I think you could probably just about affect your mpg .3mpg by how much you ate for breakfast. Or exactly how much fuel in the tank. etc.......

 

[Greg Rager]

I'm not going to get into a spittin contest over semantics.
NOT my style.
If it's a fight you're spoiling for - you'll not get it here.

I made a simple (I thought) comment.
Never intended my contribution to be Troll bait.

 

[kthaxton]

I'm still trying to figure out if you meant what you said, or if it was a typo? Do you really think the trailer has no effect on mileage?

If it was a simple mis-type/typo, you can just admit it...because honestly, if we go by what you typed, it's kinda nuts.

 

[NIsaacs]

The one thing everyone seems to forget when it comes to towing gas mileage/fuel economy has NOTHING to do with the trailer.

Since this is a public forum, "everyone" is a lot of readers. What you are implying is that "none" of us know how to calculate fuel mileage, that we "forget"

We have asked for an explanation of the above trailer comment. Either you can't or wont....we need your help because we can't understand it either.

Nick

 

[Charley67]

Years ago, I made one out of light-weight plywood and put it near the back of a topper for pulling a TT. I could adjust its tilt, and I picked up a couple of MPG on that 350 Chevy. It looked as home made as it was!