Wing things (or whatever they're called!)

[Dkevdog]

A co worker beat me to the punch on a used 5er (although I think he paid too much ), it's an alfa 30' with twin slides. He unfortunately drives a chevy, but thats his problem . The trailer has a stand up bedroom and has a very high profile. Comfortable but a ***** for wind resistance. Does anyone have any real experience with those wing things or air spoilers? Do they improve mileage and decrease drag? What is the actual name for them anyway ? I tried searching but if you don't know what they're called... ..... .



Kev

 

[Shooter]

Wings

My frontal is about 4" lower than my friends Alpin lite. At 75 the wind drag is ferocious. My bug line was about 3" higher than my cab. I bought an oversized Taylor Wing. They have a headache rack mount for long beds. I picked up about 2mpg towing. My bug line is right at the top edge of the trailer. I made a couple different struts as the factory 12"ers only raised the bug line up 3 feet. I made a set of 20" struts, drilled holes every inch from 12". adjusted the length up from 12 every fuel stop untill I had it tweeked in. I now have a 3" strip of bugs that get between the roof and bottom of wing and no bugs up to the roof. If you are looking for a fuel savings pay back, you will probably need to transfer it to your next truck too. If you are looking to pick up towing speed you will be happy. 50-60 mph front quarter winds are not killers any more. I get 13. 5 mpg pulling my fb car hauler/ w car ( 7k#) and I get 12. 5 pulling my 5th ( 12'6" and 9. 5k )with the wing. Thies figures are for the same 2200mi trips taken 2 or 3 times a year with each trailer. I used to get about 8. 5 to 9 pulling the 5th depending on the season before I got the wing.



Winds are a given here in the central desert, spring and fall 40 - 70 most of the time and summer : every afternoon. In to a quarter wind you don't keep looking to see who dropped the anchor, and a head wind is barly noticable. I don't recommend the little 20 or 22" wings sold at C W as they are for TT's not 5ths. Taylor makes a 32" for 5th wheels

Check out www.taylorwings.com/rvwings.htm



Towing with out my Taylor wing would be like going back to stock hp as far a towing performance.



MHO

 

[lizzyhermit]

hey shooter, what speeds do you run with these mpg figures?

 

[Runaway]

Additional Information Please

Shooter,



Great response, would you happen to have any pic's of the modifications you made to the wing? Looked at the web site, they have a sale on the "over-size" wing right now. I've actually been considering this addition. Big rigs use them so they must have some benefit, even if it a long term payback.

 

[RHARVEY]

I have a Wingmaster and love it. We used it the first time on the trip to Arkansas from Ca. in May. We drove 4850 miles and averaged 15. 75 mpg and ran between 65-70 with a mid height 6500 lb 5th wheel in tow. It does make a difference on the head winds and also some how it makes the trailer more stable in the cross winds. .



Rick

 

[Okie-Go]

I agree with shooter. I bought mine while I had a tag-along. It helped on it. I now have a 5er and pulled one trip 200 miles without it. Never again will I leave home without it. The difference is big. bugs are almost out of the question. Trailer seems to track better, and besides I think they look neat.