Wind Deflector - Do they work?

[Too Tall]

Thinking about trying one of these, has anyone had any experience with it and does it increase mpg. See attachment.

Website is https://www.icondirect.com/categorie...rs/AeroShield/

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Thinking about trying one of these, has anyone had any experience with it and does it increase mpg. See attachment.

Website is https://www.icondirect.com/categorie...rs/AeroShield/

Various devices similar to this have been around for decades. They rose in popularity initially but i can't recall seeing any lately.

Most of what i read over the years said that the users didn't see any measureable gains and at best just moved the bug splats higher on the trailer.

If you look at the aerodynamic designs od tractor/trailer rigs you'll notice the tractor fairings go back as close as possible to the trailer (and still allow for turns) as well as being as high and wide as the trailer.

From the looks of this device it may only increase turbulence between tow vehicle and trailer. That will most likely just make things worse.

IMHO it would take a major increase in fuel mileage to justify the $400-$500 cost.

I realize there's a coin shortage so take my $0.02 in the form of an IOU.[emoji41]

[Chris Pastuzyn]

I would agree with TitanMike, I recently saw one but was going the opposite direction, so I couldn't ask the driver about it, But for the $ and the risk of doing stuff to the top of the tv, Also the reviews weren't that great on how its attached.

[wanderingbob]

Will never pay for it self in fuel savings . I had one and it did good keeping love bugs off of trailer . Would I take one if they gave it to me , no !

[Too Tall]

Yea, just curious cause I noticed my mpg increases a little when I put my canoe on top. With the open bed truck and the flat front of the TT. The air is hitting a flat wall. I suspect fifth wheels are a little more efficient in that regard. The wind deflector may work better on it. Oh well, so it's not worth it. Thanks.

[Bama Rambler]

Trucking companies use them in certain instances because they increase fuel mileage between 1% and 2%. For the normal personal vehicle there isn't enough savings to ever pay for it, but for trucking companies 1% to 2% can amount to several hundred thousand dollars savings a year.

You'll also see on those trailers that they have skirts between the tractor wheels and the trailer wheels and some even have foldable air foils mounted to the rear doors.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Yea, just curious cause I noticed my mpg increases a little when I put my canoe on top. With the open bed truck and the flat front of the TT. The air is hitting a flat wall. I suspect fifth wheels are a little more efficient in that regard. The wind deflector may work better on it. Oh well, so it's not worth it. Thanks.

A bit of turbulence can result in an improvement in MPG. I recall an episode of Myth Busters that looked at the value of removing a trucks tailgate or leaving the bed open while driving. Removing helped because of the weight reduction. Leaving it down actually caused a decrease in MPG because of the way air flowed over the truck. With the tailgate up, a vortex setup in the truck bed that directed a lot of airflow past the truck bed. Also I recall reading that they put a "knobby" coating on submarines to cause a bit of turbulence along the hull. The turbulence improves water flowing across the hull. So your canoes may just have been causing enough turbulence to help.

[nayther]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

A bit of turbulence can result in an improvement in MPG. I recall an episode of Myth Busters that looked at the value of removing a trucks tailgate or leaving the bed open while driving. Removing helped because of the weight reduction. Leaving it down actually caused a decrease in MPG because of the way air flowed over the truck. With the tailgate up, a vortex setup in the truck bed that directed a lot of airflow past the truck bed. Also I recall reading that they put a "knobby" coating on submarines to cause a bit of turbulence along the hull. The turbulence improves water flowing across the hull. So your canoes may just have been causing enough turbulence to help.

Many years ago was discussing this with an Avionics engineer, old school WW2 vet, extremely knowledgeable. He told me that unless you decrease frontal area, you won't see noticeable improvement. Oh I failed to mention, he was on the SR71 Blackbird design team at Lockheed Burbank!

[dieselguy]

I tried one out several years ago just because it was nearly given to me by the previous owner. On an F350 Ford dually it did absolutely nothing for fuel mileage, but it did keep most of the bugs off the middle of the front cap ... Ha! If you look at the pickup and semi installs ... the semi installs do cover most all the front of a trailer ... pickup installs don't come close.

[old40ford]

I got one of the wings back in 2000, painted it to match my truck, made a custom mount to keep it off my roof and went on a 1200 mile trip. If it boosted my mpg’s I never saw it. Just my experience.

[old40ford]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Yea, just curious cause I noticed my mpg increases a little when I put my canoe on top. With the open bed truck and the flat front of the TT. The air is hitting a flat wall. I suspect fifth wheels are a little more efficient in that regard. The wind deflector may work better on it. Oh well, so it's not worth it. Thanks.

If you ever come to Delaware I will give it to you.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

A bit of turbulence can result in an improvement in MPG. I recall an episode of Myth Busters that looked at the value of removing a trucks tailgate or leaving the bed open while driving. Removing helped because of the weight reduction. Leaving it down actually caused a decrease in MPG because of the way air flowed over the truck. With the tailgate up, a vortex setup in the truck bed that directed a lot of airflow past the truck bed. Also I recall reading that they put a "knobby" coating on submarines to cause a bit of turbulence along the hull. The turbulence improves water flowing across the hull. So your canoes may just have been causing enough turbulence to help.

Yes, good info. I would have thought just the opposite on the tailgate being down. Thanks

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by old40ford

If you ever come to Delaware I will give it to you.

Ha, thanks, you are very generous. Maybe Craig's list, ha.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by nayther

Many years ago was discussing this with an Avionics engineer, old school WW2 vet, extremely knowledgeable. He told me that unless you decrease frontal area, you won't see noticeable improvement. Oh I failed to mention, he was on the SR71 Blackbird design team at Lockheed Burbank!

Well, he ought to know. thanks

[youroo]

You could look up "Air Tabs" and plaster them around the Rear of your towed vehicle! Youroo!!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by youroo

You could look up "Air Tabs" and plaster them around the Rear of your towed vehicle! Youroo!!

They'll definitely improve fuel mileage. Not because they move air better but due to less weight in the tow vehicle. A lighter wallet

[hollywood91]

I've been using the one pictured in the first post for over 10 years. When I first started using it, the TV was an under-powered Dodge B250 extended van. The deflector allowed us to use a/c while towing and maintain 65 mph. Our newer TV is an E350 Ford with the V10.
The wind deflector is mounted at the very rear of the van and adjusted so that the bugs just show up at the very upper corners of the trailer. Does it save me gas, yes just marginally. But it does save me a lot of ladder time trying to get the bugs off the front of the trailer and I can tow most of the time in OD.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

They'll definitely improve fuel mileage. Not because they move air better but due to less weight in the tow vehicle. A lighter wallet

Yup, $220 for a package of tabs to save $5 for a year of towing. And they make waxing the trailer a bunch harder!

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by youroo

You could look up "Air Tabs" and plaster them around the Rear of your towed vehicle! Youroo!!

I did, do they work?

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by hollywood91

I've been using the one pictured in the first post for over 10 years. When I first started using it, the TV was an under-powered Dodge B250 extended van. The deflector allowed us to use a/c while towing and maintain 65 mph. Our newer TV is an E350 Ford with the V10.
The wind deflector is mounted at the very rear of the van and adjusted so that the bugs just show up at the very upper corners of the trailer. Does it save me gas, yes just marginally. But it does save me a lot of ladder time trying to get the bugs off the front of the trailer and I can tow most of the time in OD.

Thanks, there's a lot of positive reviews on the Icon website but these guys/ gals on this thread don't seem to like them. It seems if the bugs are deflected which is the consensus, then that means it is doing some air diversion also.

You mentioned, it enabled you to run in OD. I recently did some testing with my RAM diesel and the difference between 5th and 6th gear is 1/2 mpg at 65 mph. Over time, that will save some money. Of course the best way to save mpg is to slow down. On the air deflector, I've heard anything from 0 to 3 mpg increase, ha.