I have seen attached to the top of TV a deflector and was wondering if it is really necessary.

Absolutely everything I've read on these forums over the last several years confirms, there's no real advantage. Save your money.However, we have a truck with a shell and the shell has ladder racks. We carry a canoe on the ladder rack. We tow a TT. And the over all performance of towing always seemed to be better with the canoe than without it. Rather than deflecting up over the top, the canoe sliced the air side to side. It was not noticeable when the canoe was one, but when the canoe was off, I could feel the difference.You may think I'm nuts on this, but that's your privilege. As far as fuel efficiency, deflector or canoe, the fuel efficiency is nill, I'd never spend my money getting a deflector for the purpose of hoping to get a return of fuel economy.

They do save---- a little. The problem is that you would have to drive hundreds of thousands of miles per year to get any return on your investment.You can notice a real and immediate improvement by slowing down 5 MPH in your cruising speed.

AS usual 99 percent of every thing I've read on RV.net on the wing shows most folks have no experience with them will not recommend them for various reasons. Then from those that have them and used them about 3 out of 4 say they like them for various reasons. Stand by and you will see what I mean.

I have one and have had it for years. I used it on my 2001 TV for a bit less than 10 years. Two year ago I installed it on the 2011 TV I have now. To tell you the truth I couldn't tell you if I got better fuel mileage or not. I can tell you this though, the bottom half of the front end of the 5er was freer of bugs than the top part. My deflector is the type that adjusts itself to the speed at which you drive, meaning it's on pistons and lays back when you attain the right speed. I had it on a TV with a short box and now I have a long box TV and even though it sits farther to the front because of the long box and I have adjusted it to the last holes of adjustment, it seems that it doesn't stay up far enough to deflect over the top of the 5er. I don't feel like trying to get rid of the pistons and putting something on that doesn't adjust but I could change my mind. It's another piece of equipment to maintain and added weight to the TV. I have enough TV to handle the weight, so that's not a problem. Another post for you to absorb. Have fun.

I've one, but originally bought it for my previous truck that had an extended height cap and adding it added a good two mpg. If I hadn't already had it I don't believe it would be cost effective with our current setup as it only adds about 1/2 mpg. Definitely use it on long trips though.

Deflector | Good Sam Community

B_Sjulestad
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2014
bad99ram wrote:
bogart661 wrote:
I used one for 13 years with my old TV and 5er, besides keeping the front of the trailer cleaner it did improve my mileage by almost 20%. Mine was very easy to put on and take off, maybe 5 min.
I stopped using it when we got our new 5er because the front cap is more aerodynamic than our old flat front 5er. Still have it if anyone is interested.

I am going to get one of those, along with the fuel line thing and the exhaust add on thing. With those 3 things I will save 106% on my mileage which means I will be producing fuel which I can sell. :)

That my friend is funny - roflmao
tsetsaf
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2014
sunnybrooktoyhauler wrote:
Hey! I tow a 40 ft 5 er.I have one on my TV. It did nothing or very little for mpg however it took ALL the chucking out. I love it. Good luck.

Come on...
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2014
You'd best be careful! I used all of those and was cited by the EPA for leaving puddles of fuel where the excess drained out. :)
bad99ram
Explorer
Mar 29, 2014
bogart661 wrote:
I used one for 13 years with my old TV and 5er, besides keeping the front of the trailer cleaner it did improve my mileage by almost 20%. Mine was very easy to put on and take off, maybe 5 min.
I stopped using it when we got our new 5er because the front cap is more aerodynamic than our old flat front 5er. Still have it if anyone is interested.

I am going to get one of those, along with the fuel line thing and the exhaust add on thing. With those 3 things I will save 106% on my mileage which means I will be producing fuel which I can sell. :)
B_Sjulestad
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2014
lillyputz wrote:
I use one, mainly to help keep the front of the 5er cleaner from bugs.

Lillyputz

Yep, moved the bug line up about 3 feet :B
bogart661
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
I used one for 13 years with my old TV and 5er, besides keeping the front of the trailer cleaner it did improve my mileage by almost 20%. Mine was very easy to put on and take off, maybe 5 min.
I stopped using it when we got our new 5er because the front cap is more aerodynamic than our old flat front 5er. Still have it if anyone is interested.
sunnybrooktoyha
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
Hey! I tow a 40 ft 5 er.I have one on my TV. It did nothing or very little for mpg however it took ALL the chucking out. I love it. Good luck.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Mar 28, 2014
laknox wrote:
egshswinger wrote:
I have seen attached to the top of TV a deflector and was wondering if it is really necessary.

Biggest issue is the distance between the deflector and the front of the FW; allows air back down into the gap. Yes, it saves...some...but so small that you've got to drive literally hundreds of thousands of miles to pay for it. Newer rigs are much more aero-efficient these days, so I think they're money wasted. Having a rounded =rear= cap on your FW will give you much more mileage boost because it's that turbulence on the back that hurts.

Lyle

X2

There's a reason the ones on semi tractor/trailers are very close to front of trailer and same height as trailer
fpresto
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
Even if it saves you a small amount in MPG while towing it costs you mileage when not towing as anything in the airflow will do. That means if you are really concerned about mileage it must be removed when not towing which for most people is the majority of time the truck is used. Taking it on and off and storage issues can be a real hassle so most just leave it on which defeats the whole purpose. If you are on the road most of the year at some point, in a few years, you may get even on the cost. For the occasional user the break even point if ever would be many years down the road.
laknox
Nomad
Mar 28, 2014
egshswinger wrote:
I have seen attached to the top of TV a deflector and was wondering if it is really necessary.

Biggest issue is the distance between the deflector and the front of the FW; allows air back down into the gap. Yes, it saves...some...but so small that you've got to drive literally hundreds of thousands of miles to pay for it. Newer rigs are much more aero-efficient these days, so I think they're money wasted. Having a rounded =rear= cap on your FW will give you much more mileage boost because it's that turbulence on the back that hurts.

Lyle

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