Deflector

I use one, mainly to help keep the front of the 5er cleaner from bugs.


Lillyputz

I think if a person could fab one of his own that would start at the top of the windshield and sweep back to just in front of the 5th wheel he would see some real savings. But most of the deflectors just don't extend back far enough. The wind swoops over the top of the deflector and hits the front of the 5th wheel anyway, just a bit higher up. Look how far back the deflectors on the semi's go, almost to the trailer itself.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.