Wind Break 5th Wheel

We tried one with our Burb and a travel trailer and all I could see was that there were fewer bugs on the trailer. They were all on the deflector. There was zero measurable difference in fuel usage.

Ken

Agree with Grumpy... One might have seen a difference with the older flatter fifth wheels, but the curvy front caps today are already aerodynamic. My fuel mileage slightly improved going from a 27' 6000 lb. TT box to a 27' 9400 lb. fifth wheel with a very rounded front cap. Since it's already aerodynamic, there would be little gained.

and now we're seeing more tractor trailers with the wind deflectors under the trailer and on the aft end...

If you properly size your truck to what you're hauling the deflectors make sense. IE - most semi trucks have them because the top will be even with the top of the trailer.

Now, if you consider my rig in sig - the top of my truck is even with the horse trailer, making it a smooth transition.

But to answer the OP, they don't help any 350-450-550 truck with the standard 5er.

blacktop wrote:
Years ago, back in the late 80's or early 90's, Trailer life magazine did an article on this. Few of us RV'ers had deisel trucks. The ones we used were big block chevy and Ford gassers that got 11 hwy and maybe 6 pulling. In those cases the wind deflectors helped by a half mile per gallon. (maybe) which reduced gas cost pulling a trailer by around ten percent. Today, with the more efficient deisels, the detectable differences with or without a deflector would be marginal at best and not worth the cost unless you plan on driving like an over the road tractor trailer rig.

Also FW front caps are no longer flat walls.

I had one for a number of years As stated they are great for keeping bugs off some of the cap of my 5er. It has been sitting in my shed for quite a while now.

You really have to question the payback, if any, from these gimmicks.

Years ago, back in the late 80's or early 90's, Trailer life magazine did an article on this. Few of us RV'ers had deisel trucks. The ones we used were big block chevy and Ford gassers that got 11 hwy and maybe 6 pulling. In those cases the wind deflectors helped by a half mile per gallon. (maybe) which reduced gas cost pulling a trailer by around ten percent. Today, with the more efficient deisels, the detectable differences with or without a deflector would be marginal at best and not worth the cost unless you plan on driving like an over the road tractor trailer rig.

Been there done that. Fuel saving 0 none nada.
Time saved from scrubbing bugs off the cap.... Priceless!

B.O. Plenty wrote:
You don't see many because they don't do much if anything.

B.O.

X2

Except make money for the manufacturer.