air tabs
Wolf 10 are you going to install air tabs on the new motorhome?? I'm still pondering putting them on.. Are they worth the money?? Do they help in any way, mpg, handling?? Thanks.. Mike Mathews..
Forum Discussion
I installed them on our T28 Bounder. Was able to match the tan paint of the basement with a good spray paint.
Truck passing impact was an improvement. Still got shoved around, but much less white knuckle.
Strong shifting direction winds was even more of an improvement of more comfortable driving.
Toad, rear of coach, including rear camera stay cleaner. (In rain, the camera used to be next to useless, Airtabs helped that quite a bit.)
I did not buy it for MPG improvement. But, our MPG did go up just about a 1/2 MPG over several thousand miles. Could have just been the luck of the draw. But I went back and checked three trips to the same location before, against two trips after the Airtabs installed. The first three were with a 1/4 MPG of each other average. The last two were almost exactly the same, and showed just under 1/2 MPG improvement. Not a controlled test.
This handling improvement was the cheapest one that I made for the F53 chassis. I think it really helps for those with long overhang rear ends.
Our new coach is 40' with tags, and I do not feel the trucks and so far the winds do not disturb it like the smaller T28 Bounder. But, for just the cleaner rear end and toad, I believe when we have some scars touched up on this coach, I'll have some airtabs painted to match the side. I have some left over from the Bounder install, and I did not think about just trying them on the roof until then like Brett did. Will see if I have enough to do so.
Airtabs threads always seem to be the same. People who have had them, seem to see the positives associated to using them. Then there always seems to be posters that have never used them - that say they do not good. (Not this thread, but others over the years have claimed they are snake oil, and questioned the intelligence of us weaker minded members that have tried them with positive results:)!)
IMO - If all you want is a cleaner back end and toad, Airtabs will help. If you have a coach that is impacted by passing trucks and shifting winds, Airtabs will help. And if you really do get a bit better MPG, great. If not, still OK.
Last thought, is they are so inexpensive - put them on and try them. If you don't see a benefit for your rig, take a plastic putty knife and remove them. A bit of adhesive remover and you have zero remaining Airtabs:)!
Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty
Truck passing impact was an improvement. Still got shoved around, but much less white knuckle.
Strong shifting direction winds was even more of an improvement of more comfortable driving.
Toad, rear of coach, including rear camera stay cleaner. (In rain, the camera used to be next to useless, Airtabs helped that quite a bit.)
I did not buy it for MPG improvement. But, our MPG did go up just about a 1/2 MPG over several thousand miles. Could have just been the luck of the draw. But I went back and checked three trips to the same location before, against two trips after the Airtabs installed. The first three were with a 1/4 MPG of each other average. The last two were almost exactly the same, and showed just under 1/2 MPG improvement. Not a controlled test.
This handling improvement was the cheapest one that I made for the F53 chassis. I think it really helps for those with long overhang rear ends.
Our new coach is 40' with tags, and I do not feel the trucks and so far the winds do not disturb it like the smaller T28 Bounder. But, for just the cleaner rear end and toad, I believe when we have some scars touched up on this coach, I'll have some airtabs painted to match the side. I have some left over from the Bounder install, and I did not think about just trying them on the roof until then like Brett did. Will see if I have enough to do so.
Airtabs threads always seem to be the same. People who have had them, seem to see the positives associated to using them. Then there always seems to be posters that have never used them - that say they do not good. (Not this thread, but others over the years have claimed they are snake oil, and questioned the intelligence of us weaker minded members that have tried them with positive results:)!)
IMO - If all you want is a cleaner back end and toad, Airtabs will help. If you have a coach that is impacted by passing trucks and shifting winds, Airtabs will help. And if you really do get a bit better MPG, great. If not, still OK.
Last thought, is they are so inexpensive - put them on and try them. If you don't see a benefit for your rig, take a plastic putty knife and remove them. A bit of adhesive remover and you have zero remaining Airtabs:)!
Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty
