air tabs

It is surprising that for something this cheap there are still some non-users that have a problem with them and will never believe what any users say about them. I guess if they were made in China or Korea, they would be loved by all. :B

The article did mention:
we found that our coach no longer displayed the seesaw effect due to oncoming big rigs. And we have noticed a marked improvement in our confidence for driving into traffic laden with on-coming big-rigs. Also, while evidence of moderate to heavy crosswinds has been displayed (trees and bushes bending on the side of the road) we have not noticed their effect on our steering.

That sounds like a good enough reason to use them.

The Texan wrote:
The jury is no longer out on them.....They HELP big time and the return on investment is very short at todays fuel price. We just did a 1000 mile trip in the toad and I was amazed at the number of OTR trucks that have now installed them. I would say that on our fuel stops and looking at the trucks we passed, at least 30% of the trucks in the had them on the tractor and over 50% on the trailers. Drivers I have talked to are reporting a ½-1½ mpg gain. If you are a full timer and put on 12-15K miles a year, the $220 would return in a hurry.

The trip just completed, I was especially keeping an eye out for trucks fitted with air tabs - or any vehicle fitted with air tabs for that matter - and I have yet to see a single air tab in the wild. Where are they all??

My view is that unless people can point to several major companies who own hundreds of trucks and trailers and who have them fitted and have documented the effects, then they remain just another curiosity.

One thing is sure - with costs spiralling and fuel being a large proportion of those costs, if these air tabs really did deliver as promised, EVERY company-owned truck-trailer combination would be fitted with air tabs.

From the air tab article mentioned

A before and after test of the Airtab is difficult to quantify. There are no testing standards available; however, that being said, we found that our coach no longer displayed the seesaw effect due to oncoming big rigs. And we have noticed a marked improvement in our confidence for driving into traffic laden with on-coming big-rigs. Also, while evidence of moderate to heavy crosswinds has been displayed (trees and bushes bending on the side of the road) we have not noticed their effect on our steering. Over the 600 to 700 miles we have tested Airtabs we have not noticed the usual buildup of dirt on the rear cap or backup camera lens, including the usual road grime buildup during travel in the rain.

As for fuel economy improvements, we have not been able to establish any measurable improvement. Was the installation worth the cost? You be the judge. If increased driving confidence and the absence of dirt build-up are desirable, then so are Airtabs.

Hardly a ringing endorsement.

Here is one article on AirTabs: AirTabs

I have had air tabs installed for several years and believe they help handling some. MPG increase is too small to determine but the principle is right and I expect there is some increase. Doing things to help aerodynamics is certainly the thing to do. I wish the manufactures of MHs would build in more aerodynamics. What we can do after the fact is limited.

After installing them I get about 110 miles per gallon....AND...my coach rides smoooooooth over bumpy roads!...:B

Have had them on two coaches for close to 100,000 miles. They do help the handling, especially in high winds and when trucks pass. I never keep track of mileage so I can't say whether they help for that or not. They do keep the rear of the coach cleaner. I had them on the sides and the top of both coaches. For the price of them, which is less than a tank of gas, they are well worth the added stability on the highway.
They were also a lot less expensive than a trac bar, which I do not have and don't see any need for now. I usually travel the speed limit which means 70-75 MPH on the highway and I have no problem with the stability of my gas coach. The first coach I had them on was a diesel.

I installed Air Tabs last fall. After driving 4,000 miles in different weather conditions. I find they make a difference. Less pull from passing trucks. Less side wind movement. As far a mileage. I have not seen any. But I had to run in some high head on winds that sucked any MPG improvements that could have been seen. Keeping rear window and toad clean. Does seem to have made some improvement. Heading south to TX last December we ran in wet salt covered roads. Next day we drove in rain all day. When we got to our destination in TX. There was not the usual thick cover of road salt and dirt on toad.
Just for the handling improvements I like them. Not sure that I would pay the going price of $220 for a set of 80. Got 90 of them off EBAY for $100.

Gang,
Never even heard of "Air Tabs". And, based on Bretts description of what they might do for anything of value, I would assume they have some size but, I don't think I've seen anything odd looking on any motor homes. Anyone got any pictures? Thanks.
Scott

Wow-- OK I am Brett Wolfe aka Wolfe10.

And yes, I put Air Tabs on the top of the new coach. Have not put them on the sides-- have not found paint to match and have been told by the "boss" not to mess up the paint job.

My take on Air Tabs: Theory is solid-- find a modern air plane that does not use turbulence generators to "fool mother nature". The question IMO is if they help (they do). But no device is going to single-handedly convert a 35' shoe box into an aerodynamic vehicle.

Do they help with side winds/being passed by large trucks-- some. Do they help with MPG-- some. Do they keep the toad a little cleaner-- some.

If you are looking for a miracle cure, not sure there is any such thing. If you want a reasonably priced easy to apply product (assuming you can find Fusion paint to match your coach) consider them-- or not.

Have a friend that installed them. He claims zero increase in mileage, better handling when passing or being passed by semis,and that the rear of the coach stays cleaner.