If I install Air Tabs & Solid Aero Hubcaps will I get 10 mpg

Crespro wrote:

JetAonly wrote:
If you don't already see 10mpg, I wouldn't expect it in the future.

I am an Aeronautical engineer who flew Jets for 34 years, I know a bit about air flow.

These devices may show fleet improvement, if you drive 120,000 miles per year.

While I only flew jets for nine years and am a mere mechanical engineer, I would agree. My AirTabs help in stability, but there is no proven mileage improvement. Still, for $265 they were a good modification that I think are useful in a crosswind.:)

The ME would have been better for me. It would be interesting to quantify their improvement. I wonder if you could use a yaw accelerometer to find what happens? Most reporters have no notion of scientific method.

dbates wrote:
Air Tabs have been discussed on this forum for many years. All that have installed them say that mileage improvement was negligible but handling improved significantly. Semi blow by, side wind, cleaner rear ends/cameras, etc. problems reduced substantially.

Dave

Dave's summary is my results. Two real years experience driving our small T28 Bounder without Air Tabs. And then two years of driving it after Air Tabs. Maybe a smidge more MPG, but not the reason for installing them. The comfort of driving in shifting cross winds, and as trucks went by - was the main improvement. And nice side benefit, cleaner back of rig, and toad. Those are factual results, not a hypnotic trance sent by the makers of Air Tabs. Can I prove it? Nope, and sure don't care to try too...

I recommend them, especially for rigs with longer tail wag... Least expensive handling improvement I made to the 98 T28 Bounder, with a 99 F53 chassis.

Best to all,
Smitty

Well actually I have a couple of engineering degrees, I have worked in aerospace, done work for NASA that a friend of mine and I got an award from NASA for the work. DATA/MEASUREMENTS are how man has progressed not claims and testimonials.

there is no measurements to support stability. there are measurements to support increased mpg for air tabs. those measurement support the equivalent to 1 +/- mph change in velocity and an ENORMOUS pile of various unsubstantiated "claims"

rgatijnet1 wrote:

DanTheRVMan wrote:
Where is objective evidence on the stability?

Besides what users have said, here is an article by NASA that specifically address stability. It says:

Practical solutions to aerodynamic challenges, exemplified by the Airtab, offer increased stability, safety, and economy to airborne and surface vehicles alike—contributing tangible benefits to transport and travel nationwide.

NASA reporthttp://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/tech_life_aeroserve_prt.htm

I have read that article in the past. NO objective data about air tabs in that NASA "advertisement" piece.

Air tabs website really makes no objective claim about mpg or stability. Users claim 2 to 4% and they ignore users who found no benefit. I personally believe air tabs have a 1 to 2% increase in mpg or slightly less than reducing your speed 1 mph.

Increased stability and safety just seem like snake oil hype. Hard to believe any claims on stability with no objective measurements/data simply "claims" when air tabs have such small affect on mpg ("claims" are only 2 - 4%). Air tabs have a positive effect it is just so small it is almost not measurable.

BTW, took NASA almost 20 years to figure out ice falling could catastrophically damage the space shuttle wing so they retired the shuttle and they had lots of real good engineers working that issue.

lj2654 wrote:
I get 7.5 mpg period...towing car, not towing car, wind, no wind, 55 or 65 hills, no hills!

X2

There just butt ugly and for a slight possibility of a minimal mpg gain, not worth the defacing of the MH, my opinion of course. The few extra bucks isn't worth it. Just take your foot outta the pedal.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

DanTheRVMan wrote:
It amazes me that people acknowledge air tabs have minimal effect on mpg as they have minimal effect on air flow and then claim a substantial effect on stability when it is windy with no objective evidence to support the claim.:S

There has been several tests to substantiate the claims about how AirTabs modify the airflow but some people continue to dismiss them and ignore any statements by actual users. Of course these are the same people that swear by someone's review of a product that THEY approve of. :R

Where are objective tests?

decreasing speed 1 mph is reported to save 3% in mpg according to documents from cummins which is on the same magnitude as the "claims" for air tabs. Most people would view 1 mph difference as minimal and essentially unmeasurable error. This assumes you think the claims are not exagerated and may only be 1 to 2%.

So since people do understand 1 mph and 3% where is the objective evidence for stability????

People also put magnets in their shoes, where copper bracelets, and claim placebo sugar pills reduce their pain so individual claims are always suspect. Where is objective evidence on the stability?

It amazes me that people acknowledge air tabs have minimal effect on mpg as they have minimal effect on air flow and then claim a substantial effect on stability when it is windy with no objective evidence to support the claim.:S

JetAonly wrote:
If you don't already see 10mpg, I wouldn't expect it in the future.

I am an Aeronautical engineer who flew Jets for 34 years, I know a bit about air flow.

These devices may show fleet improvement, if you drive 120,000 miles per year.

While I only flew jets for nine years and am a mere mechanical engineer, I would agree. My AirTabs help in stability, but there is no proven mileage improvement. Still, for $265 they were a good modification that I think are useful in a crosswind.:)

I once hit 13.8 MPG... For a few hundred miles.. Of course, the tumble weeds were passing me like I had the brakes on (I was doing 55-60 and they were doing about 100 MPH).