RV wind deflectors do they work we will see

[cj99]

Ok , So as we know the current cost of fuel ( 5 to 6$ ) for diesel it is more important than 1 year ago to try and save fuel. so things I would not have bothered with due to pay back time are now on the table again.
So I have bought ( but not gotten yet ) a wind deflector for the RV ( goes on the back/top of the truck ) . I have been reading and watching videos about them and it seems a very mixed bag. some people claim 1.5 to 3 MPG while others seem to have even seen a loss in MPG.
Most of the reviews that claimed a loss were on trucks that pulled TT and I believe the issue is with the distance between the top of the truck and from of the TT, typically feet away like close to 5 ft. while on a 5th wheel the top of the back of my truck to the front of the RV is maybe 2 ft ? I have to believe they work or you would not see them on big 5th wheel trucks ( tractor trailer setups ) But most people even ones who seen little to no improvement say it did cut way down on bugs on the front of the RV. That alone has value to me and if there is no bugs then were did they go ? They had to go up and over or around the RV which kind of tells me it must work !
Now I am getting ready to travel about 2000 mile on my next trip so even if I get half of what they claim ( 1.5 MPG ) that's 200$ at 5 dollar a gallon price . This almost pays for the air deflector . And if I sold it for half of what I paid for it then I'm ahead right there.
I will try to record data and post it here. Ill do 65 MPH on flat road with it down for 50 miles or so then try it with it up and see what the old MPG gauge says .

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:
Hey, if you say so. I pulled a 12,000 lb. 5th wheel with a 2001 Dodge dually six-speed, and got 12 mpg at times. Never saw 13 mpg, let alone over 14 mpg. Just color me very skeptical.

That truck with the 6 speed stick is about the most fuel efficient truck out there. I assume you had 4.10's?

[fj12ryder]

Hey, if you say so. I pulled a 12,000 lb. 5th wheel with a 2001 Dodge dually six-speed, and got 12 mpg at times. Never saw 13 mpg, let alone over 14 mpg. Just color me very skeptical.

[Johnny_G1]

Pulling my 12000 lb and can esay get that kind of mileage 16.3 litres per 100k. ND THAT WAS A 8OOO MILE AVERAGE TO aLASKA AND BACK.

[cj99]

ya tall tails on the net

[TravelinDog]

ivbinconned wrote:
My Ram is a 16. Have been pulling for 45 years. I think I know what I’m doing and not interested in debate.
We carry 100 imperial gallons which is bigger than the US gal.
Many times we have pulled 1400 plus miles before filling.
I pull between 60 and 70 mph.

[cj99]

fj12ryder wrote:
Not really debating the wind deflector now. Mostly scoffing at the 14+ mpg pulling a 13,000 lb. 5th wheel. Or rather, trying not to scoff. 🙂

LOL

[fj12ryder]

Okay, that makes a bit more sense since the Imperial gallon is about 20% larger than the US gallon. That translates to around 11 mpg. I can believe that.

[ivbinconned]

My Ram is a 16. Have been pulling for 45 years. I think I know what I’m doing and not interested in debate.
We carry 100 imperial gallons which is bigger than the US gal.
Many times we have pulled 1400 plus miles before filling.
I pull between 60 and 70 mph.

[fj12ryder]

Not really debating the wind deflector now. Mostly scoffing at the 14+ mpg pulling a 13,000 lb. 5th wheel. Or rather, trying not to scoff. 🙂

[cj99]

are we still debating this? I posted last summer I drove across the entire country pulling my 40ft 5th and it didn't help more than 0.5 MPG. Just saying I sent it back and would not have done that for no reason if it worked. I did see someone pulling an RV that had a custom-made one that looked good but it was mounted on his toolbox right behind his cab. that one might have worked better.

[larry_barnhart]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Now, now, he said he didn't want to start a big discussion about his, ahem, 14+ mpg towing a 13,000 lb. trailer. Those overhead consoles can be pretty optimistic. I've seen mine show 99 mpg. 🙂

Yea sorry aboot that. 😉

If 14 was possible every truck towing would have one. chevman

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:
Now, now, he said he didn't want to start a big discussion about his, ahem, 14+ mpg towing a 13,000 lb. trailer. Those overhead consoles can be pretty optimistic. I've seen mine show 99 mpg. 🙂

Yea sorry aboot that. 😉

[fj12ryder]

Now, now, he said he didn't want to start a big discussion about his, ahem, 14+ mpg towing a 13,000 lb. trailer. Those overhead consoles can be pretty optimistic. I've seen mine show 99 mpg. 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

ivbinconned wrote:
I just now read this whole thread and enjoyed it.
I built a deflector out of aluminum for a previous truck. It looked good and for me to cut the bug issues in half it was worth it.
If I was to build another for our current truck I would use electric actuators to raise and lower it on the fly. You sure could get an instant account of mileage impact with this a feature.

So as to not start a big discussion here I will not tell you the brand or modifications I’ve done to my one ton long box but I feel good about the fact I average 14+ US mpg pulling our 13,000 lb trailer.

What year, engine and transmission in your RAM? I would love to tow next to you tank after tank. 14+, I would have to see!!!

[JRscooby]

If you are going to be able to move it up/down on the fly, might be even more interesting so change distance to front of trailer too.