Wind deflectors - has anyone used one and do they work

[sljohnson1938]

Any one out there ever used a 'Wind deflector'? The kind that mounds on top of the truck cab. I have talked with people and get both yea and nay replies. They cost several hundred dollars so I would have to get a real good boost in fuel mileage, that or drive a long way.

If I drive 10,000 and get 12 MPG at $4.00 per gallon = $3333.00.
If I drive 10,000 and get 14 MPG at $4.00 per gallon = $2857.00.

[mdamerell]

On the semi's they tell us for the air foils to work, the trailer needs the be snug (within 3') of the tractor. Most pickup to 5'r combinations you will be spread out to far. The newer 5'rs have aerodynamic noses to help the air flow around them. Heartland claims a 1-2 mpg improvement with their design. Each rig is different and thus they each require their own solution.

If it makes you feel any better I ran the numbers for the trucks assigned to my location for last week. 21 tractors ran a little over 44,000 miles, consumed around 7,700 gallons of diesel at a fleet average of 6.12 mpg. Our target is 6.2 mpg as we are a short haul operation. To me, 10-12 mpg looks great! Yes, I know its apples to oranges. Speed, idle and tire pressure are killers to mpg. I'd start there. What about when your not hooked up? What happens to your mpg when your just running around town with it up there and no trailer?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Properly designed and placed the deflectors do help save fuel.

fuel saving retrofit

The real problem is where to buy a researched developed product.

Jonny Cohen

Green Shields

[wandering1]

Desert Captain wrote:
Yes they work.

They are more efficient the closer you get them to the front of the trailer.

I get an additional 1.5 to 2.0 mpg so the break even point was 6,000 miles of towing at $3.50 per gallon. The deflector cost $377 delivered. It took about one year and now the savings go directly into my pocket.

Yes, when properly aligned you will not get bugs on the front of your trailer. :C

Is that your fifth wheel wind deflector experience?:S

[Dayle1]

Didn't save any money on fuel and that was with a mid profile flat front fiver and a short bed truck. With a long bed truck and today's curved front caps and taller fiver, I absolutely don't see how it would do anything but catch bugs, and then only some of the bugs.

[sunnybrooktoyha]

Hey... It did not help with fuel mileage. But took away all the chucking. We have a 40 ft 5er 13 tall

[I_am_still_wayn]

Remember, what it LOOKS like it does and what it ACTUALLY does is often two different things. The study of aerodynamics is a complicated science, and just looking at what we think will be airflow is pointless.

Even if it did increase airflow and MPG's with a trailer attached, which is doubtful, also consider the extra weight of the contraption will decrease MPG's as will driving around with the thing without the trailer.

Also consider the air dams you see on tractor trailers have been scientifically tested, and even a minuscule improvement will pay off on a vehicle that is driven 100,000 + miles yearly for 8 to 10 years.

[YnotTurbo]

Very expensive bug catcher. I would save the money and buy something you really would like to add to your truck or rv..

[JEBar]

Sturgeon-Phish wrote:
I remember a question like this from a while back and the deflectors changed where the bugs splattered
Jim

agree for most applications

Jim

[Dick_B]

Let's see; a wind deflector and nitrogen in the tires should save me $$!

[jjj]

I own one and the only reason was my father got rid of his trailer and got a motor home. I have it mounted on a taylor wings mount that is bolted to the bed of the truck and rises up behind the cab because I did not want to bolt it to the roof. I don't see any savings with it as it is too far away from my fiver. They work on tractor trailers but on pickups they are just too far away fom the trailer. I would not have it if it wasn't for the money I have invested. I would save your cash. You can see mine in my signature.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

So put it on the fifth wheel.

[Old-Biscuit]

Hi Desert....I can see why it worked on your set up.....low profile TT

But on a high profile 5th wheel......nope. Too far away from front cap and and too low.
It is a great bug deflector for front cap though.

[Cummins12V98]

Huge waste of money!

[bdwillie]

I think it depends on the tv/rig combination. We used one on our first 5vr and there was a nice noticable mpg improvement, kinda flat front nose on the 5vr, traded for a new 5vr, lower curved nose area, no difference in mpg with or without it, same truck.

[pianotuna]

Hi Desert,

Where did you get yours?