realistic MPG expectations

proxim2020 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
My gas mileage with the wind deflector would disagree with you! I bought one 2 years ago and my towing mileage increased by approx. .8mpg. so my $75 craiglist investment paid for itself on our trip to Myrtle Beach. My Excursion tows very differently with it. no more does it downshift at the slightest headwind or hill. and with my scanner the throttle opening % decreased by about 12%. so yes they do work, but as was stated they need top be back near the TT. On my X the wing is at the very rear and it does what it is supposed to do. I believe on a Pick Up truck with a TT it would not be very helpful due to the distance between the trailer and cab.

Maybe you have more of a perfect setup. I was interested in them years back and did a ton of research. From reading the posts of many who've purchased them before, most say that it's not worth it. The vehicle height differential, angle of the deflector, width of the deflector, and the gap between the deflector and the trailer all have to be setup correctly in order to see any real gains. Often times the airflow falls off the trailing edge of the deflector and gets sucked into the low pressure trailer gap negating gains.

I agree. They cannot just be attached to the roof and call it done. I have mine set up darn near perfect. I get a small amount of bug splatter at the very top edge of the trailer maybe less than 6 inches, same goes for the sides. Before the deflector I had dead bugs all over the front of the trailer. Short of a wind tunnel the less dead bugs on the front tell me the air is moving up and over and around the sides of the trailer. I'de like to move it back on the roof of the X but I'm as far back as I can go. So at this point I'm happy with what it accomplishes!