Wind Deflectors

[LeeMedic]

Anyone here use/used a wind deflector? If so what are your thoughts?

http://www.icondirect.com/categories/RV-Towing-Products/Wind-Deflectors/

[Cool Canuck]

They will get the bugs up a little higher on the trailer.

Although the diagram looks good, I don't think that's quite the way things work. Things that stick up in the air create drag. The air comes off the deflector and tumbles in behind it creating turbulence. Think speed brakes on aircraft, spoilers on gliders and those roof flaps on NASCAR cars. The bugs, however, have some mass to them and are accelerated upward and are unable to follow the change in direction of the air. That is how particle separators work. :) But Hey! I'm no Rocket Surgeon. If someone has some wind tunnel evidence to the contrary, by all means post it.

[mhs4771]

Here's what I have read. Yes they do work, BUT you have to get the right angle, a little off either way and they will hurt more than help. Now if we could put our entire TV and Trailer into a wind tunnel and be able to adjust the angle they might be worth it. Some I've seen run into the hundreds of dollars, then there are the home made ones of plywood. I think it would have to show a good increase of MPG or it might take years to reach pay back.

[jsmith948]

Have you ever noticed that the rear of large trucks (semi vans) collect huge amounts of snow and dirt when traveling in bad weather? The square shape and the abrupt, flat termination of the truck's profile actually creates a vacuum behind the rig. Some of the freight companies are experimenting with airfoils (boat tails) at the rear of the rigs to reduce the rearward drag exerted on the trailers. IMHO, an airfoil mounted anywhere forward of the trailer which also leaves a gap between the foil and the trailer will create turbulence (and drag) behind the foil to the extent that it will negate any benefit. FWIW:)

[SAABDOCTOR]

think about the cars from nascar. spoiler on the back and the car right on the truck is getting sucked along if the spoiler pushed the air up the car in trail would not be pulled along in the draft. so imnsho it is a waste of money un less your like the guy downthe road from me his air foil on the roof of his ford looks like it came of a sprint car.complete with product stickers:eek::D save your money and spend it on more camping:D

[jbsmith]

I agree with others that you're unlikely to realize significant (if any) fuel savings with a deflector when towing a modern trailer with an aerodynamic front. The front of our trailer sits close enough to the cab of the truck that I wouldn't expect any real benefit of a deflector...other than tossing more bugs and road debris even higher up on the cap.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[LeeMedic]

Thanks for your feedback. I guess I will opt out of purchasing one. I don't have money to waste.

[BMcCutcheon]

Sometimes when I go back and look at some of these older posts I am just amazed at some of the responses I see. Since I actually have one of these Deflectors, I think I'll add my 2 Cents.

I have an Aero-Shield 600 Series Deflector for my Full-Sized Ford F250. The short answer is Yes it actually works. You have to set the angle right in order to see the fuel savings and it's not that difficult. The instructions that come with the deflector are not very good, but I found that if I attach one end of a piece of string to the middle of the deflector and the other end to the highest point of the front of my Fifthwheel, the angle is correct when the string runs a straight line from the deflector to the roof line. I have been able to add between 4-6 miles per gallon depending on the terrain and wind conditions. On a trip from Atlanta to Dallas and back this past spring I saved 40 Gallons of fuel compared to the same trip with the same RV/Truck Combination that I took the year before. Thats nothing to sneeze at with fuel being $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon. I figure I will make my money back on the deflector in the next year easy.

[Laredo Tugger]

Almost 6 years to the day I am resurrecting this thread for discussion.
I was waxing the trailer today and noticed a lot of pitting in the dark paint portions of my cap from bugs just above the cab height of my TV. I mentioned this to the "old timer"that mows the storage area grass and he said years ago he had a trailer and used a roof spoiler that deflected the bugs and helped his MPG.
Question: Having not seen many of these apparatuses mounted to TVs as of late (my last few years towing),are these a thing of the past or can anybody explain the benefit of the one they are currently using?
Thanks
RMc

[sourdough]

Almost 6 years to the day I am resurrecting this thread for discussion.
I was waxing the trailer today and noticed a lot of pitting in the dark paint portions of my cap from bugs just above the cab height of my TV. I mentioned this to the "old timer"that mows the storage area grass and he said years ago he had a trailer and used a roof spoiler that deflected the bugs and helped his MPG.
Question: Having not seen many of these apparatuses mounted to TVs as of late (my last few years towing),are these a thing of the past or can anybody explain the benefit of the one they are currently using?
Thanks
RMc


Someone will probably have a better answer than I do, but....

You don't see those spoilers anymore, virtually none even though the amount of RVs on the road has exploded exponentially. I would have to suspect the real benefits of them vs the perceived and the trouble of using them. Secondly, how are you getting "pits" from the bugs? Mine are all plastered on the top of the finish, not in it. I will say if you leave them on too long they then appear to be imbedded but in reality those soft bugs don't imbed themselves in the paint as best I can tell.

[Laredo Tugger]

sourdough, I used the dryer sheets on the complete front surface (the cap and lower compartment) and while the dark bug marks disappeared on the lighter surfaces the dark finished surfaces seemed to be pitted. I could not rub out the white marks embedded into the finish. Maybe I'm using the wrong cleanser/compound to remove the dark finished surface imperfections?
I'm all ears for a suggested remedy.
Thanks
RMc

[66joej]

Can't respond to the bug pits but if you do an internet search on those cab mounted wind deflectors you will find some actually have a negative effect on fuel economy and air dam effect. JMO

[sourdough]

If they are disappearing from the lighter areas but you still see them in the dark I would suspect (my opinion) that there is still some sort of bug residue. I would first ascertain, 100%, if they are pits or stuck on "stuff". That doesn't take much. You can usually take a fingernail and determine if a spot is "raised" or a "pit" - get it moist and let it soften. If they are pits you need to figure a way to stop that - I've never experienced pits from bugs. If not, remove them quickly. Let them soak before trying to remove. Bugs that sit and literally "bake" onto a surface become part of the finish and take a LOT of work to get off. The things I can think of would remove the finish and require rewaxing, 303 or whatever. Get them wet, let them soften, scrub off with something non abrasive and refinish if necessary. I've never found "bugs" that would not come off - some may leave a little "dull" spot until I rewax.

[Laredo Tugger]

joe, Yes. The previous threads (6 years ago) were mostly thumbs down on the spoiler with the exception of the last. Guy claims 3-4 MPG improvement. That got my attention and compelled me to ask. Was thinking about getting one,but then maybe not.

Danny, I will take a closer look at those marks and determine what they are and what to do about them. I'll mess around on a few spots with some different products and get them buggers (no pun intended) out. Thanks.
RMc

[Canonman]

I can say I've not noticed any "pitting" but the hard shelled buggers are he!! on the front vinyl decal of the cougar:facepalm:
Not having much of a problem cleaning them off. I use the Meguiars Gold soap/wax to wash the front cap and then re wax with Nu Finish. No fading as yet either.

[Snoking]

Kind for reminds me of when we raced a flat bottom boat in the 70's. Clowns on lakes when ask how fast their boats went said about a hundred. Funny our 80 MPH boat ran away and hide from them.

Unless the spooler is within a few feet of the trailers front they only effect bug patterns. If they added 4-5 MPG everyone would have on.

[flybouy]

Agree with Snoking. If they worked the first one's to use them would be the haulers that deliver units to the dealership. Reading the ad that the original link points to claims it does everything shy of whitening your teeth. Look at the OTR trucks. The air foils they use are molded on the roof and down the sides of the tractor and there is a relatively small gap between it and the trailer. YMHO

[fourfourto]

I been using a wing for 10 years . discontinued now got it from jc whitney,(was white painted it black)
Iwas getting Apx 11MPG long trip now I get 12.5 MPG % increase and it feels a little lighter climbing long hills.
I save a couple gallons from a full tank (20 gallons light goes on.)

When not towing its at 15 degree angle (see pic)
when towing its a little more then 45 degree angle.(see pic old camper)
think it was 100 bucks
The first round trip from Ny to Nm more then paid for it 10 years ago.

[Laredo Tugger]

As I was finishing the wax job on the 5er the other day I took a closer look at the "pitting" on the front cap. It actually appears to be bug marks in the 'sticker" portions of the front end, I tried rubbing out the marks with no luck. The only remedy I can think of is to remove the sticker(s) or mask off the sticker area and lightly spray black spray paint to match the design of the sticker. I guess I could also order new ones as well.
RMc

[Snoking]

I been using a wing for 10 years . discontinued now got it from jc whitney,(was white painted it black)
Iwas getting Apx 11MPG long trip now I get 12.5 MPG % increase and it feels a little lighter climbing long hills.
I save a couple gallons from a full tank (20 gallons light goes on.)



When not towing its at 15 degree angle (see pic)
when towing its a little more then 45 degree angle.(see pic old camper)


think it was 100 bucks
The first round trip from Ny to Nm more then paid for it 10 years ago.

Might work with a bumper and square box SUV, however with a 5th wheel it is to far from the trailer, and the trailer is to tall.

[JRTJH]

As I was finishing the wax job on the 5er the other day I took a closer look at the "pitting" on the front cap. It actually appears to be bug marks in the 'sticker" portions of the front end, I tried rubbing out the marks with no luck. The only remedy I can think of is to remove the sticker(s) or mask off the sticker area and lightly spray black spray paint to match the design of the sticker. I guess I could also order new ones as well.
RMc

You might do some research on your trailer using both online resources and old brochures from the year your Laredo was manufactured. Keystone was using "improved vinyl graphics" in many of their trailer lines and most of them carried a 5 year "graphics manufacturer's warranty". The way it worked for the replacements I know about is that the owner contacts Keystone, "reminds them of the graphics warranty" (yeah, they have conveniently forgotten more than remembered) and Keystone will ask for photos and make a decision. If the "Keystone decider" agrees, they will send you replacement decals and the cost of installation is your responsibility. Keystone will process the reimbursement with the graphics supplier and you won't be involved in that.

A graphics package for a typical trailer is about $300-400 and installation is at least that much, usually more. If you can get Keystone to spring for the decals, it might be better than using spray paint to reproduce them. YMMV

[Snoking]

If you are going to paint them, be sure use capable paint. A good paint store should know what to use. Chris

[fourfourto]

Might work with a bumper and square box SUV, however with a 5th wheel it is to far from the trailer, and the trailer is to tall.

Mine is originally designed to clip on rear door frame , I mounted it to rail on roof just got 4 extra factory roof attachments for straps
A bigger type like this for you 5 ers.
Has to save some gas :rolleyes:

[Snoking]

A bigger type like this for you 5 ers.
Has to save some gas :rolleyes:

Not in most cases. To far from front of trailer.

[Laredo Tugger]

JRTJH, The trailer is a 2017. I have some warranty work that needs to be done and thankfully the dealer has opened a new store just under an hour from my home (versus over 3 to the east and 2 hours west).
I will add the sticker damage to the list and see where they go with it.
Thanks, really good info.
Chris, I had the same thought about which paint product to use. If I need to go that route I will definitely do some research.
Thanks
fourfourto, Is it me or is that picture showing that trailer too far back in the bed of the truck? It just doesn't look right.

[fourfourto]

fourfourto, Is it me or is that picture showing that trailer too far back in the bed of the truck? It just doesn't look right.


internet pic ?

[Laredo Tugger]

On a closer look,that photo maybe correct if you factor in the extension of the king pin in the front of the trailer. The hitch point is probably over center of the axle.
RMc

[Dave W]

There are literally hundreds of articles and research papers on the 'net describing air flow over a pick up. Most of the pickups are pretty 'slippery' as they are, and especially with the tailgat closed and even better with a tonneau. Add an air deflector will, on a pieckup, disrupt that air flow, putting 'dirty' (disrupted) air in the box, creating drag. If you have a later 5er with the extended pin box, you add drag while an earlier, closely coupled unit might even benefit from a deflector -- though with that said, it didn't for me with our now long gone Kountry Aire.

Think about that deflector - it's stuck up in the airstream 15-18 inches. Then think about how air moves in a smooth stream over your truck then think about how that air stream is disrupted by something sticking up on the roof at some sort of angle.

As far as semi thruck - that's an entirely different story as those deflectors are part of an engineered system, not a haphazard one size fits all add on 'gadget'.

The idea is right, unfortumately the execution doesn't work:nonono::whistling:

[flybouy]

Mine is originally designed to clip on rear door frame , I mounted it to rail on roof just got 4 extra factory roof attachments for straps
A bigger type like this for you 5 ers.
Has to save some gas :rolleyes:

What I question is the air flow that's implied by the red arrows. How is it the air flowing over the trucks windshield (whis is wind tunnel tested by a company that's got a building full of engineers and over 100 years experience) flow in a straight line over the windshield across the roof. Then, like magic, when it hits the air "deflector" it shoots several feet into the air just above the trailer's roofline. :confused:Maybe the guy that GMO'd Jack's beans worked on the design.:o
Obviously you spend your money as you wish but I'm not "buying it".:whistling:

[fourfourto]

Mine was $100 bucks, at least 10 percent increase in gas and I do feel a difference lugging up long hills.
My tow vehicle only has a 5 cyl I need all the help I can get.:rolleyes:

[flybouy]

Mine was $100 bucks, at least 10 percent increase in gas and I do feel a difference lugging up long hills.
My tow vehicle only has a 5 cyl I need all the help I can get.:rolleyes:

I'm happy for you. My BIL had a H3 and after a year of pulling their little teardrop trailer and traded it in for a f150. They towed it with several suvs before that and spent a lot of money until landing on the f150. As for your mpg gains if your H3 is anything like theirs that would be <1.5 mpg gain. Too many factors IMHO to affect mileage claims like that. Change in traffic, change in wind speed or direction, weights, temps, road surface, to say nothing for driver consistency. I'm only stating the reasons I wouldn't buy it. Your satisfaction for your purchase obviously works for you.:)

[MattHelm21]

I had this deflector(picture attached). It was made by Wingmaster and I think it was an Aerotravel III. I was pulling 14K pounds with a gas 454 and 4.56 gears and became a friend of all gas station attendants while owning that rig. The deflector did nothing to improve mileage in my case but that wasn’t what I was thinking when I purchased it. That rig had a terrible chucking problem on those concrete highways with expansion joints at highway speeds. The best analogy I can make is think of an inch worm. The truck hits the expansion joint(drag), the trailer catches up(takes up play in the kingpin/hitch) and bump. Next, the trailer hits the same joint(drag) and since the truck is pulling normally again, the trailer pulls back(takes up play the other way) and bump.

My though process was what if you could reduce drag at the trailer and add drag to the truck at highway speeds and the deflector idea came to mind. For my specific situation it worked and improved things considerably. Now, having a truck with enough power, a hitch/kingpin with very little if any play, and a more aerodynamic front cap on the RV, the deflector has been unnecessary. Of course, reducing bug hits would be well worth it but the company went out of business and it is no long possible to get the mounts.

[66joej]

These wings work but play h**l with gas mileage.:lol:

[77cruiser]

Most of the trailers don't need help in the front, but the square rear is where the help is needed.

[66joej]

Most of the trailers don't need help in the front, but the square rear is where the help is needed.

I think that's why we are seeing more 18 wheelers with this on the back end.

[JRTJH]

Ford (and I'm sure other manufacturers as well) have done an excellent job of "smoothing the airflow" on today's vehicles. They have gone so far as to redesign the windshield wipers and their location, park position and function. Hoods, windshields, rooftops, truck beds, tailgates, tailgate "dams" have all been designed with airflow function as a primary concern. Even small, seemingly insignificant things like the curve of the rear of the cab have been designed to not disrupt airflow.

Hanging a 5' wide "wing" on top of today's trucks is significantly disruptive to the airflow over the vehicle. When engineers change the slope of the windshield 1 degree and reposition the wipers 1/4" up or down, to "fine tune" the airflow, I find it hard to believe that much "square bulk" hung to the roof can be beneficial or an improvement. For me, it seems more "snake-oil" than engineered science... YMMV