eaherrmann
Central Va
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Joined: 02/10/2008
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I appreciate all of the responses. Guess I'll try one, even if it just cuts down on my bug guts.
Ed & Elizabeth and occasionally Ashliegh
Copper
2007 Dodge Ram 3500,QC,LB,DRW,4x4 w/6.7 CTD (BlueTec), 6 speed auto, Factory Exhaust Brake
B&W companion hitch over sprayed in liner
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Onan 5500, Polar Barrier
Army/Navy retired
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curt12914
Northern NY State
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Joined: 03/15/2003
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I had one (the operative word here is HAD).
The problem is there is no science to installing/adjusting the wing. It's purely trial and error. And to make it even worse, what works well one time, doesn't work well the next time. Some adjustments actually hurt fuel mileage.
As far as saving bugs on the trailer, it does save some, but now you have the wing to clean in addition to the trailer (and they do catch bugs on the leading edge).
What I can tell you about my experience with mine:
~ I could never see any difference in fuel mileage when towing.
~ When I wasn't towing, the wing reduced fuel mileage approximately 3 mpg.
~ It's hard to store (and secure) the wing at a campground, so you usually end up leaving it on the truck for your local trips when camping.
~ It's very easy to scratch your truck installing or removing the wing.
~ I, personally, could never recoup (even close) the cost of the wing in fuel savings.
05 Ford F-350 Lariat CC 4X4 PSD DRW Line X Retrax
02 Montana Big Sky 3295 RK (2) Honda EU2000is
When my grown kids were inspecting our new fifth wheel, one asked why we bought a trailer that sleeps 4. My reply was that we couldn't find one that sleeps 2!
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sbmowrey
DuBois Pa
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Joined: 11/10/2004
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eaherrmann wrote:I appreciate all of the responses. Guess I'll try one, even if it just cuts down on my bug guts.
You made the right choice, even the nay-sayers admit the bug line goes up and that means there is less wind hitting the front and it is also at an angle rather than straight on.
2002 GMC 3500 DRW 4x4 8.1/al
1993 40ft Spinnaker 2 slides/3axles
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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I agree with curt12914 for the same reasons. The cost of the wing usually is not recovered thru the savings in fuel. Use the money for wheel chocks or something.
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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glsurrat
Virginia
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Joined: 07/20/2006
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I always figured they would make a good snow plow if you ever got the greasy side up in the winter time!
Greg
Full-timing and soon to be retired US Navy Master Chief
Enjoying Champagne on the King Ranch!
'06 King Ranch F-350 Dually Diesel 4x4 Long Bed Crew Cab w/ Tow Boss
'07 Champagne Edition NuWa Hitchiker 3 axle 4 slide 37CKRD /w TrailAir all around
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penn
usa
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Joined: 04/18/2005
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The wing will not be of any help--except to keep a few bugs off the front of the trailer.. It is more of a bother than anything. If they were so helpful, more rvers would have one-- yet very few rvers now have a wing!!
Been there and done that!! (and got rid of it).
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kayak2
Hackettstown,NJ
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Joined: 05/27/2002
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I do not use a regular wind deflector, but do frequently carry a 17' canoe on my F350 psd while towing my Golden Falcon FW. I can feel the difference on windy days and when passing trucks/buses. I have not tried to measure the difference in mpg, but will measure as best I can this summer.
Ron & Jan
02 F350 PSD LB & the Golden Falcon FW
Jan
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cmartin7143
ILL
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Joined: 01/01/2008
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I have two deflectors one on the hood edge that is useless as far as I can tell. We also have a roof mounted wing when we tow the TT with an excursion. We have had good and weird results. Mine mounts in the roof rack channels. I can slide way forward and way back. Before I got it while towing I could watch tornados whip up the gravel on the shoulders as we drove by. Thought if was fun to watch. We went by a guy on lawn tractor mowing the grass edge. What sight, his hat blew off and I dont know if he jumped of was blown off the tractor, but he was on the ground and the tractor was rolling along. So we got the wing. the first time out I put it way back and angled high it to roll air over the top of the TT, on the highway I noticed the stone guard bouncing in the rearview but paid little attention to it. The next thing I see is the plastic panel stuck to the rear window of TV. I pulled over and the plastic landed and stayed on the bumper, the metal frame on the guard was perfect and locked. We duct taped it back and moved the wing forward and lowered the angle. No longer do we see stone wirling and the guard sits still and yes the bugs hit high and leave a line on the tt. The idea is to help slip the air up gently over the roof line. In a truck stop toilet stall years ago I found an article about air spoilers on tractors to ease the flowing of air to the trailer and how fleets were moving to them to cut fuel and horsepower loss. I see most over the road truck with them. Does it save fuel? Hard to tell weather and weight change every trip. Does it help when being passed it feels like it does, but again each condition changes. I have it, I think it helps, I know it has an effect and will keep using it. The one on the hood is just their for looks.
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curt12914
Northern NY State
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Measuring miles per gallon reminds me of the old saying "figures don't lie, but liars do figure".
How do you exactly duplicate things to tell if you're consistently saving fuel? Slowing down 5 mph can save a lot of fuel (probably more than any kind of wind deflector can). Headwinds, weight (running with tanks full or empty), speed, and a host of other factors can change mpg.
If there are any savings from using a wing, it would be very quickly offset by driving around (sightseeing, etc.) with the wing on. If you take it off every time, you will get sick of it very fast.
I thought it looked good on the truck, but after I scratched the roof putting it on, I decided it wasn't going back on. I was lucky enough to sell it in a garage sale. The guy that bought it has resold it since then and, now tells me that I was right when I sold it to him.
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arnko37
Port Charlotte FL
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Joined: 08/25/2003
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Commercial bigs rigs have them but they may drive 100,000 plus miles per year(some over 200,000 milesper year). The payback is very good even with a small mpg gain. Not so with the average rv. I believe they help if positioned right. Thats all I know.
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