Air Tabs

[bluesquirrel]

Do any of you use Air Tabs, or other brand of vortex generator on your trailers?
On your tow rig?

Curious what your impression of the vehicle behavior and noise is, and if any mpg improvement.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Similar to aviation vortex generators. The website says 4% saving, you would have to be very consistent
in your driving and be doing long haul, sort of non stop to next fueling on the highway I would think for it
to produce real value and gains. My opinion on the surface, anyhow.

 

[bluesquirrel]

Yeah, I believe 4% with a tractor-trailer. With my 100LC, not so much.
Reason I'm curious is, the wife and I are going to be doing long distance trips with the 100. 5,000 - 8,000 mile trips. So, I want to experiment a little with these, to see if I can see any efficiency improvements. Especially with the kind of aerodynamic drag heavy off road trailers, most of us like to pull.

 

[PAToyota]

I’m going to guess that you’d have to do a LOT of trailering to see any efficiency returns. I’d be more inclined to use them for potential stability gains. Large campers or enclosed trailers can certainly have issues.

You mention “heavy off-road trailers” - what are you going to be pulling?

 

[bluesquirrel]

Drag heavy. As in, lots stuff hanging out in the breeze, like RTT, Jerry cans, yatta yatta yatta.

 

[PAToyota]

Ok, I’m going to guess the air tabs aren’t going to make a whole lot of difference if you have that kind of stuff stirring up the airflow. They’re not going to work on an open trailer with a vehicle on it.