Air Tabs

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Old 08-02-2017, 04:54 PM
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Air Tabs

Has anyone else tried air tabs? Ran across them on the internet. The engineering behind them seems sound. I put them on my cap. Do notice the rear window stays cleaner. Towed once without them then put them on. I did get about .4 mpg better, but the truck only had about 4000 miles on it at the time. I do notice a lot less buffing of the camper. Next spring I plan on putting them on the top of the camper. If I notice improvements, I may put them on the side also, as they recommend. I have seen some on big rigs, but since I do not have my cb hooked up, I couldn't get their opinion. Picture shows them on my truck cap. Airtab.com is where you can read up on them.
 
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Old 08-02-2017, 10:25 PM
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Don't know why it was upside down.

Always wondered about those tabs.
 
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Old 08-05-2017, 10:21 PM
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Put them on the camper sides and roof when you do it. They help with fuel mileage and buffeting. They also make it nicer to follow you in a storm as it redirects the spray coming off your trailer. While you are at it put them on the sides of your cap. Also in the rain you can see behind your rig better as there's not the spray coming out the sides blocking some vision, hence why people behind you can see ahead better too.
 
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Old 10-22-2018, 06:27 PM
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Frog/Bugzilla, did you ever get around to putting airtabs on your trailer?
 
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Old 10-23-2018, 10:32 AM
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Old 10-24-2018, 10:56 AM
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All,

I put them on the sides/top of my bumper pull travel trailer in concert with a wing on the truck cap. The use of both solved an instability problem (the primary reason) *and* improved MPG by at least .7MPG.
 
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Old 11-11-2018, 09:51 PM
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If they really worked, you would see them on every semi on the road. Have you ever seen them on a semi?
 
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Old 11-12-2018, 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by 983-over
If they really worked, you would see them on every semi on the road. Have you ever seen them on a semi?
Yes, have seen them on several.
They are actually installed on the trailer rather than the tractor.
 
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Old 11-12-2018, 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 983-over
If they really worked, you would see them on every semi on the road. Have you ever seen them on a semi?
Semi trailers do a few other things to mitigate air turbulence issues. If the air tabs eliminate the movement of the truck/trailer as someone approaches the rear of the trailer then I'll consider that a successful modification. MPG gains would be a bonus.

This is on my list of modifications but it's not yet in the top three.
 
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Old 11-17-2018, 10:44 AM
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I have not yet tried them on the camper, but do see them occasionally on big rigs.
 
  #11  
Old 11-21-2018, 10:25 AM
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I bought a complete package to install on our "new to us" TT that we are picking up Saturday.

Even with a ProPride, I never got use to the buffeting that comes at 65 MPH+ with our 6000 LB GVWR, going to a heavier trailer will probably help.
 
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Old 12-03-2018, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by HRTKD
Semi trailers do a few other things to mitigate air turbulence issues. If the air tabs eliminate the movement of the truck/trailer as someone approaches the rear of the trailer then I'll consider that a successful modification. MPG gains would be a bonus.

This is on my list of modifications but it's not yet in the top three.
Increased stability would be worth it to me.

 
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Old 12-03-2018, 06:06 PM
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Finished mine yesterday.



The claims of .7 MPG to 1.5 MPG are not the reason to do this, in my opinion. As Carter mentioned the stability is key.
 

Last edited by mecdac; 12-03-2018 at 06:09 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Old 12-04-2018, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by mecdac
Finished mine yesterday.



The claims of .7 MPG to 1.5 MPG are not the reason to do this, in my opinion. As Carter mentioned the stability is key.
Did you go over the top too? Any worry of them sticking to the epdm roof?
Can't wait for a tow review.
 
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Old 12-04-2018, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by CarterKraft
Did you go over the top too? Any worry of them sticking to the epdm roof?
Can't wait for a tow review.
Yes, I did the roof. No everything worked as planned.

I'll have some information next weekend, Dec 14 we tow the rig to Bardstown, KY.
 


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