![]() So rear deflectors cleans this big vacuum at the rear of the trailer. A vaccum creates more drag than deflected air, so every setup has to eliminate any chance of creating such a vaccum between cab and trailer. Like the deflectors in the rear of the Station Wagons in the 50-70's. There is a study somewhere that indicates that a rear deflector on the rear is the best fuel saver, and no one is using it. The weight of the load had no effect on mileage. I just returned from a 100 mile trip with a load of lumber in the truck box and the fuel mileage was the best I have ever done with this truck, due to the smooth flow with a full box without a large vaccuum created behind the cab. every inch over the cab adds enormous drag. I find that it makes my truck look weak having a deflector, and its a fuel killer when not towing. I read somewhere and Cummings covers it on their truck fuel economy site, that the installation is very important for proper performance, and it has to be equal frontal area and as close to the trailer front as possible. The Heartland 5th wheels do have a very aero front so much that the Fuel mileage on my truck is 20% better then the previous SOB. I towed an SOB with angled flat front and there was lots wind pressure on the front and even cracked it. In my opinion, the Heartland nose cone reaps no aero advantage from a deflector. A short box truck would have the advantage here. The deflector has to be as close to the trailer as possible both deflector manufacturers stated so in their install instructions. The other advantage is that I can lay the deflector down and provide shade for the back seat passengers.and she fits in the garage!! The unit is not angled enough side-to-side nor wide enough to keep the entire front end clean. I added the Trail-Eze to the 450 simply to keep the bugs off the front of the Cyclone. I have removed the extension and use just the wing when hauling my open car trailer. I added the extension (for use with 11 footers and taller) and we did really well. I started with just the stainless wing but couldn't get the bugline up and over the leading edge. It acted as a parachute going down the road. My original 5th wheel was a National RV Rage'N ont nose was nearly vertical & box-like. For example, 50,000 miles at 12mpg and diesel for $3.50 is about $14,600, so saving about 10% or $1,460 would probably pay for the deflector.Īs Porthole stated I run two styles of deflector I have the stainless w/extension for the 350 and the Ultra-Fab Trail-Eze II for the 450. With that said, they look cool, may help with the bugs and stability especially if you don't have a dually, and may even save money if you primarily tow with your truck and put on a decent number of miles. Now keep in mind that a 5th wheel is more aerodynamic than a trailer to begin with, a deflector for our trucks will not match the efficiency of those semis' integrated designs, that the savings only occur when you tow, and your mileage may actually go down with a deflector when not towing (even with one that can be lowered, due to the increased weight). Now obviously there is something to be gained with those kind of numbers with that widespread usage, and I found a test report online that came up with about 15% savings with a complete aero kit on a semi (both cab and trailer). Shortly after seeing that deflector we took a trip and I paid attention to how many semis have deflectors, and I'd guess about 90% or better have them, usually integrated with the cab. ![]() He had his mounted on a bracket right behind the cab. I asked a guy that had one on his truck and he claimed that he gained about 50 miles per tank with his previous 5th wheel, but not as much with his present travel trailer as the distance between deflector and trailer is too great to be effective. If there were there is a magnetic field inside of your alternator and Detroit could run your fuel line through or around your alternator and improve your fuel mileage. That old wives tale has been around for years and there is not a shred of truth to it. Had they bothered to call me for some advice I could have told them to save their $$$$. They were installed on the bus that I drove. Several years ago our esteemed school district, at the advice of a new assistant superintendent installed magnets around the fuel lines on 70 of our school buses. I always told my students that if it really did improve fuel mileage then Detroit would have incorporated it into their vehicles. Now if you were to add all the small improvements to aerodynamics that have been incorporated into today's vehicles it probably does add up to significant fuel savings. It's been proven that they don't save fuel but I suppose they are still COOL. It was supposed to improve gas mileage and it is also COOL. You've seen many a pickup with a net instead of a tailgate. ![]()
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