After talking to Jack at Air-Tab, and doing some measurements of how far back the trailer was from the motor home, we came up with a plan. We decided we had to get the air to go over the front edge of the trailer. This would require a wind deflector to be made. What we came up with was simple and effective. Two-pieces, 16”x40” and some galvanized angle bracing. I did my normal “backyard engineering” and used the correct caulking for the screws we put into the motor home rubber roof. The support struts that hold the wind deflector up in the rear are some engine limiters we had left over from a project years ago. This will let us make angle adjustments to the wind deflector. We wanted the angle of the wind deflector to be just steep enough to get the wind (and bugs) over the front of the trailer. If you use too much angle, you’re just creating unnecessary wind drag. We started with the angle at about 45 degrees and kept lowering it on each trip until the “bug debris” just started to show on the front of the trailer. At that point I raised it about ¼” and the front of the trailer very seldom shows any bug debris now.

Were the wind deflector and the Air-Tabs worth the time and money? DEFINITELY! First, it reduced the wind drag so much that the coach now pretty much cruises in 6th gear most of the time. This has reduced rpms and mileage has gotten much better. Since we installed the wind deflector and Air-Tabs the average mileage we have achieved is 8.2 mpg (remember it was 5.9 before). On a calm day or with a bit of a tailwind, we have averaged 9.1 mpg. Actually, the trip from Norwalk, OH to St. Louis, MO was our best ever. No tailwind to help but it was as close to calm conditions as you can find in the Midwest. We averaged 9.3 mpg for that particular trip. I know that a lot of people don’t get excited about 8.2 mpg but when you go from 5.9 to 8.2 mpg, it is a significant gain. That is a gain of almost 55% in miles per gallon. I know, it sounds unreal but the facts and fuel receipts back up what I experienced.

I was so impressed with the Air-Tabs I contacted them about becoming a dealer. Now I can help other trailer owners improve their towing experience. The last time I found a product that worked this good, it was the Trailer Toad and now we manufacture that product. It was a simple modification and we did it in our small shop. You might benefit looking into “controlling the air” around your tow vehicle and trailer. It will save us over $1000.00 in fuel costs this year alone.