Community Forums

Dale & Mark Bruss · 09-06-2016, 10:49 AM

I find it interesting in this tread has lead to a debate about the stability of a motorhome when a truck passes using air tabs.

Air tabs are for aerodynamics of the vehicle that have air tabs attached. For a motorhome that would be the reduction of the vacuum drag at the end of the motorhome making for a cleaner rear end and improvement in mileage. Air tabs has never been proposed as a stability from external vehicle passing.

Like most things, air tabs do the job as proposed and doesn't do a job that wasn't.

So branching off on suspension issues doesn't fit the thread.

DMTTRANSPORT · 09-06-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halfwright

People that buy these type of gizmos, gadgets and snake oil are going to tell you they work wonders and they can't believe they ever got along without them.

The reason for this is they do not want to admit, or even believe, they were taken advantage of and wasted their money.

X2...

Dale & Mark Bruss · 09-06-2016, 01:00 PM

And there is nobody more knowledgeable than someone who hasn't done something.

palehorse89 · 09-06-2016, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

And there is nobody more knowledgeable than someone who hasn't done something.

.......Good one Dale!
Everyday on here........

dennis45 · 09-06-2016, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomMiller

I have recently heard about a product called Air Tabs which are supposed to improve the handling of your RV on windy days and reduce the push effect of big trucks passing you? Has anyone installed this product that can offer some end user feedback?

Thx,

I think they might be the answer especially if they were combined with Deer Whistles.

KSagal · 09-06-2016, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis45

I think they might be the answer especially if they were combined with Deer Whistles.

I guess the question is, "How many tabs can you fit on your dashboard with the deer whistles?"

DMTTRANSPORT · 09-06-2016, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

And there is nobody more knowledgeable than someone who hasn't done something.

That would be a whole different thread..Book Smart vs Common Sense

Dr4Film · 09-06-2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

That would be a whole different thread..

Book Smart vs Common Sense

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Old Dude 66 · 09-06-2016, 06:33 PM

I installed them on my five year old Winnie Adventurer before we headed back to Texas from Colorado. I had previously installed a lot of items in an attempt to make it drive the way I expected, including Sumo springs, rear track bar, and TruCenter on the front. Each item helped but I still could feel the wind some when meeting 18 wheelers, when I passed them, and when they passed us.

After the Airtabs, I was driving 75 mph coming home and passed a lot of trucks. I also met a lot of trucks on two lane highways. Not once did I feel the slightest buffeting from the winds. They aren't expensive to install so cost isn't an issue but I wouldn't take triple the price if asked to remove them.

Prior to our motor home, I drove a 2500 Dodge Cummins pulling a 36 foot fifth wheel and never felt the need to correct the steering. I can now say the same thing about our 36 foot Winnebago gas unit!

Fred Cooper · 09-09-2016, 08:46 PM

I have air tabs on the rear of our motorhome, and do believe it helps with the buffeting when passing or being passed by an 18 wheeler. It really is subjective, however.

Recently, I was driving the motorhome with toad south from Savannah to St Augustine, Florida and came upon the first 18 wheeler I've ever seen that had air tabs on the rear of the trailer (both sides and top).

I experienced significantly less air turbulence behind that 18 wheeler as I approached. I got much closer to that trailer than normal before I felt any air turbulence upon the motorhome. I'd estimate that the air tabs on that trailer eliminated about 70% of the resulting turbulence.

Fred

KSagal · 09-09-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

I find it interesting in this tread has lead to a debate about the stability of a motorhome when a truck passes using air tabs.

Air tabs are for aerodynamics of the vehicle that have air tabs attached. For a motorhome that would be the reduction of the vacuum drag at the end of the motorhome making for a cleaner rear end and improvement in mileage. Air tabs has never been proposed as a stability from external vehicle passing.

Like most things, air tabs do the job as proposed and doesn't do a job that wasn't.

So branching off on suspension issues doesn't fit the thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta48

Meet a couple in a Tiffin Allegro 36'. Their claim was less cross wind buffeting, less push with passing trucks, and improved MPG, by about .5 as I remember.
He was a civil engineer, his wife drives their RV. She said his claims were good. Documented Mpg results. First time I got it from a good source, not a review.
He painted them with exact colors from Tiffin. Looked good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dude 66

I installed them on my five year old Winnie Adventurer before we headed back to Texas from Colorado. I had previously installed a lot of items in an attempt to make it drive the way I expected, including Sumo springs, rear track bar, and TruCenter on the front. Each item helped but I still could feel the wind some when meeting 18 wheelers, when I passed them, and when they passed us.

After the Airtabs, I was driving 75 mph coming home and passed a lot of trucks. I also met a lot of trucks on two lane highways. Not once did I feel the slightest buffeting from the winds. They aren't expensive to install so cost isn't an issue but I wouldn't take triple the price if asked to remove them.

Prior to our motor home, I drove a 2500 Dodge Cummins pulling a 36 foot fifth wheel and never felt the need to correct the steering. I can now say the same thing about our 36 foot Winnebago gas unit!

Seems that there are conflicting opinions about their function, and their reason for existence, and their objective.

JFXG · 09-10-2016, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf2u

What do you fly? A Shorts Skyvan?

That's the box the Twin Otter came in.

John & Diane, fulltiming since '12 02 DS40, FL, Cat, '04 Element NHSO RVM103

KSagal · 09-10-2016, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf2u

What do you fly? A Shorts Skyvan?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFXG

That's the box the Twin Otter came in.

John & Diane, fulltiming since '12 02 DS40, FL, Cat, '04 Element NHSO RVM103

I have hundreds more, if not thousands more jumps from an otter that a skyvan, but I do recall that I really enjoy the tailgate exit.

cmac719 · 06-05-2022, 03:05 PM

Air-Tabs make several claims in their advertisements, of which I found one to be valid. When your RV is on a 2-lane road and you pass a semi or RV going in the opposite direction, your RV is pushed to the right. This was greatly reduced by installing Air-Tabs. I did not seriously evaluate their impact on fuel mileage. I noticed little if any improvement in passing or being passed by a semi or RV. Impact on cross winds seems impossible to evaluate, because every wind is unique.

Craig MacKenna
07 Alfa Founder 35'