AirTab's on new style Sprinters

piper1 · May 14, 2009

I went to install my AirTabs today and found out pretty quickly that my "big square" Sprinter is not so square. I was amazed at how rounded most of the panels were.

I am wondering if anyone else has put AirTabs on a new Sprinter and specifically how they did the roof.

danthewolf00 · May 14, 2009

how many did you wind up useing?

D Team Brothers · May 14, 2009

I put them on when I first got the van. I didn't find a problem with the top, but on the sides upper and lower there are places where the tips of the airtabs do not attach to the panels. It hasn't been a problem , and where they stick, they stick solid and I don't expect them to fall off.

ATeam · May 14, 2009

Even on a straight-truck body, the surfaces are not always perfectly flat. We have the same issue on our truck. The AirTabs do not mate fully with the surface because the surface curves. This leaves open gaps between parts of the rigid tabs and the surface they are designed to adhere to. So far, none have fallen off the sides.

I offered a suggestion to the company that they make the AirTabs out of a more flexible material that could conform better to the curved surfaces on which they are placed.

We have lost a few AirTabs off the roof. The roof is a problem for us because the Solar Guard coating on the roof that provides a grainy, not smooth, surface on which to attach the AirTabs. The roof is not a perfectly flat surface and the tabs we lose over time are the same three; the three where the roof bends such that the tabs do not fully connect and the adhesive surface is thereby reduced.

Again, an AirTab made from more flexible material would likely solve this problem.

piper1 · May 14, 2009

Thanks everyone.

That Solar Guard roof is great stuff Phil, You might want to try the AirTabs that are made for Kemlite, the adhesive is different and will conform to a rough surface. The Kemlite versions have a blue colored backing. I agree about the flexibility, a little would be nice.

Jack, did you mount them right at the back or in 6 inches on the flat part of the roof (ahead of the seam).

Dan, I ended up using 30, but have not done the roof yet.

OntarioVanMan · May 14, 2009

Jack, did you mount them right at the back or in 6 inches on the flat part of the roof (ahead of the seam).

Yep...behind the seam...

piper1 · May 14, 2009

Did his hang over the rear edge? I put the first one on and it hung out the back more than 1/4 inch with the front being right at the sealant goo at the seam.

ATeam · May 14, 2009

piper1 said:
That Solar Guard roof is great stuff Phil, You might want to try the AirTabs that are made for Kemlite, the adhesive is different and will conform to a rough surface. The Kemlite versions have a blue colored backing. I agree about the flexibility, a little would be nice.

We did. Blue or white, the problem continues.

Moot · May 14, 2009

ATeam said:
The roof is not a perfectly flat surface and the tabs we lose over time are the same three; the three where the roof bends such that the tabs do not fully connect and the adhesive surface is thereby reduced.

You might try using Goop Adhesive or Permatex RTV silicone gasket maker on the 3 troublesome tabs in conjunction with the factory adhesive. Both are thick adhesives that will fill in the gap keeping wind and water out.

guido4475 · May 14, 2009

Did anyone have them on their cargo van before? What I mean, is there a noticeable difference on a cargo van? is it in mileage,handling, or both.I'd put them on if I knew for sure they worked.

piper1 · May 14, 2009

Fuel mileage improvements on a van are hit and miss, some get more MPG some don't. There seems to be a fairly strong sense that they improve handling and you don't get blown around as much, that's why I'm putting them on, my big Sprinter is like a sailboat.

ATeam · May 16, 2009

Moot said:
You might try using Goop Adhesive or Permatex RTV silicone gasket maker on the 3 troublesome tabs in conjunction with the factory adhesive. Both are thick adhesives that will fill in the gap keeping wind and water out.

10-4. 'preciate it, Driver.

danthewolf00 · May 16, 2009

sailboat....lol you mean a brickwall with wheels

FIS53 · May 16, 2009

So Piper that means you travel with the wind and open the rear doors to increase sail size! Use rear doors on angles to tack going into the wind.
ROb

piper1 · May 16, 2009

FIS53 said:
So Piper that means you travel with the wind and open the rear doors to increase sail size! Use rear doors on angles to tack going into the wind.
ROb

If it saves me Fuel I'll do it. I want to give Team C a run for their money as far as being mental about saving fuel!!

OntarioVanMan · May 16, 2009

guido4475 said:
Did anyone have them on their cargo van before? What I mean, is there a noticeable difference on a cargo van? is it in mileage,handling, or both.I'd put them on if I knew for sure they worked.

From Terryandrene...06/04/07

Airtabs on a van?
Airtabs have been discussed in previous EO threads and I have seen them on a few straight trucks and tractors. The airtab is a small, triangular shaped, plastic, self adhering item that is fastened to the rear edge of a vehicle. Home : Airtab describes them as follows:

"Airtabsâ„¢ are unique, Vortex Generators (VG) that have been specially designed for trucks. They work by creating a controlled swirl of air, or vortex which actually reduces wind resistance (or aerodynamic drag).Aerodynamic drag has long been a target for fuel economy on trucks."

My 2006 Chevrolet 3500 has gotten 17.9 miles per gallon during 3975 miles of a combination of highway, city, loaded, and empty miles recorded earlier this year. During the middle of May, I installed 34 airtabs on the rear of my van. I did so out of curiosity to determine if they were of value on a typical van.

My test period, which ended on June 1, occured over 3176 miles where I used 168.834 gallons of fuel for an average MPG of 18.81. My driving style and combination of driving conditions were comparable during my before and after airtab test. Needless to say, I'm very pleased with the performance of these little plastic triangles. In addition to a 5% increase in mileage, I get a greatly reduced dirt buildup on the rear of the van. I also had better visibility, during rain, in the door mounted rearview mirrors because the modified airflow diminished the air turbulance behind the van.

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/truck-talk/22463-airtabs-van.html