from the Fedex forum: Air Tabs

[OntarioVanMan]

XCountryTeam

Air Tabs
Has anyone bought the Air Tabs? We did and they are great! They have helped in saving fuel and we don't feel the truck sway as much (or at all) when another truck passes. If you have them, what do you think about them?
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Jason and Kimberley
Owner/Operator
D7017

Do you have figures on the fuel savings?

I have them on my Sprinter.

 

[arkjarhead]

Our Hyundai Santa Fe has these things built on to the trim around the glass back by the storage area that look kinda like air tabs. I've had the car for a little over 2 years and just noticed it a few days ago. It has the glass on the front and back doors and then another glass behind the back door. That is where the air tab looking things are, behind the back door. I thought it was neat. I guess they help with fuel economy. I couldn't tell you since they have evidently been there since day 1.

 

[chefdennis]

I am sitting at the Pilot on I 75 N in Franklin, Ohio right now looking at a ford cargo van with those things on it . It has them on the back side and across the top at the back edge. I was just wondering if they worked and what affect they would have on a cargo van. I think I'll have to talk to this driver and see what he has to say.

Thanks for the timely post.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I am sitting at the Pilot on I 75 N in Franklin, Ohio right now looking at a ford cargo van with those things on it . It has them on the back side and across the top at the back edge. I was just wondering if they worked and what affect they would have on a cargo van. I think I'll have to talk to this driver and see what he has to say.

Thanks for the timely post.

Chef...Terryrene had them on thier cargo van...said they effective....he championed them as well...

 

[TeamCaffee]

OVM are you saying you have never added the AirTabs? after all this time......

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OVM are you saying you have never added the AirTabs? after all this time......

Did I say that?.....I've had air tabs on for a over a year now. since B4 Expo 2007 for sure.

 

[D Team Brothers]

First thing I added to my new Sprinter were air tabs. I have seen a difference in the stability of the van in a high wind and heavy rain storm. Looked in rearview mirroe and just as clear back there as if I was standing still, no swirling of the rain behind the van. Jack

 

[TeamCaffee]

OVM I thought you had added them last year but was not positive.

We will also be added them to our next truck we are not going to run without them.

 

[pelicn]

We also run with Airtabs. Our fuel mileage has increased, although I'm not sure if that's a fluke or from the Airtabs. The best part of the Airtabs is clearer vision to the rear, the back doors are cleaner, and we don't get shaken by the wind like before.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OVM I thought you had added them last year but was not positive.

We will also be added them to our next truck we are not going to run without them.

Linda..what was the best feature about the Tabs?

were the doors snow and ice free? or the stability in the wind?

 

[TeamCaffee]

Ok I have to admit Bob is the one that used to clean off the back of the truck not me so he is very pleased to not have to do that anymore. I like being able to drive on two lane roads and not feel as if I am going to be blown off the road when another truck blows by. I also like being able to see behind us in the rain and the snow when I am driving. I know they help with our fuel mileage but we have done so many changes to the truck the help is minuscule.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Ok I have to admit Bob is the one that used to clean off the back of the truck not me so he is very pleased to not have to do that anymore. I like being able to drive on two lane roads and not feel as if I am going to be blown off the road when another truck blows by. I also like being able to see behind us in the rain and the snow when I am driving. I know they help with our fuel mileage but we have done so many changes to the truck the help is minuscule.

My wife also feels more comfortable driving in cross winds and her arms aren't as stressed and she feels more comfortable driving....hard to put a dollar value on that....

To have a less stressed wife......PRICELESS!!!

 

[gotta go]

I have a complaint about my Airtabs. The other night I was driving in the rain. Due to the lack of spray along side my truck I was getting blinded by the 4-wheelers driving with their brights on. I did call Jack at Airtabs with my complaint and he had no sympathy.
Has anyone put them on the hood to act as bugshields?

 

[ATeam]

Now I know what to get you for Christmas, gota go --a trucker jacket with Airtabs sewen onto the sleeves. and blue jeans with Airtabs on the legs.

 

[gotta go]

Now I know what to get you for Christmas, gota go --a trucker jacket with Airtabs sewen onto the sleeves. and blue jeans with Airtabs on the legs.

The Airtabs on the jeans would get rid of the turbulence when I'm walking.

The question about the hood application was serious. On the Airtabs website they give advice on how to make a matrix using strings or yarn to see the airflow, but I can't see my hood when I drive. The other day I went through miles of butterflies and dust from their wings was smeared over just the first couple of inches of my hood. The rest of the hood was perfectly clean. Of course the windshield was a mess. Do you think that if I put Airtabs right where the dust line stopped that they would deflect the bugs from the windshield?

 

[pelicn]

Gotta go, I've also wondered if placing them on the hood would help or if it would direct more bugs to the windshield? I guess the only way to know for sure is to try it.

 

[Turtle]

The Air Tabs create a vortex to disrupt the flow of air to lessen the effect of reduced pressure, and thus drag. Since there isn't much of a low air pressure situation along the lines of the hood and up to the windshield, they won't deflect much.