April 7, 2004 Yoda writes.....(his trailer did not have the top done yet) I have only had the tabs installed for 5 days, But would like to report the following.
The first day I drove in high (gusts to 35 mph) winds, (North Carolina),I was very pleased to notice that the wind did not knock me around on the road at all!
We normally haul light loads, and wind is very hard on us! I am really satisfied that the effects of the tabs in wind is reason enough alone for the people I know to install them!
Next I want to talk about fuel economy and power! I have a 470 HP caterpillar.I have not yet got enough miles on the tabs to give you fuel savings figures, but there is a definite change! My turbo boost gauge was constantly reading 5 pounds less than I was used to seeing while running on cruise control! I have 900,000 miles on this truck and am very familiar with how it handles, I felt like my engine had developed extra power and was at first forced to use cruise control to keep from going faster than I wanted due to the truck running so much better than I expected!
From the 2 fills I have done since installing the tabs I see a noticeable reduction in fuel used. Give me a month to get all the averages and eliminate the odd good or bad fuel mileage and I will give you real numbers,But so far I have been pleasantly surprised as I did not expect a great difference. I am actually buying less fuel on known routes!
With the cost of fuel going through the roof again any fuel savings is worth having, but for a 379 Pete to have what looks like a half mile a gallon increase is worth dancing in the streets about!
Many people wondered at my investment in a full roof wind fairing, and I only expected 2 tenths of a mile a gallon savings! These Airtabs™ may make the difference between survival and bankruptcy for some people, and for such a small investment! ( the fairing is 2 grand installed although I got mine used and installed it after market at some savings!) If anyone wants to laugh at me for those strange looking things I have installed on my truck and trailer, I will laugh quietly all the way to the bank!
Rusty (yoda) Wade
======== April 21, 2004 Yoda writes after Airtabs™ installed on trailer roof. He now has complete set on tractor and trailer. Hello Jack, Yes I finally got to drive in some rain. I was very impressed.
I also have 2 weeks preliminary fuel use data, and I am wondering if anyone else sees what I am seeing! My average fuel consumption on cruise control before the tabs was 6.3 MPG..... My average for the last 2 weeks is 6.9MPG... much more than I expected...... Thank you for your product, I am waiting for Marvin to finally get his installed to see if his figures are near to mine, I already know he will be impressed by both the handling and the visibility aspects,but that fuel MPG gain is very very welcome in today's fuel market!
Rusty
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July 15, 2004 Yoda provides a Airtab® update.
"My fuel mileage is still up by half a mile a gallon.... Visibility is still remarkable in rain, I am waiting for some snow to test."
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Jan 2005 Update.
I love my airtabs.. And now with snow flying I really love them!
Increased vision behind... less snow build up everywhere above the lowest tab... These things can be worth the cost of the tabs!
They certainly were a few weeks ago, and again this week as I ran in the snow and was able to see behind me when no one else could!
A few weeks ago I had snow packed into my DOT bumper until the back of my trailer was even all the way up to the bottom of my tail light assembly... snow packed into the space between the DOT bumper and closed that hole completely.. BUT the most interesting thing was that my LED tail lights recessed 1 inch above that hole were clear of snow!
I had worried that the not warm LED lights would be completely covered in snow, I should have known better.
The snow which did not rise between my tractor and trailer and did not rise above the bottom of my trailer at the rear did not even settle on the back of my trailer where the LEDs are! I will continue to check those lights, as I always have. ( even bulb lights sometimes were buried in snow) but it sure does seem safer to me that the LEDS are not behind snow that doesn't even rise enough to settle on the ledge in front of them.
Thank you Jack for these little plastic wonders!
Rusty (Yoda)
Airtab, LLC official statement regarding the LED snow build mentioned by Rusty is as follows.
Aeroserve Technologies Limited and Airtab, LLC make no representation that the product known as Airtab® will keep the LED lights, incandescent lights or any other trailer tail lights or reflectors on the rear of the trailer clean or free from snow or ice build up. It is up to the operator of the vehicle to maintain and inspect their rear lights for correct operation and visibility in accordance with their operating manual and driving conditions.
Aeroserve Technologies Limited
Airtab, LLC
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