AIRTAB

I was trying to fiqure how airtabs hurt the mpg unless they were installed backwards?

Everybody usually claims they either add mpg or at least don't hurt mpg with better stability and less rain mist.

 

$360 is cheap, I think, for a lot of those newer aero trucks... I wonder what a Volvo windshield costs....

UPDATE....just did a Google search... sez $216.00 installed ? Gotta be Indian glass.... those windshields are huge....

 

I could see how they would help with no wind, but once you catch a side wind wouldn't all that wind tunnel testing be worthless? Once the air moves in a different direction it changes the aerodynamics and how those things are supposed to work. As far as the wheel balancers I will never put a set on. They do work just like everyone says, but they work a little to well. They cover up possible suspension problems by constantly "re-balancing" the wheels. I find it better to stop in at my local goodyear shop every 8000 miles and have them balanced and rotated while i get a chassis lube/inspection, and washing off any mud/ice anytime I stop. My last set of steers went 271k and drives 324k.

 

I worked at Freightliner, and I am sure it is the same for every truck manufacturer, they can tell you all the benifits and hinderance to proformance, from every option.
Bug deflectors, sun shades, air filters mounted on the cab, exhaust mounted on the cab, Texas bumpers. Every one of these things look good to lots of people. Every one of them costs you a lot of money in wind resistance.
Everything you can do to reduce the wind resistance saves you money, there was a vidio out where a guy was doing everything he could to reduce drag, and was getting fenominal milage, he was making money and could aford to do the little things to save even more.
Looking preaty and getting 5 MPG is great if that is important to you. Making money that stays in your bank acount is what it is suppose to be about.

 

8000 miles seems a little silly on chassis lubes. The component manufacturers told me you are just wearing the seals out early with shorter than recommended lube intervals.

You can go 1.4 million with 20,000 mile lubes and only have to replace one u-joint (Stopped Taking Lube) and 2 Slack Adjusters.

 

I'm sure I could go longer between lubes, but since the carrier I'm leased to pays for it I'll get one every chance I get. I used to drive a 387 pete that needed a lube every 12k. We found out the hard way and had to start replacing front end parts at 380k. It cost me nothing to get it done this early, and the tire wear is phenominal.

I just talked to another driver that has these air tabs on his volvo, and says he loves them, but couldn't tell me if his fuel mileage got better or worse. I'm still not convinced.

 

The primary contributor to poor fuel mileage is the control you excersize over your right foot...My W900L with the texas bumper and the Vortox air cleaners and outboard stacks gets 6.5 to 7.5 MPG at the speed limit wherever I am and pulling a flatbed with mostly heavy freight.

These things that you claim waste "a lot of money" don't really do that much to your fuel mileage...Certainly they have an effect but they are not nearly as detrimental to the fuel mileage as a driver that drives the truck improperly.

I like looking pretty AND having money in the bank and if you use your head....You can do both.

 

LIAR!!! Kevin Rutherford told me...................

 

Oh......Well then it MUST be true!



( You do know that Kevin Rutherford is a moron....Yes?)

 

Talk to him more and you will see that he actually loves himself for buying them. He appreciate his own idea and alleged brainpower, not the product indeed.

All the people buying snake oil are like that - most of them know that the products don't deliver promised mpg improvement, but still recommend them to others.

They were cheated by their own mothers the whole childhood to came to be like that later on. To be liars and idiots and buy AIRTABS and Turdblows to feel good.