Roof Wing for Towing

[eastcoast_4rnr]

Is there anything available to mount on the roof rack that will deflect wind over a high trailer?

I have a 2007 V8 4rnr, I recently purchased a 6x12x6.5(h) vnose enclosed trailer.... the 4rnr turns into a gas pig once I start to haul that thing... and at a reasonable 100km/hr (60mph) and 22ltr/100km (10mpg)

I have the trailer loaded with 2 350lb race bikes in the rear, with about another 200lbs of gear (plus the 1700 for trailer itself)...

I really didn't think the V8 would struggle as hard as it does with this load.... too bad it is AWD I am thinking.

Anyway, do you know of a wing? Do y ou think it would help? Is it the height?

 

[eastcoast_4rnr]

Anyone ever tried these?

http://www.icontechltd.com/ProductCart/pc/Wind-Deflectors-c11.htm

 

[eskimochaos]

Is the trailer that much larger than the car? height and width wise? If its not, I dont think you will get any gain.

 

[eastcoast_4rnr]

Is the trailer that much larger than the car? height and width wise? If its not, I dont think you will get any gain.

Same width. V-Nose. But quite a bit higher.

Is this normal fuel consumption?

 

[bcmichael]

The mileage does seem a little low, that's about what I'm getting when towing a 25' travel trailer. I don't know the exact height on the travel trailer, but it's over 8' high and 7.5' wide, weighs in around 4500lbs when loaded.

I've considered getting a wing, but based on feedback on RV websites it doesn't seem like they really make that much difference (consensus seems to be that the wing is too far away from the trailer so the air drops down and hits the front of the trailer anyway). I didn't want to spend the $$$ on a wing and get only minor MPG improvements. I'm in the midwest, so just about all of our gas has ethanol in it (which normally I don't care about), but when towing I have noticed an improvement in MPG by using premium (non-ethanol) gasoline. The switch in gasoline grade gave me the same improvements that some people said they got with wings.

With a v-nose trailer I'd expect you'd be getting close to what I get when towing my boat (13-14 MPG). But as they say: Your Mileage May Vary.

Michael

 

[Kmvreter]

Same width. V-Nose. But quite a bit higher.

Is this normal fuel consumption?

Your V-nose probably is already better than a flat front with a wing (air drop as mentioned above.)

Check the obvious. What are your tire pressures, especially the trailer (put them at max as noted on the sidewall.) True trailer tires take much higher pressures.

What kind of terrain are you in? Flat roads or hills?

 

[gm350reratliff]

These are big in the RV crowd:
http://www.wingmaster.com/wingmaster/pickups.htm

 

[bcmichael]

These are big in the RV crowd:
http://www.wingmaster.com/wingmaster/pickups.htm

Yes, I probably should have been clearer: wings do work for 5th wheel setups (and big rigs) where the trailer is very close to the wing. Conventional trailers won't see much improvement because of the distance between the wing and the trailer.

 

[eastcoast_4rnr]

Yes, I probably should have been clearer: wings do work for 5th wheel setups (and big rigs) where the trailer is very close to the wing. Conventional trailers won't see much improvement because of the distance between the wing and the trailer.

My plan was to position the wing on the rear of the 4Runner. (On the roof rack) That would be very close to the trailer I think.