It’s like driving with a tail wind all the time

The faster you travel, the greater the air drag at the back of your truck.

Drag is a constant sucking force-slowing you down, using up horsepower and guzzling fuel. And the faster you go, the worse it gets.

Air deflectors and foils have improved aerodynamics at the front of the truck, but nobody has given much attention to the back.

Airtabs are a simple, inexpensive way of greatly improving aerodynamics at the back of your truck.

Without Airtabs

With Airtabs

Fuel costs cut by around 2-5%

That’s the sort of difference that drivers in Australia and overseas have been reporting after adding Airtabs to their vehicle.

Airtabs cut down on drag

Airtabs placed at the trailing edge of trailers and prime movers create dozens of small vortices. Each vortex (a controlled swirl of air) fills the space behind the truck, significantly reducing drag.

Less drag means less power is required to maintain a given speed, and that cuts your largest running expense-fuel.

Airtabs cut down fuel costs

As fuel prices continue to rise, even a 1% saving is worth having and with Airtabs, you’ll save even more.

The graph above assumes a 3% fuel saving, current consumption of 50l/100km and 15000km travelled each month.

Increased stability and safety is priceless

The fuel savings you’ll get from Airtabs are easy to put a dollar figure on, but increased stability and safety is priceless.

Greater stability and ease of driving

This is the first thing most drivers notice after fitting Airtabs. The vehicle is more stable on the road, especially in gusty cross-winds, as the turbulent air leaving a vehicle is directed and controlled.

Drivers report that the vehicle is much easier to handle and less stressful to drive with trailers tracking more directly behind the prime mover.

Greater visibility in the wet

Airtabs change the way air behaves behind the vehicle. In the wet, water picked up from the road is directed into the vortices reducing the uncontrolled spray that follows most large vehicles.

Safer for you, and safer for other road users too.

How do Airtabs work?

Airtabs are the only way to effectively deal with drag created in the gap between prime mover and trailer. Airtabs have no impact on your turning circle or fifth wheel location.

Easy installation

Airtabs are easy to fit.
Do it yourself or arrange fitting through our network of installers. Airtabs are supplied in white and can be painted with standard automotive finishes.

For hard-sided trucks or trailers

Airtabs are made from tough ABS plastic and come with a self-adhesive backing. It usually takes a little over an hour to fit Airtabs. Simply

1      clean the surface thoroughly

2      fit the Airtabs into the special spacer template

3      stick the Airtabs along the trailing edge of the walls and roof.

For vinyl curtains

Airtabs are available in pre-welded vinyl strips to fit to existing curtains. Your preferred curtain repairer can fit Airtabs with little hassle.

The science of Airtabs

What’s drag?

As a vehicle moves, air must rush into the space it just occupied. A low pressure area is created behind the vehicle and it takes power and extra fuel to overcome.

At low speeds, air fills the space at the rear of the vehicle without much fuss. (Don’t bother with Airtabs if you rarely travel over 70km/h.) But as speeds increase, the air must fill the space more quickly and turbulence becomes more violent. Doubling your speed increases drag by 4 times!

If you don’t have Airtabs, have a look at the back of your truck after driving in the rain–it’s much dirtier than the rest of your truck. Drag has sucked up dirt and water from the road and thrown it all over your back door. Trucks fitted with Airtabs stay much cleaner-a clear sign of reduced drag.

Vortex generators

Vortex generators have been used for decades in the aeronautical industry to reduce drag and improve the performance characteristics of aircraft. They work. Engineers continue to experiment with vortex generators in many areas of fluid dynamics.

Airtabs have been especially designed to effectively reduce drag on large vehicles. They have been extensively tested in the laboratory and in real trucking applications. It’s amazing what a big difference such a small device can make.

For more information or quotations, please contact Ian Pendlebury at ATT