Wind deflector placement on 2019 Pilot for small enclosed trailer.

[Sequoiasoon]

I towed the trailer below with my Pilot to Virginia and back. No real heavy load, trailer is 840lbs empty, max 500 lbs in it for the trip. For the 8 hours each way the Pilot did not want to go to 6th gear and that was doing 60-65mph. There was definitely a large wind drag from front of trailer. Understandably it's not the most aerodynamic brick of a front. Monitoring transmission temperatures also showed 65mph was about it or temperature started climbing a bunch more even with factory transmission cooler and still in 5th gear.

I was thinking on the drive from NY to VA that it needs something to help get the air over the front easier. The Pilot roof slopes down some in the rear so I think just make it flow right into the front of trailer more.

What would be a better placement of a wind deflector on Pilot the front or rear crossbar? The cross bars on Pilot are not adjustable so what you see in picture is it. Over the back door or over the cargo area. I'm thinking further back to get the air moving up without as much chance to drop down.

I just picked up an INNO wind deflector locally for $40 like the Yakima / Thule versions. I want to try it next time I plan to haul longer distance. It just clamps on pretty easy so I could try rear one way, front the other way. Maybe it won't help do anything, who knows?

 

[wwillson]

Square trailers pull hard. I have a trailer about the same size that I pulled into a 40 MPH Wyoming headwind with my Chevy 3500 6.6L diesel. There were times the truck would shift to a lower gear going up hills. I got 9 MPG on the segment into that headwind.

I have doubts the air deflector will do anything to increase your MPG and may make it worse.

 

[Rand]

That air deflector appears to be the type you mount in front of a roof basket.

Doubt it helps. for a trailer

 

[Rand]

Just leaving the gate up on my utility trailer (has holes in it for air)
reduces the mpg by nearly 40%

I get 25-27mpg with the gate folded flat @60-65mph
goes to 15-17mpg with gate up..@60mph even empty.

The only things that would help that square enclosed trailer: a V front, lower height, or being towed closely behind a box truck or RV.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Square trailers pull hard. I have a trailer about the same size that I pulled into a 40 MPH Wyoming headwind with my Chevy 3500 6.6L diesel. There were times the truck would shift to a lower gear going up hills. I got 9 MPG on the segment into that headwind.

I have doubts the air deflector will do anything to increase your MPG and may make it worse.

I got between 14-15mpg on the trip both ways

That air deflector appears to be the type you mount in front of a roof basket.

Doubt it helps. for a trailer

It is more for a roof basket or I think this one listed to help with noisy cargo bars. I know when I had my Thule bars on a couple vehicles I couldn't wait to get them off. They worked for the purpose and time but a lot of wind whistle noise.

For $40 I figured I would give it a try. For the $150 plus for a new one, nope. Worst case I can stick it back on Facebook Market Place.

Unknown if it will even make a similar trip anytime soon to test it.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Just leaving the gate up on my utility trailer (has holes in it for air)
reduces the mpg by nearly 40%

I get 25-27mpg with the gate folded flat @60-65mph
goes to 15-17mpg with gate up..@60mph even empty.

The only things that would help that square enclosed trailer: a V front, lower height, or being towed closely behind a box truck or RV.

I have a small 5x8 utility trailer that had solid 3/4" plywood on the gate. That was a serious drag. I replaced with it fiberglass grating material like for a catwalk that is very open. That made a big difference.

 

[Rand]

I was only going about 1000ft with the wood so I wasn't worried about it falling off.

 

[Marcozi]

I'm wondering if you could mod the trailer to improve its aerodynamics.

 

[K2K2]

Ha ha, @Marcozi beat me to it...


I believe 6th gear is a 1:1 ratio in your Pilot, so that makes sense for a NA V6. I'd lock it in and let 'er eat.

That said, towing does increase drag. Maybe something like this would help?

https://www.nosecone.com/cargo-travel-trailer-models