Aeroplus trims fuel costs

A bolt-on wind deflector designed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent while towing has been given the thumbs up by an Aussie caravan magazine.

Caravan World editor, Max Taylor, recently tested the Aeroplus deflector on a Mitsubishi Pajero during a month long, 11,000km road trip to Kakadu National Park.

Towing a Coromal caravan weighing around two tonnes, the trip computer on the 3.2-litre turbodiesel Pajero displayed an average 23.3L/100km without the wind deflector fitted.

But with the Aeroplus attached across the rear of the vehicle’s roof bars, average fuel consumption dropped to 20.3L/100km, or 13 per cent less.

Taylor estimated that at a per-litre diesel cost of $1.60, the savings amounted to $4.80 per 100km. In other words, around $528 if the Aeroplus had been fitted for the entire trip.

“The Aeroplus is an elegant device that, for my money, should be on the roof of every caravanner’s tow vehicle,” he concluded. “I was sceptical that it would make any difference – but it does.”

The UK-designed Aeroplus is made from heavy-duty ABS plastic and weighs 3.5kg. At 135cm wide, it fits most but not all vehicle roof bars (Caravan World used the Rola brand) and is easily attached with two hand-tightened clamps.

According to Purpleline, the Australian distributor of the Aeroplus, the 20cm high deflector works by directing “the flow of air smoothly over the top of your caravan – reducing drag, increasing towing stability and increasing fuel economy”.

While admitting a number of different types of wind deflectors are available in the UK, Europe and the US, PurpleLine director Malcolm Hill believes the Aeroplus is the only one of its type available in Australia.

It’s also been independently tested in a full-size wind tunnel at UK automotive research organisation, MIRA.

The Aeroplus has a RRP of $225 and is available at a number of RV retail outlets around Australia.

Check out the video below for more on how it works, or visit the Purpleline website.