Fuel Mileage Puzzle

[NIsaacs]

Since we know wind resistance plays a big part in fuel milage, then we know speed is a big part of that comparison. If you drive faster with a light wind resistant load and slower with a heavy wind resistant load, your numbers are not valad.

Nick

 

[JJPage]

There is a lot of speculation, and has been for years, about the rear design of a vehicle and it's affects on wind resistance and fuel mileage. I believe it has been proven that some type of "aerodynamic" design vs a "flat" rear surface is advantageous to fuel mileage, the question is, how much more efficient and at what cost?

I have noticed at least 1 national dry van transportation company, has placed or purchased trailers that have what looks like the bottom off of an old fiberglass tri-hull Thunderbird boat, on the back of their trailers. It's apparent to me why they did this, fuel is very expensive and if you can achieve a savings on multiple vehicles over the year the result could literally be millions of dollars.

This application to the trailers does not look to be very expensive, so if effective, payback should be fairly quick. We all know the thought process of "bean counters" and managers/owners of companies...If this aerodynamic application really would/does produce a significant(2-3 mpg ?) gain, why are there not more major transportation companies engaging in this practice?

It's the claimed (mpg) savings that has me ???? All have a good day, looks like a beauty outside! Jess

 

[SnoKing]

We went from a 26 foot hard edge square corner flat back 5th wheel that weighs around 9K to a 29' 5th wheel with both from and rear fiberglass caps that weighs over 12K and get better mileage with the larger heavier trailer. Chris

 

[Gonzo 1066]

When I sold my Alpenlite truck camper and bumper cargo trailer, and started pulling my GN horse trailer my MPGs went up by about 1.5mpg. I am towing more weight, longer trailer but the airflow of a truck camper is terrible.