V-Nose trailers worth the money??

[StevenJ]

For those of you who have towed V-Nose trailers, do you notice any difference in the towing characteristics or fuel economy compared to a standard trailer?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Nope. Just more room to turn is all.

 

[BMH95]

The rear of the trailer has more to do with drag than the front, no?

 

[SSalzer]

I get about 2-3 mpg more towing my V-nose than when towing my friend's flat front. Alot more room for shelves in the front with the V-nose (if that's what you want to do inside). No more room to turn like mentioned about though, the V protrudes into the tongue. I have a 7x15 V nose that is the same size as a 7x12 flat front. I think it was well worth the extra $300.

 

[GAmes]

I've seen no difference in towing or fuel economy.

 

[Ragain]

I'm with Cattletrucker and Games..... V-nose helps halfway. But a squared off rear-end causes a lot of turbulence and drag. "AirTabs" stick-ons claim to remedy the turbulence, but I'm skeptical. Have you ever seen a jet plane with a squared off tail-end?

 

[ColemanR]

I have towed a 24ft interstate for approx 300,000 yes thats right. just bought a 26ft 1ft taller v nose have gained 1. 23 mpg average in 25,000 miles will never buy another flat nose again call it what you want I say it helps Randy

 

[Ragain]

ColemanR, see if you can double that increased economy by fab'g a V-nose treatment for the tail of that thing!

Occasionally I pull a 23,000 lb trailer for the Air Force... ... 13' tall and square as a box! Its like pulling a parachute!!! I'd love to see them use "nose-cones" on the front/rear of those things!

 

[Buffalo]

Regarding the rear of the trailer, especially on a travel trailer, I wonder if you could fabricate a small wing & attach it to the luggage rack, on the roof. Just enough to disturb & deflect the air upwards.



I believe that the open-wheel race cars (Indy, Formula 1, etc. ) use a small lip on the trailing end of the rear wing, for that purpose. I think they call it a "wickerbill".



I wonder where a person could find engineering information about what would work in a situation like this.



U-Haul , years ago, did a lot of 'aero' work for their trailers & trucks. That's how they came up with the rounded corners on their vehicles. Even the corners are rounded.



There is a website (AFNash.com) that had that question asked. Some fellow designed and built a system for the front of his trailer that made it quite a bit more aerodynamic. Did it with tubing & shower wall material. He installed a shell on his Dodge pick-up to help divert the air & the 'system' was built to accommodate the trailer. As I recall, it did improve his mileage.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[MA2LA]

It can help epending on your setup. if you have a cap on your truck expecialy one that raise towards the back it wount make much diffrence. If you pulling with an open bed it will defianly make a diffrence.

 

[GAmes]

Speaking of air-tabs. I pulled a cargo trailer from CA to

TX to LA then to AZ. It was about 18 ft, loaded to about 6000 pounds and had a rounded front and air tabs on the back. I was expecting really good MPGs, ended up with about 13, the same as a small TT.