Foamie aerodynamics.

[SteveW-TNT]

My MINI's hitch is going to be pretty low, so I wanted to get the trailer as low as possible and still be safe/functional. And if that improves aerodynamics as well, I guess that's just a bonus. I see the Dexter torsion axle allows different angles. Are these angles adjustable once installed, or are they a set-it-and-leave-it kinda thing?

 

[wagondude]

My MINI's hitch is going to be pretty low, so I wanted to get the trailer as low as possible and still be safe/functional. And if that improves aerodynamics as well, I guess that's just a bonus. I see the Dexter torsion axle allows different angles. Are these angles adjustable once installed, or are they a set-it-and-leave-it kinda thing?

I believe once the angle is set with a Dexter, that's what you get. The arms on Flexride are slpined on the shaft and can be adjusted.

Bill

 

[GPW]

I may be wrong , but wasn’t it said the Torsion axles only last a certain amount of time ... ?

 

[linuxmanxxx]

With as little use as the tears usually get, I don't think age or life on a torsion axle would ever be an issue.

 

[atahoekid]

I may be wrong , but wasn’t it said the Torsion axles only last a certain amount of time ... ?

The frame I have came from a 1980's built tent trailer and the torsion axle still works well. I've jumped up and down on the platform and the axle worked nicely. I think Steve was right, for as little as they get actually used they last quite a while. I guess you could call it empirical evidence

 

[angib]

I may be wrong , but wasn’t it said the Torsion axles only last a certain amount of time ... ?

Yep - thirty or forty years is as much as you can expect to get from a rubber torsion axle.....

 

[GPW]

Well, that certainly sounds “good enough” eh !!

 

[mikeschn]

I may be wrong , but wasn’t it said the Torsion axles only last a certain amount of time ... ?

Yep - thirty or forty years is as much as you can expect to get from a rubber torsion axle.....

Andrew,

Are you ready to play with Sketchup?

I'm diving in this weekend. Wish me luck!

Mike...

 

[pete4330]

I may be wrong , but wasn’t it said the Torsion axles only last a certain amount of time ... ?

30 or 40 years I don't think so, most will relax not noticeable unless you know where they should be
I have seen them so relaxed on scamps the wheel would hit the top of the wheelwell

they need to be jacked up if not used for long periods of time.
On the two scamps I owned when I stored them in my brothers barn I would jack the wheels off the ground and rest the frame on jackstands
didn't take but a few minuits and kept the rubber part of the axel new.

 

[GPW]

That’s Good to know eh !!! Torsion axles appear to offer less drag on the under carriage than the traditional springs and axle ... If you have a standard axle 2” thick ... the 2” X 60” = 120sq.in. , almost a square foot of profile drag from the axle alone ... probably the equivalent of removing both the rear view mirrors off your car .. You can see that every little bit of drag you save adds up quickly ... to a point , then basic aerodynamics comes into play and it’s difficult to gain any more drag savings after that ... the plane designers found that out ...

 

[mezmo]

Hi all Foamlings,

This is a cross reference posting for some Aero thoughts and ideas I drew
up last summer for Mojave Bob's Dreamliner proposal. I was having computer
problems and couldn't scan and post to a file and thus be able to post from
that back then. Anyway, I can now do that again and since I just came across
the drawings again that I did for the planned post then, I decided to post
it all now.

Here's the original Dreamliner thread link:

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=45633

Here are the two drawings I did. The explanation narrative for
them is now in the above thread. Just click on the pics and they will come
up larger. "CTRL +" will magnify them then if desired. "CTRL -" will back the
magnification down if you magnify too much with "CTRL +".

The Taper Draw-Up:

The Foamie Plan and Side View Draw-Up:

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

 

[GPW]

Norm, looks pretty sleek ! Should slip through the air pretty easily ... Like a fish through water ...

 

[atahoekid]

Norm, looks pretty sleek ! Should slip through the air pretty easily ... Like a fish through water ...

Hydrodynamics...aerodynamics. Pretty similar stuff, ain't it?

 

[GPW]

The air is just a thinner fluid ...

 

[KCStudly]

Figure out a way to apply fish slime (that thing that makes fish slippery) and you would really have something! (...but now I have to shoot you. )

 

[mezmo]

Hi all Foamlings/Foamanistas,

This link isn't to a foam based TT as we think of it, but it is of a
related construction as they use composite panels that are foam
cored in their non-wood based construction. But, the reason I'm posting
the link is for the body design that uses aerodynamics applied to a
basically rectangular body design. Notice the front shaping and the rear
shape and tapering.

An amazing Australian Off-Road RV manufacturer:
http://www.kimberleygroup.com.au/4wd_camper
They make off road campers [tent trailers to us] and
now also two types of off-road caravans. We all need
to be able to rough it this way !!! [They are high end,
but they look to me like the highest value received for
the money.]

The newest product from Kimberley Kampers,
The Kimberley Kruiser:
http://www.kimberleykruiser.com/

Their first caravan, a telescoping hard walled unit, also with
aero applied to its body. The main idea here is to keep the
trailer[caravan] body within the tow vehicle's cross-section
and in [matching its] track width.
The Kimberley Karavan:
http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/

Again, great inspiration for home builders, at least for me.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

 

[atahoekid]

I love those Kimberley Kampers and had forgotten about them. I really like the unique look. I had looked at them before but didn't realize they are foam cored composites. If I build again, I am thinking about going truly composite just like these. I sorta went hybrid on this one. Thanks for bringing this back up for consideration.

 

[SteveW-TNT]

Those are awesome! If I had that kinda coin lying around, I'd definitely consider one.

 

[GPW]

http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/images ... 50x150.jpg

this looks good as is, un folded... for a LOW Foamie

 

[loaderman]

Wonder why the front doesn't go all the way down but has a storage box? Can't be better aerodynamics.

Do like it though.