Aerodynamic performance?.

[GRUMPYBAGDER]

I'm looking into building a small camping trailer, not nessesarily a teardrop shape in the strictest of sense.
I see several different shapes on here and that several members are serial builders of different shapes and sizes and was wondering if anyone had noticed an advantge or even any difference at all in the differing shapes.
For example is there a noticable difference in towing a trailer taller or wider than the tow car?.
Does the angle of the rear slope or the curve at the front make any difference?.
Mine can be very small a towering 6" taller than the wife (at a dizzing 5'6") means we don't need the biggest of trailers but we also don't have the biggest of tow vehicles either so any advantage would be a welcome one.
Many Thanks, Mark.

[dh]

If you are willing to put function over form, you could build it with a backwards teardrop profile.

A shorter tongue will help with drag, but make backing a PITA. An adjustable tongue length might work, I've seen a few trailers with tongues as short as 2'.

Just a few random thoughts.

[grant whipp]

In my experience, I've found that the closer you stay with in the "shadow" or "nose print" of your tow vehicle, the less drag you will have to deal with. I've also found that the fully rounded front profiles (such as the Cub/Modernistic) have less drag than the ones with a more vertical lower front profiles. I have both a Modernistic and a slightly modified KIT-style, and I'll get 1-2 mpg better with the Modernistic than I get with the KIT-style (both weigh about the same when loaded up with camping gear). Roof racks and gear on them will also affect drag & gas milage (ask me how I know ... ...!).

Good Luck with the design & build! As always, then ...

CHEERS!

Grant

[GRUMPYBAGDER]

Cheers for your thoughts.
The reason I ask is I only have small vehicles to tow with, my initial though was to either build a baby air stream, an alloy air stream shape on a 6 x 4 frame with a height of no more than 4 ft from the ground.
Or to be more stream lined an egg shape.
I never like to do things the easy way, I can complicate walking with little effort.
I seem to recall reading somewhere (may have even been on this forum) that the lower rounded profiles had a tendency to "lifting" at speed.
Any body found this?.
Is weight a bigger factor than drag?.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I would love to watch your baby airstream come together!