by SteveH » Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:27 pm
Should probably stay out of this thread, but sometimes I can't keep my mouth, or fingers quiet.
I've never done any testing of course, but I do have a lot of experience pulling trailers. I've pulled many differnt kinds of boats, many different types of pull behind travel trailers, box utility trailers, and flat utility trailers. It is my opinion that shape is very important in the aerodynamics of pulling trailers. I've had two relatively square travel trailers, a Holiday Rambler 24', and a Mobil Scout, 19', and they were horrible to pull. I also had a 20' Argosy, a 23' Avion, a 24' Argosy, and a 23' Airstream, with the 20' Argosy being a single axle and by far the easiest to pull.
The rounded trailers were by far easier to pull than a square trailer. So much in fact, that I would not in any circumstances, own a square travel trailer ever again.
However, an interesting observation that I would add, is that the angle of the wind can have more effect on the tow vehicle and trailer than the shape. Of course a tail wind is the best having a pushing effect. The worst, contrary to what some folks would think, is the quartering wind from the front. A wind that hits you from 45 degrees off head on will give you more problems with drag and tubulence/buffeting than a head on wind.
SteveH
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