How to improve areo on your trailer, lets see your ideas

[Martiangod]

Been trying to think of things that would help with the areodynamics on trailer.
I did coroplast on bottom to have a smooth surface, just need to make swoop out of coroplast to deflect air from the holding tank
Been thinkin of Airtabs, they use them on 18 wheelers to break the areo drag



Even if you could add 1 MPG would be awesome,
Thinkin a few other things, what have you got???

[kludge]

[Martiangod]

So how many layers of them ceramic tiles do I put on?


One thing that is being developed for big rigs, is to have a large compressor onboard the trailer, jetting air into the vacum at the back to break it up
Wonder if something like this would help?



These areo tails fitted to big trucks give a 7 1/2% reduction in fuel consumption

[aggie79]

Chris,

I know this topic has been discussed before but I still like seeing it.

I have to admit that I know nothing engineering-wise about aerodynamics. That said, I think if you could taper your trailer design in height and in width it would help lessen drag (although it would make construction a bear.) In addition to smoothing the bottom airflow as you did, I'm also thinking that temporary (hinged?) skirting below the frame rails would add some benefit.

Take care,
Tom

[Martiangod]

Chris,

I'm also thinking that temporary (hinged?) skirting below the frame rails would add some benefit.

Take care,
Tom

I've been thinkin that may be a thought, I've been thinkin to figure some storage boxes to close the height to the ground, and also deflect some air from the front of the wheels. And either salt flat smoothy wheel discs or fender skirts.
I like the idea of the tail thing on the tractor I showed, could maybe become a shelter over the back when get to camp or over a rear kitchen

[aggie79]

Chris,

I know this topic has been discussed before but I still like seeing it.

I have to admit that I know nothing engineering-wise about aerodynamics. That said, I think if you could taper your trailer design in height and in width it would help lessen drag (although it would make construction a bear.) In addition to smoothing the bottom airflow as you did, I'm also thinking that temporary (hinged?) skirting below the frame rails would add some benefit.

Take care,
Tom

I don't think I've ever quoted myself, but Andrew (Angib) did a much better description of what I was trying to say above in this thread:

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=780746#p780746

Take care,
Tom

[kludge]

[S. Heisley]

Been trying to think of things that would help with the areodynamics on trailer.
I did coroplast on bottom to have a smooth surface, just need to make swoop out of coroplast to deflect air from the holding tank
Been thinkin of Airtabs, they use them on 18 wheelers to break the areo drag



Even if you could add 1 MPG would be awesome,
Thinkin a few other things, what have you got???

Prem used them on his cargo trailer. Taken from his CT build thread, A 12 Ft Featherlite conversion, (viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25377&start=60), here are his results:

AirTab results
by Prem » Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:00 pm
237 miles using 21 gallons = 11.25MPG

I was getting 9.5MPG towing the trailer before the AirTabs.



AirTabs only work effectively over 45MPH. There were many times when I was under 40MPH towing on the trip. I was never on an Interstate for that test run, so one could expect even more fuel efficiency gain for a long trip on the open road. The vehicle gets 12-13 not towing on the open road.

Is that Prem's Featherlite trailer in the picture?

[Martiangod]

No, just a pic i found on the net.
Those are good results.
There are so many places on a box you can make improvements
And they are getting great areo on alot of these new boxy cars, some of them better then a ferrari wedge.
So does wedging the nose help, or hinder?



Or do you need to work on the TV to try and keep the air from between the TV and trailer.
It seems the more I read, the more it has to do with areo drag, rather then the frontal area

[Wimperdink]

How about a telescoping trailer tongue. One square stock that fits inside another that gets pinned in place. Tuck it in close to the tow vehicle for the long haul. Unpin it and pull it back for a longer tongue for backing it up so you don't crunch the corner in a jack knife.

[kludge]

So does wedging the nose help, or hinder?
Or do you need to work on the TV to try and keep the air from between the TV and trailer.
It seems the more I read, the more it has to do with areo drag, rather then the frontal area

It all helps, and frontal area matters -- to get the total drag you multiply the Cd by the frontal area. Ideally there would be no gaps between the TV and the trailer, to wedge the front or not depends on the TV, in my mind. If the trailer is in the shadow of the TV, then do what you can to reduce the turbulence between the two, fairings, shorter tongue, etc... If it's not in the shadow of the TV, then a wedge will help, i.e. if my TV is a full size van a wedge won't help as much as if I'm towing with a car or pickup.

With your latest trailer, a truck cap would probably help.

Those Air Tabs have me intrigued. I'd love to see an animation of what they do in a wind tunnel.

[Gage]

Just think, if you had a teardrop, you wouldn't have this concern. What am I missing? .....

[Martiangod]

[Wimperdink]

If you want to go all out, you could do the Mythbusters thing and dimple it like a golf ball. They proved that it did save fuel.

[petertl]

http://www.amazon.com/V-Force-Vortex-Ge ... B002YK9GZY

Shark fins!
Heard these work well also.
Peter