Aero luggage

[mikel09]

Roof box = lift up high to load gear, robs mpg, car becomes top heavy

Trailer = extra weight and turning, cost of ownership, storage and lost mpg

German bag = small capacity, 4 cubic feet (1 duffle and one sleeping bag)

Aeropack = very rugged, sizes of 9, 10 or 14 cubic feet and fits most everything.

[robchalmers]

hmmm thinking the aeroSACK might be the best choice.

[puddleglum]

I thought that I remember Aerohead saying that his boat tail trailer actually gained him mileage. I like the idea of an aero storage bag or box off the back though.

[Arragonis]

A key question here is will the additional cost of any aero luggage box / trailer / bag be paid off against the additional fuel you will burn otherwise ?

If you have to carry stuff a lot then maybe a larger car may be a better long term bet as you would get the benefit of built in aero.

If not then just take the temporary hit for when you do, or go slower to compensate ?

I'm hitting this question now - my car usually has me and sometimes one other (Arragonis Jnr) but I sometimes want to carry bikes or other outdoor stuff. So maybe a van would be better.

Just a thought.

[ShadeTreeMech]

adding a trailer adds a lot more weight than the luggage and increases rolling resistance. The reciever hitch attachments are a great idea for FE and extra storage IMHO.

[robchalmers]

normally, i carry me + family(missus,2kids) + random 'vital posessions' but ocassionally when I go racing its me + 1or2 other drivers, race gear, camping stuff, food, essential fluids (monster and beer ) so a bit of extra space wouldn't hurt on a temporary basis

[ShadeTreeMech]

I'd be curious to hear from aerohead about his trailer, i bet that'd be the thing to get my mpgs in the crazy category on the van.

Is an '08 bentley supposed to only get 10 mpg? that's insanely low mpg, even for a car resembling a rolling cathedral!

[Otto]

Why not use Coroplast and make one of those extensions like on the back of big truck trailers?

It would be a truncated Kamm-back, but fold flat against the rear or the car/SUV when not in use, or detach and stow under the back seat.

[JeepNmpg2]

I'd like to build on that and add a carrier under it, that way you can store items on the hitch behind the car, and use the kamm to continue or improve the cars aero lines to perhaps increase FE while adding additional weight (or at least counteract the additional weights reduction to FE). Of note: the weight being behind the rear bumper will cause more flexsion of the suspension (lower rear end) and cause the handling to vary according to the terrain being traversed so use it with caution. For bluff backed hatches, SUVs and vans it is probably the best option over towing a trailer if you don't have more than 200-500lbs of stuff to carry.