Aerolid mod for Trailer Towing

[aerostealth]

Truck is ready to tow our trailer to AZ for a two day camping trip and proof of concept on modifying the Aerolid for trailer towing. I got the back braces built today. The second picture is of the truck parked next to the trailer with the aerolid only to show the nature of the problem I am trying to solve.

Our trip is 448 miles round trip for which I should be able to get over 400 miles worth of data. I will have a full tank data set on Sunday when we return on Sunday the 21st. If we can do 13 mpg we will consider that a coup.

[aerostealth]

This is the back braces which I installed this morning. I think they really lock the lid in place from moving sideways. The actually fit in the latches and are bolted together in the middle where they cross. The picture below shows the sight line the air sees towards the top of the trailer.

[aerohead]

*You can see how the 4RUNNER roof would be better than the fastback Aerolid for towing


*In another table (I don't have it available) a roof deflector to direct the air up and around the nose of the trailer is good for a 15% drag reduction.
*The Aerolid RV combines the larger tow vehicle wake of the 4RUNNER,plus goes beyond,with it's integral air deflector,increasing the F-150's wake,from 27 sq-ft (12-mpg),to 37-sq-ft (? mpg).
*NASA's roof deflector was good for a 15.7% drag reduction.
You should have some interesting numbers by Sunday.
Travel safe!

[aerostealth]

I did some measuring last night and 39 sq ft is our number.

[slowmover]

Distance from lid edge to trailer front? (The gap)

The work looks nice

[aerostealth]

Four feet. The biggest improvement short of gap fillers would probably be ruling or radiusing the edges of the trailer.

[deejaaa]

I also like the look. I will be more than surprised and demand a recount if there's not a noticeable difference.

[Fat Charlie]

Adding functionality like that while keeping a reasonable look is amazing work. I can't wait to see numbers too.

[aerohead]

Here's NASA's tractor-trailer setup,circa 1977.They said the got everything they needed from a local hardware store.Probably Lancaster,California.I don't remember Rosamond having one.They got a crosswind-averaged drag reduction of 67% with the complete kit.


Here's the old wing setup

[aerohead]

Here is a drag table from Hucho's book showing the effectiveness of the roof-mounted air deflector

Here you can see the actual flow being influenced by the deflector

This image I found online this morning,showing a pickup with deflector

Here's a tow vehicle under crosswind conditions

Here's box truck under crosswind conditions.Notice the leeward jet blasting out from the gap.This can be 16% or so of the drag on a rig.

Here's Hucho showing us the enormous fuel-robbing wake

Like a parachute added to an otherwise 'clean' form