Quote:
Originally Posted by ausias
I'm waiting for the mpg test.
Ii you tow a trailer you may compare the torque added because of the additional length. Easily 1000 N of weight in 0.4 m length (from fixation to pivot point) of the normal towing make 400Nm of torque on chasis/towing fixation.
But be aware that 1000N of weight exerted 1.2 m length will make 1200 Nm, you will need to absorve 3 times more torque in chasis/towing fixation. Some additional welding of vertical bars will be needed or you will discover, that weldings are strong enough to transmit forces and torques capable of destructing next object.
o=======x
adding a vertical force in x will tend to rotate with center in o, so flexing the tow bar.
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o======x
adding a Force to x will rotate with center o only if welded reinforcements elongate sufficient to allow flexing the towing bar.
In spain a modification like yours needs an engeenering project and lots of burocracy to legallize and homologate in ITV and Miniesterio de Industria, it could be done but I suspect in USA there are differents regulations. Rear suspension will suffer also if towing a trailer means adding vertical weight to the joint. Also, lateral forces in joint will make lose sooner the stability of the rear end (that is the whole).
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Yes, in other words it’s a tough application, I get it. Here’s the deal. I’m in the process of figuring out to what extent you can increase the FE of RV’s using aerodynamic improvements. As we all know, in the available box of tricks, the biggest gain to be had in one shot, especially on an RV, is by adding a boat tail.
That’s exactly what I did, I added a boat tail. If early tests are accurate, the boat tail yielded easily a 25% improvement in mileage. If that turns out to be even close to the improvement the average RV owner can expect by making that modification, I suspect a lot of guys are going to be building boat tails. I don’t know what the actual percentage is, but I can tell you the majority of those thinking about embarking on those improvements are most likely going to want to still be able to tow something with their RV, all the time or once in a while.
I fall into that category which is why I built the extended hitch and why I will find out what works and what doesn’t. If I break or bend something along the way that’s called R&D. The thing is, the hitch issue has to be sorted out one way or the other so I’m in the process of sorting.