[euromodder]

Despite their fuel saving abilities, there are a few practical issues with boattails, too.

It's a lot longer.

Loading stuff in the rear of a boattail would put a lot of weight far aft of the rear axle, which is bad for stability. A long boot is fine, but you need to be able to get to the forward end of it to really use it.

Towing is effectively out - the hitch would need to be far forward under the tail, leading to long booms to get to the hitch. Clearance would become an issue. Putting the hitch at the aft end of the tail is completely out, the moment arm during swaying would seriously upset vehicle stability.

A boattail adds weight.


At least in NEDC, Europe's official fuel consumption numbers, it brings nothing as these tests are done on a dyno, not on the road so aerodynamics play no role.