Quote:
Originally Posted by Fourbtgait
The 30% fuel mileage loss held true for the F150 with a topper pulling an 18' travel trailer, 8' wide, 10'6 tall at 60 mph. Frontal area killed the mileage as it was 4' higher than the tow vehicle, as did mountain roads.
Hence looking at a trailer whose frontal area does not exceed the tow vehicle, would have thought the loss would be less than 30%.
I have thought of building my own box to go on a small flatbed trailer, wheels enclosed in the body, not extending out past the body as in a cargo trailer. If I did so, design would be like the previously mentioned airstream, giving me 6' headroom inside, so then extending above the tow vehicle.
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My TT is considerably taller and wider than my pickup. Yet 16-mpg was not hard to achieve with the last one that was one foot shorter and no lighter than the present one (see link in revised signature; pic of rig about post #25. Pic can be expanded several times). Turbodiesel is the answer to trailer towing mpg. 30% doesn't hurt in this instance. And these smaller vehicles (light duty trucks) can comfortably tow TT's with power to spare.
As to building ones own, having the trailer wheels outside the body means lower ground clearance and wider stance in re roll center. Much better stability. UHaul does this for this/these reason. Torsion axle is the way to go, not leaf spring.
My trailer has interior headroom of 6'4'. Exterior clearance with A/C on roof is 9'8". Width is 96".
Height is the killer, not overall frontal area. I would much, MUCH rather have a trailer six feet longer than one foot taller.
Look to pics/spec of 1960's
Streamline Duke for dimensions.
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