AirFlow BulletTruck Project (aerodynamic, modified Class 8 transport doubles MPG)

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by Otto

G

As for group-think, keep in mind that most schooling and professional credentials are essentially conformity badges, i.e., one gets to be an automotive engineer by proving in years of school that one can do it the way it's always been done, with not necessarily much thought to how it might better be done.

otto,
I agree partially to your point. However I know from first hand experience that Texas A&M Aerospace engineering degree has a senior yr project for one of it's required classes that has the students design a 'craft' not currently in use.
In 1972 my old brother and 2 others designed a re-useable spacecraft that would be permanently parked in space to be used between to orbiting space craft. kind of a space utility van. The projects were submitted and graded then shipped off to NASA.
I am pretty sure that is the level of mastery required for most true engineering programs.

I do agree thuogh that inbreeding does take place at most levels.

[expensivehobby22]

Just wanted to stop in and say great job making your truck happen.

[Xist]

I know of some trucks that are able to load conexes (shipping containers) without additional equipment. I cannot imagine that they would be able to streamline the front of a conex, but those are specialized. I would think that normally there would be a possibility.

[slowmover]

t seemed like their semis almost always had two axles on the truck itself, while I had invariably seen three here. Does anyone know anything about that?

This is about having two drive axles. Normally, one only uses the axle designated as "the drive". The second is disconnected under ordinary circumstances until one is on uneven ground that the rig as a whole cannot traverse. Then the driver uses a dash switch to "lock" the differentials (not a locker diff as with 4WD pickups; a manner of speaking) so that both are accepting engine power.

Trucks are easily hung up. That long wheelbase (in comparison to cars, say) can place the tractor in a position that at low speeds causes "the drive" to be suspended in air. There is only so much "give" between tractor and trailer at the point of the hitch (the fifth wheel).

Yes, some O/O's are spec'ng single axle tractors for highest FE today. But those are on-road only. Understand that many, many, many big truck parking lots, service facilities and the rest remain unpaved (as they are easier to maintain) thus necessitating two drive axles. Plenty of customers also have hard-to-traverse locations as well.

I was unloading fly ash at a site near the Houston Ship Channel a few days ago. An "environmental company" was drying out a swamp pond thus the 125T's daily of this power plant product delivery. A truck that came in after me was backing around a 110-degree corner, and tried to pull forward with the Steer Axle over the edge of the temporary road. Knew my day was screwed once he had even one Drive in the air as I was trapped. Took quite a while to get a trackhoe back to his position to pull him back up around corner so he could regain traction enough to back into position.

This second, or third, life of a former company OTR truck is part of "the truck economy" in this country (construction, big maintenance projects, etc) and owners can't afford a single drive tractor (and refits aren't cheap). Resale value is part of the original owners calculations.

[Xist]

I wonder how common those are in third-world countries. I do not know how much choice they would have in what type of truck they drive, and their roads might not be up to our standards.

[LeanBurn]

I stumbled upon this today: MAN unveils super-streamlined semi truck | Fox News

[Flakbadger]

Also, this, from the same website.

[Vekke]

I have photos coming from both of those mb and man trucks (visited IAA). Lets keep this thread conserned to bullet truck.

[bertb]

Shepherd777, thanks for sharing your truck here. Its an amazing piece of work! Not only have you taken matters into your own hands to fix the problem but it looks like you've inspired a lot of thought from the members here, me included.

If you're ever passing through OKC I'd love to buy you a hot cup and shake your hand!

[Shepherd777]

Guys I'm sorry I have not been following this thread. We have retired the BulletTruck and are now actively designing and engineering our "scratch-built" next-generation rig.

I'll post as much as I can on that new project, but there won't be as many details as there were on the BulletTruck. The creatively bankrupt engineers at all of the big OEM's have stolen enough ideas from us already.

Here's just one reason why the BulletTruck worked so well: