Benefits of drafting "dirty" trucks?

[SmittyNC]

Thanks for the responses. I am aware of the dangers inherent to drafting and I realize now that I should have been more specific about distances in my post (though I was not inquiring about the nature of drafting itself).

[Clev]

Originally Posted by MadisonMPG

don't draft, end of story.

Well, there you go. God has spoken.

[PA32R]

Originally Posted by Clev

Well, there you go. God has spoken.

And He has two other posts as well. I must seek them out.

[mtgeekman]

I can add a story from a friend of mine who was a truck driver for 10 years or so...

He was following a ways behind a smaller sedan in his truck. The sedan was drafting another truck in front. A tire blew out on the truck in front and with as heavy as the treads are on those tires it basically destroyed the front end of the car.

I have seen to many trucks pulled over because of a blown tire to draft much or very close. I have at times but usually never closer then 100ft, even then I usually start backing off.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by mtgeekman

I have seen to many trucks pulled over because of a blown tire to draft much or very close. I have at times but usually never closer then 100ft, even then I usually start backing off.

Maybe in Montana you can do this. Try leaving 100 ft between two vehicles - any vehicles, any speed - in much of California, and the gap will almost instantly be filled by 3 other cars :-)

[eco_generator]

Why does everyone have to use the dirty word drafting.

Follow trucks according to what traffic will allow. Your mileage will improve. In fact, in Ohio they are required to go 55, so it helps monitor your speed. Just watch for truck sandwiches! You don't want to be the filling...

In fact I always try to make sure I stay behind someone (not drafting). Just by not being the only person in your lane (if you can help it), that little 1-5% decrease in air resistance adds up.

[Christ]

Wouldn't it technically be more beneficial to be the guy in the middle of two trucks?

Aerodynamically speaking, would the air of the first truck not just go up over your car, and onto the second truck, basically placing you in a low airspeed zone, and increasing your efficiency?

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by Christ

Wouldn't it technically be more beneficial to be the guy in the middle of two trucks?

Technically you can end up quite dead when the one behind doesn't stop in time. It makes your car look like a crushed pringles can.

Not to mention, if they are angry at you they might do it on purpose.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by eco_modder

Technically you can end up quite dead when the one behind doesn't stop in time. It makes your car look like a crushed pringles can.

Not to mention, if they are angry at you they might do it on purpose.

Yep, and you'd have a better chance of getting shot by a woman after having a sex change operation while watching an episode of "pinks"...

Seriously, you're in no more danger being between two trucks than you are being in general populous of traffic.

In fact, I'd venture to say you're in less danger, considering the number of times you hear about accidents even involving a truck, versus the number of times you hear about accidents involving a car and no trucks.

Saying that they might do it "on purpose" is just saddening.. Do you really think that someone would not only risk their own life, but their own livelihood over being mad at you?

You do realize that there are so many people on the road that watch trucks so closely that if they make a single incorrect move, their dispatchers get 10 calls about it... imagine what would happen if a truck intentionally caused an accident involving potential vehicular manslaughter... and the fact that it would be premeditated makes it murder.

C'mon.. if the trucker sneezes wrong, he loses his CDL for life. Too many people (including the bad truckers) give truckers a bad rep.

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by Christ

Saying that they might do it "on purpose" is just saddening.. Do you really think that someone would not only risk their own life, but their own livelihood over being mad at you?

You do realize that there are so many people on the road that watch trucks so closely that if they make a single incorrect move, their dispatchers get 10 calls about it... imagine what would happen if a truck intentionally caused an accident involving potential vehicular manslaughter... and the fact that it would be premeditated makes it murder.

C'mon.. if the trucker sneezes wrong, he loses his CDL for life. Too many people (including the bad truckers) give truckers a bad rep.

What are you basing all of this information on? Because I have truckers in my family with 3 or 4 decades under their belt. Plus, you could use all of those arguments to explain away why road rage doesn't happen... but it does.

No big deal, either way. Do what you like, just continue riding the butt of a truck and let another slip up behind you... they will be talking to each other about it, and you won't hear it. And then you can just hope there is no reason for both to try to stop quickly.