Aerolid mod for Trailer Towing
 

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...ps693269f5.jpg

Truck is ready to tow our trailer to AZ for a two day camping trip and proof of concept on modifying the Aerolid for trailer towing. I got the back braces built today. The second picture is of the truck parked next to the trailer with the aerolid only to show the nature of the problem I am trying to solve.

Our trip is 448 miles round trip for which I should be able to get over 400 miles worth of data. I will have a full tank data set on Sunday when we return on Sunday the 21st. If we can do 13 mpg we will consider that a coup.

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...ps78bbd4a6.jpg

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psf74e751a.jpg

This is the back braces which I installed this morning. I think they really lock the lid in place from moving sideways. The actually fit in the latches and are bolted together in the middle where they cross. The picture below shows the sight line the air sees towards the top of the trailer.

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...psef688e41.jpg

Aerolid RV version
 

*You can see how the 4RUNNER roof would be better than the fastback Aerolid for towing
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Untitled-4.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Untitled-6.jpg
*In another table (I don't have it available) a roof deflector to direct the air up and around the nose of the trailer is good for a 15% drag reduction.
*The Aerolid RV combines the larger tow vehicle wake of the 4RUNNER,plus goes beyond,with it's integral air deflector,increasing the F-150's wake,from 27 sq-ft (12-mpg),to 37-sq-ft (? mpg).
*NASA's roof deflector was good for a 15.7% drag reduction.
You should have some interesting numbers by Sunday.:D
Travel safe!

I did some measuring last night and 39 sq ft is our number.

Distance from lid edge to trailer front? (The gap)

The work looks nice

Four feet. The biggest improvement short of gap fillers would probably be ruling or radiusing the edges of the trailer.

I also like the look. I will be more than surprised and demand a recount if there's not a noticeable difference.

Adding functionality like that while keeping a reasonable look is amazing work. I can't wait to see numbers too. :thumbup:

NASA's 'Aerolid RV'
 

Here's NASA's tractor-trailer setup,circa 1977.They said the got everything they needed from a local hardware store.Probably Lancaster,California.I don't remember Rosamond having one.They got a crosswind-averaged drag reduction of 67% with the complete kit.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Untitled37.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...2/Untitled.jpg
Here's the old wing setup
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...2/HPIM1833.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...2/HPIM1834.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...2/HPIM1835.jpg

extra images
 

Here is a drag table from Hucho's book showing the effectiveness of the roof-mounted air deflector
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...head2/2234.jpg
Here you can see the actual flow being influenced by the deflector
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...head2/2226.jpg
This image I found online this morning,showing a pickup with deflector
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...head2/2239.jpg
Here's a tow vehicle under crosswind conditions
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...head2/2213.jpg
Here's box truck under crosswind conditions.Notice the leeward jet blasting out from the gap.This can be 16% or so of the drag on a rig.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...titled15_7.jpg
Here's Hucho showing us the enormous fuel-robbing wake
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...titled16_6.jpg
Like a parachute added to an otherwise 'clean' form
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...titled14_8.jpg