Boat tail project based on a single wheel trailer...

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by freebeard

"I hear you like to trailer so I put a trailer on your trailer so you can trailer while your trailering." I think that's how it goes.

So you're adding to the overall length??? That would give room for a box cavity, which needs to be inset or angled to follow The Template.

Personally, I'd leave all that off (as at #374) and put a half-round on the front of the pant.

I need to test the front edge to see how much will git ground away when the wheel swivels around when I'm backing up. The nose of the pant will drop almost 4". Once I've established how much is left, I'll build in the nose (if there's enough time left before I git back on the road) with a pool noodle and aluminum flashing.

[BamZipPow]

A quick build this morning! I built in some taper fer the tail cone and a simple Coroplast skid plate. The hinge pivots the tail cone up when needed. It's pretty light so I'm not sure it the air won't shove it up and out of the way. I won't know how well it's performing back there unless I have a chase car or set up a camera back there.

[BamZipPow]

Version 2...

Skid plate covers the entire bottom...


Bungee cord to keep the tail cone in the up position (attaches to latch) when backing up to minimize damage to it. Yes, that means I have to git out to tie the tail cone up...but I don't back up on extreme driveways except a few times.



Snubber to keep the tail cone from bumping into the tire as the suspension articulates...

[BamZipPow]

Well...the snubber didn't survive the test. I've readjusted the tail cone so I won't have to worry about having a snubber. Good riddance, I say! I added in some extra support on the attachment rail so it won't flex and the tail cone will stay in place better.

I've loaded the tail cone with 2x4 pieces of wood fer weight to see if I can keep the air from moving it around...just in case. They are attached to the main spar and to the sides. I'm estimating the current weight of the tail cone is about 5lbs or so.

The tail cone adds about 14" more to the back end of the trailer when deployed or stowed. Clearance to the ground from the front is 4" while the back is 5.75". The bottom skid plate is 16" long.

[freebeard]

The tail cone adds about 14" more to the back end of the trailer when deployed or stowed.

Well, it's your truck of course; but it doesn't look as tall as it is long. and the hinge is forward of the side-plates.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Cd

This is a question for Aerohead : If BamZipPow did indeed drive around for the next week or two with tufts stuck to his truck, what effect would this present aero wise ?

I'm guessing it would cause so little drag as to be unnoticeable.

And for BamZipPow, how about adding an extra inch or two of lip around the edges at the rear ? Tests have shown that an open cavity - a box cavity- to sometimes be beneficial.

It would be super easy to do !

*Yes,the drag of the tufts would be statistically meaningless.
*And as to the cavity,at least one investigator has published that trailer vans which have a recessed door cavity DO show a small drag advantage,as this separation void partially isolated the door face from the base pressure of the wake.
*Hucho's research demonstrated a drag minimum when the length of the cavity was around 42% body length,giving a 7.9% drag reduction to a Volkswagen Transporter.
*Hucho recommended a practical length of 19% body length which yielded a 6% drag reduction.
*So you can see that these things have to be pretty long to show up at the pump.
*Something like a 42% boat tail has demonstrated a 26% drag reduction on a GM SUV scale wind tunnel model.

[BamZipPow]

Upper gap cover almost framed out...

[BamZipPow]

Frame painted in flat black. I think I have to put in a center brace fer the main acrylic piece.

[BamZipPow]

Main window in place. I still have to trim it and build the side pieces.

[BamZipPow]

Side panels in.