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

[BamZipPow]

So a quick run down the road...nothing fell off or blew up.

Visibility out the back through the upper gap cover is excellent compared to the previous version. The acrylic isn't the greatest optical quality but it's enough to see details of what's behind me.

I need to make some adjustments to the upper gap cover as it's hanging up a little on the right side...which should be pretty easy since it's modular in design.

[aerohead]

She's looking really slick.
Oil slick! Slick Oil! Slick Fuel! Spare Fuel! "Long Distance Operator"
Dark Matter! Dark Energy! Slippery Slope! Speed Curve! Performance Curve!
Honk if you have a small one!
Drag Slayer! Wake be gone!
Okay I'll quit.
Just get to Denton so I can see it first hand!

[BamZipPow]

So applying the template to my current setup and this is what comes up...


By following the template, I would have to revamp my aero cap and cut the current trailer cargo capability by approximately 50%. The deck of the trailer is pretty close to where the template ends. I did notice that the tail cone is right at the end of the template, too!

At least I know where my current gap covers would apply to a templated setup.

[BamZipPow]

Horizontal gap covers are now installed on the aero cap and not on the upper gap cover itself like the previous version.

[aerohead]

*Going 'long' instead of 'short',you're still separation free.
*You take a little hit on surface friction drag do to the added wetted area.
*And since the boundary later is thicker back there,its kinetic energy can't be recovered as base pressure rise once the flow does detach beyond the trailer.
*But you've got all that added useful cargo space.
*The area of the rear bulkhead,compared to the 29-sq-ft of original frontal area will give you a sense of your wake reduction.
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From a loose rule-of-thumb,by William H. Bettes of the GALCIT wind tunnel at Cal Tech; without the weight increase up to 5,000 -lbs,you could add about 7% to your MPG.
That 30-mpg you pulled around OKC would be over 32-mpg if not for the weight.
Almost a 69% improvement over the naked T-100.

[BamZipPow]

Gonna remove the 3 screws I have the tail cone attached to the main support and replace it with a single 1/4" bolt that will allow it to automatically swivel/adjust (to some degree) itself to the air flow. Right now I'm only guessing that it's flowing straight back there.

[BamZipPow]

Nose built out of Coroplast and installed with screws and Tyvek tape...

[aerohead]

BamZipPow came through Denton at 10:00 this AM and we got to meet for an early meal.
While backing into a parking space the curb kissed the wheel fairing on the trailer,hard enough that it had to be removed until Bam can deal with it.
A temporary setback.He's got everything he needs to get it back into action.He just needs dry conditions and some downtime.
He had rain and 15-20 mph NW wind all the way into Denton.
Perhaps,with the fairing restored,and dry/calm conditions he'll be able to see the full potential of the latest mods.
'Everything' is basically there,it just needs tweeking.
The rig is absolutely amazing when in motion.And we had a number of curiosity-seekers checking it out as we ate,and after.Many camera phones 'clicking' away on the commute up.
It's always a 'trip' to see it.

[BamZipPow]

The rest of the wheel body and frame had some issues so I ended up taking the rest of it off about 100 miles later. i'll have to see if I can rebuild it later when I git to Wichita.

Got stopped immediately as soon as I stopped at the Walmart here in Cassville MO by a nice group of folks who were really curious about the setup. Even though I was pretty tired from the long drive, I took the time to explain the purpose of the rig and how the hitch worked. Hopefully they will join Ecomodder and try to improve their gas mileage in the process.

Got an indicated 25.3mpg from College Station to Waco, 24.8mpg to Denton, 26.3mpg before refueling. I was seeing just over 32mpg on a flat straight section of I-40. I had to stop by a local Walmart to pick up a tire inflator fer the air bag as the ride was gitting gritty which was telling me from previous drives that it was low on air. My indicated mileage was 27.4mpg at that point. From there to Cassville I got an indicated 25.5mpg. From the Walmart to Roaring River, I got an indicated 26.0mpg.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

The rest of the wheel body and frame had some issues so I ended up taking the rest of it off about 100 miles later. i'll have to see if I can rebuild it later when I git to Wichita.

Got stopped immediately as soon as I stopped at the Walmart here in Cassville MO by a nice group of folks who were really curious about the setup. Even though I was pretty tired from the long drive, I took the time to explain the purpose of the rig and how the hitch worked. Hopefully they will join Ecomodder and try to improve their gas mileage in the process.

Got an indicated 25.3mpg from College Station to Waco, 24.8mpg to Denton, 26.3mpg before refueling. I was seeing just over 32mpg on a flat straight section of I-40. I had to stop by a local Walmart to pick up a tire inflator fer the air bag as the ride was gitting gritty which was telling me from previous drives that it was low on air. My indicated mileage was 27.4mpg at that point. From there to Cassville I got an indicated 25.5mpg. From the Walmart to Roaring River, I got an indicated 26.0mpg.

Bam,had you ever seen 32 under any kind of conditions before?