Bowlus travel trailer (half the drag of a conventional trailer)

[mcrews]

"In the 1930s aeronautical engineer Hawley Bowlus created the first aluminum-skinned travel trailer. Now a retired couple have made it their mission to bring back these gleaming masterpieces. WSJ's Dan Neil takes a tour."

I/2 the drag of a conventional trailer!!!!

After 80 Years, Bowlus Trailer Resumes Production

I KINDA LIKE THIS!!

THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO ADD THE BACON WRAPPED TWINKIE!!

Bacon-Wrapped Twinkies!: Hostess Cookbook Recipes

[BamZipPow]

Overview - Bowlus Road ChiefBowlus Road Chief | Inspired by timeless American style

Fer $110,000 to $130,000, you can have a 2015/2016 model.

[freebeard]

In the 70s I got one of these, the 23' Silver Streak Clipper, for $300. Like a lot of things over the years it slipped away.

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by freebeard

In the 70s I got one of these, the 23' Silver Streak Clipper, for $300. Like a lot of things over the years it slipped away.

I can relate....
How did you like it?

[Frank Lee]

Always reminds me of

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by mcrews

I can relate....
How did you like it?

I.... I don't want to talk about it right now. *sob*

It had an outer shell of aluminum and an inner shell in steel. When you tapped on the ceiling you could hear rust flakes bouncing up and down. But it sat out in the weather for decades and the aluminum finish never discolored or collected a biofilm.

I had replaced 50% of the plywood in the floor and the bottoms of the C-channel steel. At one point I stored it on my brother's property, and eventually signed the title over to him. After his wife had put up with it for a few more years he sold it.

When I was in college in the 60s there was a Bowlus in a local trailer park. The countertops were made of the same aluminum as the rest and had assumed the shape of shallow bowls from the weight on them.

[Tulok]

That is a really awesome trailer!!

[freebeard]

Sometimes the old ways are the best. It's basically been downhill since the Bowlus. Airstream/Silver Streak/Avion are symmetrical; while the Bowlus has a blunt nose and a long boattail. With the door at the hitch, it has slick sides.

Here is a first pass at a teardrop sized trailer that is basically a Bowlus turned end-for-end and with the gores of flat material turned 90°:



And here is a shot of the rear fender of the Bowlus Papoose:

[aerohead]

It would be helpful if they would qualify this remark with something scientific to back it up.
The RV travel trailer is not an aerodynamic singularity,and it's drag would be highly dependent upon the tow vehicle of which there are infinite candidates.

[freebeard]

Infinite candidates........

A Tesla drivetrain stuffed into a Segway. You could sit in the doorway with a joystick controller in hand, like Baba Yaga in her three-legged hut.