aeromods for trailer?

[gone9]

Haven't found much but... Are their any who mod their trailers? I am almost done making my side by side trailer and was curious if others have done anything with success? I.E. side skirts, some sort of angled material from the flat bed pointed up say at 45 degrees or something?

Or is it not really worth it?

I would be towing a 2017 teryx4 with approx. 80in height and a full windshield on a 16ft total length tandem axel trailer. its an old demod RV that I've just scored, added bracing, cut some length off and added fenders. Currently gonna sand/prep metal for paint and add the decking.

I couldn't find much so thought id ask the experts.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Most trailers are pretty bad for aero, so aero treatments would most likely help. Small things like smooth wheels would likely have a small benefit on, say, a 30ft trailer, but in a smaller trailer molding the front, sides, and rear similar to the aero template would likely show some benefit.

Obviously any ROI would depend on how often you use the trailer.

[oil pan 4]

The trailer pretty much drafts the tow vehicle like how Nextel cup car drivers draft each other.
So as long as your trailer doesn't stick out the sides or above there isn't a lot you can do.

If it's a big ass camper you want to pull search tractor trailer and RV aero mods.
A hump on the roof, side skirts, boat tail can help a lot.

[gone9]

Ok cool that's actually helpful information. I was thinking of experimenting with inserting a braced piece of plywood on the front and angle it up/back towards the cargo kind of like the air ramps that reduce the whistle on roof racks/baskets. But I gotta measure I have a feeling the side by side on the trailer is going to be a hair taller than my truck. I could fab some skirts on the sides on a hinge that way I can fold them up for rocky /knarly roads and use some thin metal and like the hardplastic signs etc.

I will goof around see what I can get material wise for free/ cheap.

appreciate the info. I was kind of thinking like the red lines I added to the basic image of a trailer etc. Mine would not have the side railing etc.

[redpoint5]

I'd say the biggest improvement is to cover the top. That open cavity creates huge drag, which I've noticed largely goes away when towing nearly a full height load.

[freebeard]

...my side by side trailer...

...Mine would not have the side railing etc....

So we're talking about a flatbed trailer carrying UTVs? Secured with straps over the tires and recessed holdfasts?

I would ditch the angled plate for streamlining the UTVs themselves, maybe with a tarpaulin. The trailer is a flat plate, give the edge a generous radius. Pontoon fenders.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by justinooo9

Haven't found much but... Are their any who mod their trailers? I am almost done making my side by side trailer and was curious if others have done anything with success? I.E. side skirts, some sort of angled material from the flat bed pointed up say at 45 degrees or something?

Or is it not really worth it?

I would be towing a 2017 teryx4 with approx. 80in height and a full windshield on a 16ft total length tandem axel trailer. its an old demod RV that I've just scored, added bracing, cut some length off and added fenders. Currently gonna sand/prep metal for paint and add the decking.

I couldn't find much so thought id ask the experts.

BamZipPow's T-100 kit,and integral one-wheel aero trailer has pushed his mpg,from 19 HWY,to over 30 HWY if I remember correctly.He's got his own thread.
I failed to properly tighten the lugnuts on my 2-wheeler and lost a wheel when testing,and I've never repaired the damage an re-tested.The trailer,so far, doesn't reduce the mpg at all.
The first trailer dropped the mpg of my CRX from 52,to an average 50 mpg, while running 'empty',then with a quarter-ton of batteries,from Texas out to California and back.
I'll be simulating a 1-wheeler when I go back to the wind tunnel in a year.I'm shooting for Cd 0.14.

[slowmover]

Before finishing this thread, take a picture of the rig while hitched. Preferably while loaded. That is sometimes enough to spark things.

[Shaneajanderson]

The easiest mod for your scenario is to keep it at a max speed of 55, where aero doesn't make much of an impact. Trailer tires are usually only rated for 55 anyway, unless we're talking .5" rim size truck tires.

Other than that make sure your bearings are in good shape with plenty of grease, and keep your tires aired up all the way.

[MeteorGray]

Most trailer tire specials that I've seen are rated at 65 mph.