any truckers with mods?

[zepplin153]

I do not drive a tractor trailer but I could think of no one else who would see a major savings other than truckers. I have seen a few trucks with basic mods (side panels and smooth wheel covers). Anyway, Does anyone have some success stories (ideally with pics) of their rigs? if so, I would also love to know what data you could share about your results. Or has anyone seen some cool mods while on the road (any pics?). Just curious. trailer

Zep

[cleanspeed1]

Take a look at one of the first trucks to average 10 mpg.

Yahoo! Image Detail for - http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4435847230_3d42547098_z.jpg

[trooper Tdiesel]

wounder what the displacment, gearing, max load, speed ECT ECT ECT

where on that rig
theres lots of improvments that could be made to that truck



i know one of the best MPG engines (OR at least in my opinion) is the series 60 12.7L or 14.0L for rigs over 80K with fleet tuned hp numbers.
but thats now a engine of yesterday and theres no way to meet CA emissons with those, other than spending buckets of cash. GRRRRRRRRRRRR

[cleanspeed1]

I may have it wrong, so don't quote me. Cummins L10 ( 280hp ), 10 speed OD, 3.70-3.90 gears, 22.5 standard height tires. Drive at 55 mph, 73k on the weight.

[northboundtrain]

Good thread. I've started to see side skirts on big trucks, but that seems only the tip of the iceburg of what's possible. I imagine the engines are already pretty much optimized for efficiency, but vast improvements could be made in aerodynamics.
It's worth noting too that a truck improving it's fuel efficiency from 5mpg to 6mpg saves the same amount of fuel per mile driven as a car improving from 25mpg to 150mpg !

[cleanspeed1]

There's still room left for tuning the engines, but like the cars the World market gets things that we need but don't have.

I'll give you an example on the engine front. Bruce Malinson over at Pittsburgh Power build high power truck diesels for big rigs. In the beginning, it was the old style Cummins NTC ( 855ci ) and KT ( 1150ci ) engines. Getting 800-1200hp out of these engines with 2800-3600 ft/lbs of torque, but the best part was the mileage usually went up 1-2 mpg because the driver didn't have to shift as often or go full fuel to drive it.

He now has a Caterpillar 6NZ ( 3406E / C15 single turbo / electronic / 14.6L ) that puts out almost 900hp, but in an unaerodynamic chassis ( Peterbilt 379 ) does 8-9 mpg loaded, 10 mpg or better bobtailing. The aero style trucks get another .5 mpg or so better.

[trooper Tdiesel]

i know you couldent run a 53' tralier it would need to be 40' or maybe 35'.
but the thought of a full boat tale makes me wunder how much better it could get

i think 16 mpg in a big rig, is goal worth striving for

i know at first glance 16 seems like sissy mpg compared to 40 or 60
but its insanely better than 6 or 8 that many trucks get now

He now has a Caterpillar 6NZ ( 3406E / C15 single turbo / electronic / 14.6L ) that puts out almost 900hp, but in an unaerodynamic chassis ( Peterbilt 379 ) does 8-9 mpg loaded

can he take that truck in to CA with out getting a smog ticket(s)?

[cleanspeed1]

Yes you can take it CA. The motor produces the power without smoke. Your talking about an 893ci diesel that's only doing 60hp/liter.

[zepplin153]

check this out: Aerodynamic trailer

I actually found this on another post on Ecomodder

[slowmover]

Mallinson has a series of stories (this one about an O/O) to improve efficiency.

There are several "guru"s out there; another is Kevin Rutherford.

And don't knock 6-8 mpg. Try comparison to a pickup truck pulling heavy loads (where the most I know of being towed regularly is 15k). A big truck can handle 52k in some standard configurations. The pickup is straining to maintain above 10-mpg.