Drafting a Transport Truck ... Am I Doing It Right?

[gumby79]

On my familiar routes trucks normally do a round 80 so the ones that are poking around at my speed they're in it for fuel economy and they follow my footsteps because they see what I do Works in their trucks as well.
My favorite to draft is one that has a power to weight ratio that matches the volume a fuel I am willing to spend. Due to Combat PTSD I find it hard to close the gap smaller than the 300M Convoy interval my Battalion used in Baghdad. Gets me too worked up trying to follow at 3 second intervals

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I also don't like following trucks. Yesterday while driving in a highway I had to pass a truck that was pulling 2 large trailers, and it was raining. Even passing that was a PITA.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

In SUV or pickup you will see very little benefit unless they got a trailer tail

If you really really Want to do this look out for the ones that have Trailer tails those will give you by far the best benefit while a comfortable 25-30 feet away..
MPG yield is significantly higher then non trailer tail 18wheelers

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Tahoe_Hybrid

In SUV or pickup you will see very little benefit unless they got a trailer tail

If you really really Want to do this look out for the ones that have Trailer tails those will give you by far the best benefit while a comfortable 25-30 feet away..
MPG yield is significantly higher then non trailer tail 18wheelers

25-30’?

What is your total stopping distance at that speed? Then add distance for reaction time. It’s ALWAYS going to be above 200’ which is still too close.

You need to be able to see BOTH side mirrors on the truck. AND have some idea of what’s ahead of him.

300-350’ feet back is where I start a pass. Closer than this means I BECOME DEPENDENT on his ability in driving, AND cannot see around him in any meaningful fashion.

Stupid is as stupid does. Quit this.

.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by slowmover

25-30’?

What is your total stopping distance at that speed? Then add distance for reaction time. It’s ALWAYS going to be above 200’ which is still too close.

You need to be able to see BOTH side mirrors on the truck. AND have some idea of what’s ahead of him.

300-350’ feet back is where I start a pass. Closer than this means I BECOME DEPENDENT on his ability in driving, AND cannot see around him in any meaningful fashion.

Stupid is as stupid does. Quit this.

.

This is LA tailgating is the name of the game... if you leave more then 15 feet you can bet someone will cut you off.. and possibly even forced to rear end them .


. A car length is not a standardized unit of measure.

I use cruse control it has Manual controls so I can deduct speed or add speed using the wheel controls..... without pressing the brake or canceling it out

I'm used to dealing with heavy traffic you are not..

[Xist]

You don't know me! You don't know how much traffic I fight every day!

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Tahoe_Hybrid

This is LA tailgating is the name of the game... if you leave more then 15 feet you can bet someone will cut you off.. and possibly even forced to rear end them .


. A car length is not a standardized unit of measure.

I use cruse control it has Manual controls so I can deduct speed or add speed using the wheel controls..... without pressing the brake or canceling it out

I'm used to dealing with heavy traffic you are not..

I go through more traffic of every kind in a month or so than you do in a year. And in the vehicle you believe it a good idea to tailgate.

I was used to heavy traffic probably before you were born. Every major metro of this country.

You “may” survive a variety of accidents with other personal vehicles. A high percentage. You “won’t” survive most of the types of accidents created by or around big trucks (is how you should look at it).

Your bad idea of tailgating only needs one example: the tractor to trailer electrical can have a partial failure. No trailer lights. And disc brakes are increasingly common on big trucks. Pair that to awesome sophistication in the computer control of the drivetrain for maximum braking effect. These rigs can slow at a far faster rate than you understand. AND THEY WILL NOT ABSORB ANY OF THE IMPACT OF YOUR VEHICLE. You’ll be hitting a wall at above 30-mph (speed variance).

“Economy” is longest life at lowest cost with greatest reliability.

Tail-gating doesn’t feature. Ever.

The closest you want to come to the rear of a big truck is BEFORE you cannot see both of his side mirrors. No exceptions to speed or traffic. It’s also where you back away.

Tire loss is common. And 100-lb tires disintegrating at speed throw chunks that will come right thru your windshield. No time to react.

Risk Prevention should be your first rule in driving. A commute is just a commute. You chose well or badly in job or home since you haven’t an alternate to driving, now the vehicle bears the cost. Stunt driving isn’t an offset to bad choices

.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by slowmover

I go through more traffic of every kind in a month or so than you do in a year. And in the vehicle you believe it a good idea to tailgate.

I was used to heavy traffic probably before you were born. Every major metro of this country.

You “may” survive a variety of accidents with other personal vehicles. A high percentage. You “won’t” survive most of the types of accidents created by or around big trucks (is how you should look at it).

Your bad idea of tailgating only needs one example: the tractor to trailer electrical can have a partial failure. No trailer lights. And disc brakes are increasingly common on big trucks. Pair that to awesome sophistication in the computer control of the drivetrain for maximum braking effect. These rigs can slow at a far faster rate than you understand. AND THEY WILL NOT ABSORB ANY OF THE IMPACT OF YOUR VEHICLE. You’ll be hitting a wall at above 30-mph (speed variance).

“Economy” is longest life at lowest cost with greatest reliability.

Tail-gating doesn’t feature. Ever.

The closest you want to come to the rear of a big truck is BEFORE you cannot see both of his side mirrors. No exceptions to speed or traffic. It’s also where you back away.

Tire loss is common. And 100-lb tires disintegrating at speed throw chunks that will come right thru your windshield. No time to react.

Risk Prevention should be your first rule in driving. A commute is just a commute. You chose well or badly in job or home since you haven’t an alternate to driving, now the vehicle bears the cost. Stunt driving isn’t an offset to bad choices

.

if you claim I need to keep 200 feet I might as well be stopped on the freeway as other drivers will be cutting your ass off 200 feet is laughable...


it takes a full loaded 18wheeler 450 feet to stop at 65 mph
most smaller ones will stop with in 120-140 feet at 65 mph

and if their brakes go out which I have seen happen THEY can't even stop at all I have seen a 18wheeler lose it brakes on the I-15 north bound to las Vegas



you bet that driver only cared about him self and the load other wise he would have ditched the rig off into the open desert...
smoking up a storm as they are going 80 mph on the shoulder

[slowmover]

Stupid is as stupid does.

I was leaving an entrance ramp onto IH10E from El Paso last week. A trailer tire exploded. For a change I didn’t have someone like you tailgating so close I couldn’t see them, waiting till they had room to go around me in the passing lane (I’m usually at 40-45/mph at the end of a downhill ramp when heavily-laden).

Given the tire location and debris trajectory, it could have been life-ending. The EXACT wrong place to be given tire shrapnel.

The causes of tire failure are many. Reduced, even greatly reduced under guidelines. But still unpredictable as to where and when in the main.

Tires are only one of many things that can come loose. Past cargo, an entire PAIR wheel/tire assembly might be the scariest. Or should be. They don’t stop.

Your argument in favor is hollow. Even past risk. Percent change to the annual CPM fuel cost is too low to factor.

.

[Xist]

I just hope that he doesn't take out anyone else when he nominates himself for a Darwin award and it is not too traumatizing for those who need to clean up his mess.