Full-boat-tail trailer with gap-fillers for Toyota T-100 pickup

[orbywan]

Sorry Phil, what I should have said is, when you have the time to deal with them, we'd love to see some photos.

[aerohead]

[QUOTE=orbywan;254484]

Originally Posted by aerohead

*Yesterday I completed the inverted-splitter/flow corrector.
*This morning I removed both lower bellypan sections,cut them back to relieve the interference,got 'em de-burred,and re-installed with new hardware.
*I trimmed off the top of the rubber centerline gap seal to clear underneath the new flow corrector and installed it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE]

Phil I think I speak for everyone when I say – Photos, Please – we’d love to see some photos. Sounds like it’s coming along pretty well.

I got photos yesterday and this morning from the Opera House fire-escape.There were no cars parked close by,so I was able to 'center' the rig better than in previous shots.
Al is in constant motion dealing with other customers,but maybe he can get free before closing time to post 'em.

[aerohead]

Finally,here are some shots of the project.
The aluminum splitters have pushed the nose of the trailer out enough to simulate a close-following trailer and the outer profile better integrates to the rails and base of of the truck bed.
One photo is of my 'Inspector 'who comes by from time to time to check the aerodynamics,She's an expert!
Also,there are two shots of the diffuser coming back to life.I just laid the wheel fairings on it,they're not attached and will need work.
I got up before 5:00 this AM to road test the trailer but it was raining.We desperately need precip,so it's okay.
Finally,there's a photo of the NT 650 Honda Hawk components which will be morphed into the trailer to get the H-speed rating.

[bondo]

Very nice work Phil! I am looking forward to your test results.

I know it was disappointing to have a rain delay, but I am glad you guys finally are getting some relief from that heat dome.

Bondo

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Finally,there's a photo of the NT 650 Honda Hawk components which will be morphed into the trailer to get the H-speed rating.

Good call! So many people do not take speed ratings seriously and often wonder why they had a trailer tire blow out on the freeway. Trailer tires really take a beating because they often serve as the only "suspension" and turn faster due to the smaller diameter in most cases leading to more heat buildup. The round profile will give you a very nice small contact patch and a great aero shape to boot!

The trailer is really looking good! What does it wiegh? I am very interested to find out if the drag reduction will provide enough benefit to overcome the added weight for city driving.

[aerohead]

Saturday night light winds were forecast for Sunday,so Sunday I went for it.
Test#5 was with Viking.
NOAA @ start: dew point 72F,R.H.76%,Baro 30.00" steady,75F,wind N@5mph,rho 0.0023074 slugs.
NOAA @ finish: dew point 71F,R.H.60%,Baro 30.02" rising,85F,wind N@5,rho 0.0022665
*Result: 104 miles,3.557 gallons,ave.63 mph= 29.074 mpg.
I was very disappointed,thinking back on the 33.24 I'd pulled before.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I live 4-miles from the station where I top off,so I high-tailed it to the house,dropped the trailer,and returned to the same pump for a back-to-back comparison.
It was within the same hour so my NOAA start is essentially the #5 finish.
NOAA @ finish of #6: dew point 68F,R.H. 43%,Baro 30.00" falling,93F,wind variable @ 3 mph,rho 0.0022323
* Result: 104 miles,3.325 gallons,ave 63 mph,31.278 mpg.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
So with the 2009 damage,incomplete trailer,incomplete diffuser,and no hood blister,the trailer creates a 7% mpg penalty.It cost me 85-cents in extra fuel to pull it 104 miles.It pulls like it isn't there and statistically it is close to being invisible at the pump.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Hucho is correct,and the gap-fillers are good for up to a 10% mpg increase,it is possible that when finished,the trailer will cause a net gain in mpg.That relationship is for 'normal' trailers,I have no idea what it will mean to Viking.
Had the panels been in place,I might have seen 31.981 mpg on Sunday.Not exactly a rocket booster but I'll take it.I should have done a back-to-back the time I pulled 33.24.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway,I felt better about the whole thing after the #6 test and I'll keep grinding away at the project.I may do a 70 mph run to look at possible BSFC affects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------- As to Miles question about urban use,I would only consider this trailer to be of real benefit when on the open road.Unless you can eradicate traffic and un-synchronized traffic signals.Too much inertia.

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by aerohead

If Hucho is correct,and the gap-fillers are good for up to a 10% mpg increase,it is possible that when finished,the trailer will cause a net gain in mpg.That relationship is for 'normal' trailers,I have no idea what it will mean to Viking.

I am finding with my belly pan project that items that I thought would net the best gain have not done so.. I figured once I finished the rear axle to rear bumper section, I would have a measurable gain. Then I installed it and.. nothing! Then I put one side panel on one wheel well to box off the now enclosed rear axle and to my surprise the gain I seemed to have missed out on is becoming evident!

These aero mods are certainly time consuming and I am finding the results difficult to predict. I feel for you! Keep at it, the magic "free energy" trailer is close at hand!

[dkruitz]

Very interesting Phil! My brother-in-law used to have an NT650 fun bike.

Not sure if I missed it in the thread, but are you allowing for if the truck/trailer takes an incline and the trailer is no longer inline with the truck?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by bondo

Very nice work Phil! I am looking forward to your test results.

I know it was disappointing to have a rain delay, but I am glad you guys finally are getting some relief from that heat dome.

Bondo

Thanks Brett! Yeah,I couldn't complain.The state has lost $5.2-billion in crop failures so far with the heat-wave,reservoirs are down.Heat related deaths.Cotton farmers thought they'd clean up with the futures market but the crop is decimated.
Frankenstein say's 'Global Climate Change---- Bad!'
Hope you have better fabrication conditions.It's a life saver to have a cool place to go inside to.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by dkruitz

Very interesting Phil! My brother-in-law used to have an NT650 fun bike.

Not sure if I missed it in the thread, but are you allowing for if the truck/trailer takes an incline and the trailer is no longer inline with the truck?

dkruitz,I'm usually surprised by 'reality' whenever I put something new on the beast and take it for a run.
I have tried to out-guess the environment.The top panel will now be fixed to the truck and articulate vertically to clear the lazy-c frame which supports the side panels.During torsional deflection the c-frame will lift the top panel away for clearance.
The side panels are on the trailer and move with it and cannot bind against the trailer itself and during torsion,if they 'kiss' the upper panel,it will simply lift to clear and then return to 'level'.
The bellypan details are not completely ironed out yet.I have a plan although that could lead to a surprise.
On an approach to a ramp,there is enough room for the trailer to cock without striking the integrator.
In a dip,the c-frame will 'dive' into the void behind the integrator.
If things work out,the trailer and panels will allow for the full range of motion without any interference,with everything moving around on rollers.
So far so good!