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

[ausias]

I'm very interested in the gap filling mecanism and i think a new thread on it is needed. I did recently some CFD test with Solidworks and -15% cd reduction when a large gap between trailer and van was filled.
I'm think in someking of selfrolling canvas with the needed degrees of freedom and some magnetic help or a litttle kammback, or hundred of not clear ideas.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post303838

in the attached files you could see
the van shape with cd=0.36
the van with trailer with equivalent cd=0.277
the gap filled one with eq. cd=0.233.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by ausias

I'm very interested in the gap filling mecanism and i think a new thread on it is needed. I did recently some CFD test with Solidworks and -15% cd reduction when a large gap between trailer and van was filled.
I'm think in someking of selfrolling canvas with the needed degrees of freedom and some magnetic help or a litttle kammback, or hundred of not clear ideas.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post303838

in the attached files you could see
the van shape with cd=0.36
the van with trailer with equivalent cd=0.277
the gap filled one with eq. cd=0.233.

Another modder is going to use a tensioned fabric for the diaphram.I'm not at liberty to discuss any details.
I figure,the gap-fillers will end up like the original Mr.Coffee.When this domestic version of Bunn's commercial coffeemaker hit the store shelves,it was no time before a dozen competitors rushed in,ducking and dodging any intellectual property rights held by Joe DiMaggio's patron.
Articulated buses and Walt Disney's Monorail have had good 'solutions' since I was a child.

[slowmover]

Another modder is going to use a tensioned fabric for the diaphram.I'm not at liberty to discuss any details.

There's a limit to my skills (primarily a shed and weighted tons of tools, not just experience; i.e, welding) but as with belly pans I am most grateful for examples. Even a moderate change to the inter-vehicle gap should show help for mpg and handling (the second being at least as cruical as the former), and I am deeply indebted for what I have learned so far.

.

[aerohead]

Viking won't be going to Bonneville this year.
I'm being eaten alive with competing activities.
There's no H-rated tires available to 'make it' as a 2-wheeler
Not enough time to convert to 1-wheeler
I'll let the old boat tail rise from the ashes and add some improvements.
Viking is too heavy for the short course.'N no guarantee that USFRA would let me run the long course even if 'traffic' were light.
The tail is light and will provide the best opportunity for the T-100 to reach terminal velocity if at WOT for the entire mile.
All the safety requirements have been met for Bonneville and I'll use the interim time to strengthen,refine,and modify.I got a free ARE fiberglass tonneau cover which will replace the aging,eyeball-detroying,warped plywood aeroshell base.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I do plan to do a run to Monahans with the trailer at 70 mph and see how numbers compare with earlier runs sans trailer.The wheel bearing/speed-temperature issue doesn't appear to be that crucial after the last tests.And I've learned how to keep the wheels on the trailer!
I've got quite a bit of 70 mph data on the truck with which to compare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
After September,if I haven't destroyed the engine at World of Speed,I'll 'look' at the 1-wheel conversion.The truck has 346,000 miles on it now.Some say that these are 1,000,000-mile trucks.Don't know.

[skyking]

Phil, which event/what dates will you be at the salt flats?

[drmiller100]

last year opening weekend had very short lines in early august. the salt was such everything went very smoothly and tracks were all great.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by aerohead

There's no H-rated tires available to 'make it' as a 2-wheeler

What size SI and LI do you need ?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by skyking

Phil, which event/what dates will you be at the salt flats?

I'm doing the USFRA World of Speed,September 8-11.I'll be running as an 'experimental' on the 130 Club short course track.
That's if I make it.If not for defensive driving,I'd be in a collision nearly every time I leave home in the truck.Viet Cong were friendlier than many motorists I encounter.

[skyking]

Darn.
I have a camping weekend starting Thursday the 12th. I'd have to book on home the 10th to make that.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by euromodder

What size SI and LI do you need ?

The real issue for the 2-wheel configuration is the wheel size,8-inch.
While I might 'see' what 80-mph cruising would be like (I've been to 88 mph with Viking during passing),I can't imagine taking the wheel bearings over 100,let alone 120-130.
I can't put larger wheels under Viking due to body/frame interference and major re-engineering.
The 1-wheel conversion is doable except for the time it would require.And I have a new hernia which will require surgery and prevents me from some of the physical type of work necessary to pull the conversion off.
I have the HONDA Hawk mechanicals and Dunlop touring H-rated tire to do it.These would fit under the centerline of Viking with no problem.
The anti-tilt hitch connection would require re-engineering of the gap-filler mechanism which has already consumed over 200-hours.
I just don't think it's realistic to have any expectation of completion.
Doing the boat tail is very realistic and it's low weight would mean a lot with only a 1-mile run-up on the salt.
If I had good numbers for a full boat tail it might wet my appetite for a clean-sheet trailer which does not have the extra length and weight of Viking.
With Viking 'Light' I COULD do the short course with reasonable certainty of achieving terminal velocity.And we'd have some good data for the range-extender trailer concept.