So I Bought a Mobile Tiny Home

[Taylor95]

You might remember that I was looking for an RV for my wife's business. We bought a tiny home instead because it was actually much cheaper!

I attached some pictures. What aero mods should I make? It was obviously not built with aerodynamics in mind. It does not handle well at high speeds. For those interested, the truck got ~28 mpg on the way there to pick it up and ~12.5 mpg on the way back.

[Cd]

First off, congratulations !
I'd be really interested to find out what the truck would get with an empty trailer the same size, but with the same amount of weight as loaded with the home.
As far as aerodynamics, this is a hard one !
The home is asymmetrical.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Not sure what aero mods I would try, but it's interesting.

[Taylor95]

Originally Posted by Cd

First off, congratulations !
I'd be really interested to find out what the truck would get with an empty trailer the same size, but with the same amount of weight as loaded with the home.
As far as aerodynamics, this is a hard one !
The home is asymmetrical.

My dad tows his Jeep on a trailer roughly the same size. He told me he gets ~16 mpg towing it, but the roads he tows that on are much flatter.

Edit: We were thinking that the Jeep + trailer weighs about the same as the tiny house.

[redpoint5]

Is it moved often enough to be bothered with aero? The reason it's not very aero is because it's a home, and not an RV (not that those are particularly aero).

Same mods available as anything else; boattail the rear end, and fill the gap between truck cab and roof of home.

Personally, I wouldn't bother, but I'm very interested to see what you come up with.

[Taylor95]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Is it moved often enough to be bothered with aero? The reason it's not very aero is because it's a home, and not an RV (not that those are particularly aero).

Same mods available as anything else; boattail the rear end, and fill the gap between truck cab and roof of home.

Personally, I wouldn't bother, but I'm very interested to see what you come up with.

As of right now, it will not be moved much. However, that can change as the business evolves.

Next year we will be making a move outside of the state. I would love to not feel so unsafe while making a 10+ hour drive.

Is it worth it? I would say yes.

[Gasoline Fumes]

I'd love to see a tuft test!

[freebeard]

What's the purpose of the inset window beside the entry door?

For the aerodynamic drag, review the posts by slowmover. ecomodder.com/forum/member-slowmover.html

His guidelines include[d] IIRC meticulous pre-flight planning, no slop in the steering gear, etc. You might want to name your tiny home office Slowmover. You could paint it on the back.

[Taylor95]

I have the following planned for the tiny home:

1. Full belly pan

2. Fenders (they will not stick out past the side of the house)

3. Possible side skirt in combination with locking cubbies

4. A small box cavity (maybe 6-12 inches)

I will post updates here, but not sure when because we have a lot of work to do on the inside.

[redpoint5]

Neat to see what becomes of the project, but none of that addresses that fact that it's broadsiding the oncoming wind, and then leaving a huge vacuum behind in the wake.