Spotted: big rig with wheel covers and side skirts

[tvbd56]

Originally Posted by wdb

Less sidewall flex, lower overall weight when compare with dual wheel/tire combo.

I see a lot of skirts around my area, and I'm starting to see pop-out rear extensions too.

Ahh that makes sense. I've also been seeing a lot of side skirts under the trailer and under the cab. I see the aero pop out extensions every once in a blue moon.

[HypermilerAX]

Saw this last day. Not home-made but I see this aero accessory rarely enough to post it.

[renault_megane_dci]

It does make sense to ecomod any professional vehicle where a ROI can be found.
Should even be mandatory if you ask me ...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by renault_megane_dci

Should even be mandatory if you ask me ...

Or trailer designs should be mandated to be more efficient. I really can't understand why not making them in a monocoque design like it's already done with buses, which would make them lighter and more aerodynamic. And nowadays that air suspension is widespread in heavy commercial vehicles, even some fully-independent suspension setup relying in a trailing arm for each wheel (without axles) similar to what is applied to motorcycle rear wheels could be attempted in order to allow for a lower boarding height where it's possible, thus increasing the interior volume of the trailer while keeping its overall height lower.

[awcook]

I've seen a lot of trucks that have the side skirts and wheel covers. It seems to be a much more common practice now than it did a couple months ago. When I went on a road trip to Memphis in October, I didn't see that many trucks with skirts and wheel covers, I think I saw 1. Going down to Biloxi, MS for New Years, we saw tons of trucks with skirts, covers, and rear pop-out things.

Some big rigs could probably benefit from using a teardrop designed trailer if they aren't carrying a large load that would require the box.

[HiFlite]

Trailers still have to have the square back end available for matching with loading docks.

Here's an article on the 10.7 mpg Peterbuilt-Cummins supertruck project ... (part 2 is even more interesting).

Delving Into the Cummins/Peterbilt SuperTruck: Part 1 - Articles - Fuel Smarts - Articles - TruckingInfo.com

[Xist]

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Truck aeromods are not so popular in my country, and many drivers would actually be kinda skeptical about their advantages.

[Baltothewolf]

Man, it seems like every state is way, way behind California. Here is Cali, it's extremely common to see owner-op trucks with wheel covers, front air dams (look like extended bumpers), skirts on the trailers and those boat-tail like extensions on the trailers. I have been seeing this sort of thing for at least 2 years.

You guys have to remember, for a owner-op, the biggest cost of owning a truck is diesel. When they do a long-haul, say from Cali to NY (which isn't uncommon) it's about 6,000 miles(round trip). At 10MPG that's 600 gallons of fuel, or close to 2,000$. If they improve even 1mpg, it would save almost 200$ in fuel. That's quite a bit considering they can make many of those types of trips per year.

Originally Posted by HiFlite

Trailers still have to have the square back end available for matching with loading docks.

Here's an article on the 10.7 mpg Peterbuilt-Cummins supertruck project ... (part 2 is even more interesting).

Delving Into the Cummins/Peterbilt SuperTruck: Part 1 - Articles - Fuel Smarts - Articles - TruckingInfo.com

I don't agree with them using aluminum whatsoever on a semi. While it seems like a good idea, truckers run into **** all the time. Do you know how hard it is to work with aluminum? It's not easy. Not to mention not many body shop guys will even touch the stuff because it's so time consuming vs money made.

[AbramWagner]

Originally Posted by wdb

Less sidewall flex, lower overall weight when compare with dual wheel/tire combo.

I see a lot of skirts around my area, and I'm starting to see pop-out rear extensions too.

Been seeing these more but a lot more with just the trailer under skirting.

How the under trailer skirt is angled from inside of the rear wheels makes me think of an insight front fender..