Not sure if yours is an enclosed trailer but I have an open 6x12 and I know
from experience there's but so much can be done, at least strictly speaking.
With my truck, straight up, the slower I drive, the better the mpg, plain and simple.
Fuel mileage once we get into weight has less to do with aerodynamics than
just getting it down the road, most of the engine's power simply goes to
PULLING the weight and although air does slow things down at higher speeds,
at 45 and below it's more having to counteract inertia than anything else.
Drive with load, go real light on the throttle, DWB's.
One thing that does help is keeping a minimum 6-8 seconds distance from the
vehicle in front, more so because it gives me time to let off the gas instead of
getting on the brakes, the more time I have to slow down, the better.
Unfortunately in traffic folks will cut you off constantly because of that space.
Ultimately if I know I may have to stop I may slow down a bit prematurely so I can coast into it, the idea being to avoid having to come to a complete stop.
Maybe we should call this Pre-braking
Predict lights, slow down when approaching any intersection also.
Heavy duty tires, definitely radials but I also run 6-ply rather than the standard 4's.
Beyond that things get pricey...
The ONLY thing I know of that definitely and greatly improves fuel mileage
is a full aluminum trailer, by full aluminum I mean the floor too as some
have wooden floors.
Unfortunately a full aluminum 6x12 open trailer new was $3000 several years ago.
There's another problem, few places sell them, and few places service them.
trailer towing
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