WILDEBILL308 wrote:
I think the next big improvements will be in aerodynamics, transmission's, engine management in that order. I think weight could be reduced using aerospace materials and processes.
Bill
I agree, especially on the aerodynamics as 1st. The largest fuel hog is high speed air resistance. Being a former railroad worker, I know how well a long rig with relatively low frontal area works.
One thing about motorhomes is that they are a one-piece structure. By that I mean that commercial trucking has attempted to close the air gap between the tractors and trailers to reduce drag, whereas the MH has no gap. That means the MH should already have a slight advantage over a 5th wheel or any other trailer.
Another possible in aero is the tapered tail often now added to the rear trailer doors in an attempt to reduce the huge vacuum found behind a square rear wall on trailers and MH's. The tail is more important than the shape of the nosecone/frontal area. A great example of this is the shape of the Prius and similar odd econo car shapes. The semi-tapered rear shape is called a
Kammback and it was once employed accidentally by Porsche during an early race.
The 1930's Auto Union/Porsche were underpowered but wanted to stick with their small engine displacement partly because fuel economy counted (pit stops). One story has it that engineers developed a long tail to emulate the natural teardrop shape, but it got damaged during the race. A quick pit stop allowed the pit crew to chop the damaged section off and they noticed that it worked 99% as well in an abreviated version. The commercial trailer adaption helps in a similar fashion as does the thrifty ugly Prius shape (we own one).
A tapered tail might help TT's 5vr's and MH's. Adding one might be pretty ugly, but wouldn't have to be if it were some neatly enclosed exterior storage for instance.
Except for the loss of basement, I kind of wonder how a low-slung MH, stanced like a city bus, might work. Maybe some ground effects added to further reduce under-chassis air drag. Surely it would be easier to enter.
Wes
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