Aerodynamics of the front end of a travel trailer

Yes but by how much is the bigger question. A corollary question is the change in the inside layout for the better mileage acceptable?

GSP9 wrote:
I noticed a lot of companies advertise some of their trailers as fuel efficient models because they have a sleeker front end such as the Keystone Passport/Bullet or Dutchman Kodiak. Is there any advantage in fuel savings with these models? In the grand scheme of things, are they really any better than some of the more traditional campers? And if so, how much better?

You are correct. Aerodynamics can make a huge difference in fuel savings and towability.

This towing review/test really addresses your questions.....

Towing a white box or aerodynamic trailer

Same here, I went from a 24 ft flat front to a 28 ft Keystone aerodynamic front and get 1.5 mpg better.

As stated, wind drag has far more to do with MPG than weight. I recently moved from a 5,000lb TT to a 9000lb 5'er. I get the same MPG towing either. The 5'er has a shaped front cap while the TT was flat.

I get about 1 MPG better towing my 29 footer with a rounded front which is 2K more than my old 22 footer with a flat front.

downtheroad wrote:
amexpress,
That's really good... getting 13-14 mpg pulling a 36 foot 14,000 lb. trailer?
What's your secret?

Always going downhill or West to East.

I have one of those aerodynamic front trailer and I don't think it helps enough to notice by even careful mpg calculations. Believe it or not but on a grand loop of the US about 10 years ago including both the east and west coasts I got almost .6 mpg more towing in going West to East and East to West and that could only be explained by prevailing winds.

Larry

amexpress,
That's really good... getting 13-14 mpg pulling a 36 foot 14,000 lb. trailer?
What's your secret?

Drag..wind resistance affects mpg more than weight.

That's why wind tunnel studies are done.

I don't know how much better gas mileage they offer, but there's got to be a difference. We had a Jayco TT with a flat front end. Pulling with my 2500 CTD I only got 11 mpg. Towing my Columbus fiver that weighs twice as much, I can get 13 mpg. Aerodynamics. Anything that can improve the air flow while pulling the big box down the highway is going to improve mpg.