Kayteg1 wrote:
I have seen semitrucks driven at 110 mph in the times when fuel was cheap (15 years ago). From what I know they did not have 500 hp at the time.
A typical truck pulling a 53ft Enclosed Van has a drag coefficient of .75 to .85 with a empty weight of 32000lbs, frontal area of 96 sqft. would require 750hp on the low side and 850hp on the high side. Typical company truck pulling a van trailer has 400hp. and most are neutered to company policy speeds.
My father and brother together has over 90 years in the trucking industry and have never seen or heard of a truck/trailer over 93 mph on flat ground.
IIRC there were few 550 hp Cummins and Cat engines installed in some of the long nose Petes, Western Stars, and Kenworths of that era. They were aerodynamic nightmares with drag coefficients of .1 or worse.
