airstream ride?

Thanks guys, you have a finally proven my point. Amid all the BS you finally come up with a competitor to the aerodynamics of an Airstream.

I read about the Bolus, never been lucky enough to see one, however I seriously doubt that the boat tail backend will give it enough more push to overcome the lack of aerodynamics of the door on the front.

Gotta give you kudos for a nice try though.

LynnSr

Having towed an airstream as well as "regular" campers, I can't say there is whole lot of difference. If it's ride, that is all in your tow vehicle. JMHO

I love the Bolus. Now that's a class act. Last I looked 6 figures though.

Make that starting at 137 k. If it had a built in onan and 100 gallons of water like our ATC I might break open another piggy bank.

Lynnsr wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

Lynnsr wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I take it you're talking about aerodynamics. Depends on size, lots of fiberglass trailers have a rounded shape but tend to be smaller.

Iv'e never seen this fiberglass trailer you speak of????

LynnSr

Casita, Scamp. Bigfoot, Oliver, Burro. Sure I'm missing a few.

I guess you have never seen an "Airstream".
I've seen all of the above and they do not come close to the same aerodynamic form.

Lynnsr

I guess I’m missing something.
Anyhow, semis are using rounded caps on the front of trailers to reduce drag. For them, any increase in mpg is good.
The most aerodynamic rv I’ve ever seen is the Bolus.

Much of the drag is what commercial trucks are trying to mitigate. Distance between tractor and trailer with Fairing to connect, ground effect and horrible turbulence underside of entire rig. Also lowering entire rig is now the rage. Very little ground clearance.

Much is made of the supposed advantages of the aero shape of those trailers. I don't deny they seem like they ought to be more slippery thru the air.

However, if they really are, we should see a substantial improvement in fuel mileage. Yet most of the folks on the airforums report approx the same MPG the rest of us get pulling our "white box" trailers. ( or "SOB's", as the Airstream folks like to call our some-other-box )

With my Frontier, I have towed extensively. Among the trailers are four different horse trailers and my Funfinder square boxy trailer. Two of the horse trailers are somewhat lower and have the rounded edges where the walls and front meet the roof. I get within 1 mpg on all of these trailers over the years including the funfinder. The rounded-edge horse trailers weigh approx the same as the FF when I have one horse in them. I track all my fuel on paper, because I know it's accurate vs what the scan gauge 2 reports.

So again, I am not dissing' the Airstream or any of these other trailers. I'm just saying my experience and observation has been there is not a significant difference in how any of these trailers tow, when comparing them behind the same tow vehicle.

EDIT: granted, 1 mpg when we are talking about 10 mpg fuel usage is 10%. Some might call that a worthwhile gain. Fair enough.

He stated fiberglass trailers have the same rounded shape.
You stated you had not seen those. He responded by listing them.
lol You weren't initially referring to aerodynamics being the same (although I believe they are, having been in and around both. Pretty darn close)

Lynnsr wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

Lynnsr wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I take it you're talking about aerodynamics. Depends on size, lots of fiberglass trailers have a rounded shape but tend to be smaller.

Iv'e never seen this fiberglass trailer you speak of????

LynnSr

Casita, Scamp. Bigfoot, Oliver, Burro. Sure I'm missing a few.

I guess you have never seen an "Airstream".
I've seen all of the above and they do not come close to the same aerodynamic form.

Lynnsr

GrandpaKip wrote:

Lynnsr wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I take it you're talking about aerodynamics. Depends on size, lots of fiberglass trailers have a rounded shape but tend to be smaller.

Iv'e never seen this fiberglass trailer you speak of????

LynnSr

Casita, Scamp. Bigfoot, Oliver, Burro. Sure I'm missing a few.

I guess you have never seen an "Airstream".
I've seen all of the above and they do not come close to the same aerodynamic form.

Lynnsr

I have found when towing heavy, that's when it really becomes apparent how it works seamlessly to improve the overall experience.

I would go one step further. Unless GM or Ford offer the same design, they are off the replacement list. I tow nationwide and will not go back to conventional suspension.

My 2008 RAM 1500 had leaf springs. Pretty rough.

My 2010 RAM 1500 had coil springs very smooth.

My 2017 RAM 1500 has air suspension....not rough but not smooth, either.
I'm not a big fan of it ride wise....but it does have other uses that work for me.