Front nose design and stability and gas mileage?

MookieKat wrote:

jus2shy wrote:
Funny thing is that on this site, a lot of people are discounting Aerodynamics and keep saying "We didn't buy our RV for Aero". However, in the trucking business, many logistics companies are bending over backwards testing new methods to increase the aero on a class 8 brick. Lots of trailer skirts are being employed and I'm also seeing some panels that modify the "Tail" of a standard 53' trailer. And nearly all the semi's I've seen on the road employee some fairing over the cap of the trailer to make it more aerodynamic in cutting the wind. In some of the seminars I've attended in industry, there are reports of 1mpg increases on a rig that typically gets around 6mpg. That is huge money in the grand scheme of things. If the large fleets see value, then I can't understand why it's so easily discounted here. 1 more mile per gallon can easily mean a 10% discount in fuel costs for a trip given that most rigs achieve around 10 mpg towing. So personally, I am considering a 5th because of the increased Aero (especially with newer cap designs), More room for a given length, ease of hookup and disconnect and a shorter overall foot-print when on the road.

Thank you!!

+1

Yes, we don't buy 5th wheels to save gas but I'll take every opportunity I can to save gas if there's no significant trade-off. For full-timers, gas cost is significant. 10% gas cost reduction is always welcome.

I mentioned Lifestyle and DRVs before because they appear to have rather flat looking fronts which does concern me. Its not enough to take them off my candidate list but those are definitely negative factors. Excel Winslows seems to be a bit more rounded...