Front nose design and stability and gas mileage?

I lost approximately 1 mpg when I moved from a Canyon Trail 27FREL to a Tradition 360 RSS.

The Canyon Trail did have a more aerodynamic front, and was quite a bit lighter, but I much prefer the additional interior space provided by the flatter front area.

YMMV...

:)

I pulled a flat front 5th wheel toy hauler (which was like pulling a parachute)with my Dodge diesel, and now pull a Keystone Outback that is heavier and longer and has the rounded front with the same truck...I do get better fuel mileage and the overall handling is better, fuel mileage got better by 2 or 3 mpg...I didn't change for the fuel mileage, but I'll take what I can get.

Perhaps its easily discounted because industry drivers do more miles in a 2 week period then I do in a year ,so ya I dont care about 'aero' that has a almost infinate payback.

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...

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!!

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.

MookieKat wrote:

RedGATitan wrote:
When we trade our 28ft flat nosed TT for a 36ft 5th with the contoured nose and weighing almost twice as much, I noticed about a 2 mpg difference to the good in mpg. I also noticed the truck doesn't work as hard to keep the 5th moving down the highway.

That is amazing!!

Every 'hot shot er' i have asked said the same -5ers beat TT s.

Us out West wrote:
It's all about aerodynamics.

It works!!! Use to fly for a living so have some experience...but that was awhile back.

:B

I would certainly agree with that.

Many here will remember the Titanium models of fifth wheels, made by Glendale in Canada. Aerodynamic also.

Would either DRVs or Lifestyle 5th wheels considered to have flat fronts?

RedGATitan wrote:
When we trade our 28ft flat nosed TT for a 36ft 5th with the contoured nose and weighing almost twice as much, I noticed about a 2 mpg difference to the good in mpg. I also noticed the truck doesn't work as hard to keep the 5th moving down the highway.

That is amazing!!