Travel trailer "vs" fith wheel --MPG to tow
How much difference in fuel MPG`S have you had with a bumper pull compared to the large wind resistance of a fiver? I have noticed a high fuel consumption in a head wind. Is it streamlining or lack ...
Forum Discussion
N-Trouble wrote:
Dont assume just because its taller a 5er has more air resistance than a TT.
5er and TV act like a single large mass cutting through the air while TT and TV act like two separate masses with a lot of dirty air in between.
^^^This...
Also, turbulence in the truck bed can hurt you, as well as rear-end turbulence. While a v-gate might not gain you in mileage down the road, it =can= reduce in-bed turbulence which, IMO, likely helps mileage a touch. I know it sure helps keep stuff in the bed!
A FW (or TT) with a rounded rear cap is also likely to get a touch better mileage again, due to reduced turbulence.
Rooftop wings likely do very little simply because the vast majority of RVers don't drive 100k+ miles a year to make the expense worthwhile. Same with skirting.
As an aside, I'd love to see a wind tunnel test on a FW with a light tubular frame on the roof that would support a cover for cleaning up the roofline while towing.
Lyle
