SplinterFL
Explorer
Joined 11 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: British Travel Trailers
easycamper wrote: "I'm within my weights, therefore I'm safe" is not a valid conclusion to make. I lived 11 years in Germany, so am very familiar with the autobahn. Considering it's actually hard to get a german license, extensive classes, 30+ hours of professional training, high cost....(formula one course essentially) The speed limit is what you can SAFELY travel for your given VEHICLE, LOAD and road CONDITIONS. Yes, they can give you a ticket for excessive speed with a swaying load, even if there isn't a speed limit for that stretch. (most tickets are a precentage of income, thus they all hurt the same, rich or poor. One rich driver had a $120k speeding ticket.) Most trucks and trailers are limited to about 60mph, the MFG can actually put a speed limit sticker on the back. (just like UHAUL trailers) and the cops will use that as your limit.350Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trailer Stolen with Man Inside!
Seems insane.. why tell or show the driver there was someone in the trailer. The theives took it thinking there wasn't anyone in it, just stay on 911...and hope they don't do a hi-speed chase and crash. The driver wouldn't have started swerving if he hadn't opened the door... (who opens a door on a highway? It not like he can jump or crawl to the TV. not a train movie, lol) If he was really clever he would have unlatched the door and just waited...with it flapping the driver would have eventually pulled over to close it (thinking it was loose or open the whole time), and then end up with a gun to the face. ...he had the element of surprise and blew it.343Views0likes0CommentsRe: Water Shut Off ?
gunner65 wrote: I do not understand why these start to leak so easily but it drives me crazy when they do. I took a simple approach. No side inlet. I got a low costs coil hose and tee-d in and store it behind the bumper. No more winding up a hose, just let it slide out the pvc pipe.381Views0likes0CommentsRe: MPG = Air Resistance vs Speed vs Weight
hddecker wrote: TT 11.5K#s, TV Ram 6.7L Cummins, TT 11.5' high towing at 65MPH over 18K miles, Fuel mileage, 11.75 MPG. The formula is conservitve, you should have a aerodyanic trailer. A semi is a flat wall (.6), and a 5th wheel has some curves (.5 or even .4).. so it's not perfect unless you put it in a wind-tunnel to know your true drag. 11.5' did you remove 1 foot for road-clearance. 10.5' * 7 wide= ~75ft Diesel=.3 eff or perhaps .4 with a turbo charger Lets say your tt has some good curves, 0.4 drag 11.5k lbs weight, with .4 drag @65 MPH = 10.95 MPG (.3 engine) / 14.6 MPG (.4 engine) You'll have to tweak the numbers until it fits your rigs MPG, then change your weight and see how little it changes.147Views0likes0CommentsMPG = Air Resistance vs Speed vs Weight
Improving MPG had me wondering, so I found a definitive calculator to make the math easier. http://ecomodder.com/forum/tool-aero-rolling-resistance.php Vehicle weight [1]: 10,000lb (TV & TT) Crr - Coefficient of rolling resistance [2]: 0.01 (0.01=3-4 total axles, 0.015=5-8 total axles) Cd - Coefficient of drag [3]: 0.5 (0.5=Pickup, 0.6=Semi-truck) A - frontal area [4]: 70 [~8X9] (total area of TV/TT, minus clearance under) Engine efficiency[6]: .22 (Gas=.22, Diesel=.3) Below are some examples, different weights, speeds and sizes. Say our trailer is shorter, or a popup. 10,000lb @ 50 sqft @ 40 MPH = 17.44 MPG 10,000lb @ 50 sqft @ 65 MPH = 9.53 MPG 5,000lb @ 50 sqft @ 40 MPH = 23.16 MPG 5,000lb @ 50 sqft @ 65 MPH = 11.02 MPG Say your rig is average size 10,000lb @ 70 sqft @ 40 MPH = 14.50 MPG 10,000lb @ 70 sqft @ 65 MPH = 7.38 MPG (Cut the weight in half, and rerun) 5,000lb @ 70 sqft @ 40 MPH = 18.26 MPG 5,000lb @ 70 sqft @ 65 MPH = 8.24 MPG Same test, but say our trailer is huge say 12'. 10,000lb @ 100 sqft @ 40 MPH = 11.58 MPG 10,000lb @ 100 sqft @ 65 MPH = 5.51 MPG 5,000lb @ 100 sqft @ 40 MPH = 13.86 MPG 5,000lb @ 100 sqft @ 65 MPH = 5.98 MPG Conclusion, speed and size matter most. Weight is only 1-2 MPG. In 2018 they are mandating backup cameras, Telsa Auto is trying to get side mirrors removed by 2020 to increase MPG up to 6%. (mirrors have a lot of drag.)5.8KViews0likes19CommentsRe: Add-ons to new trailer - Suggestions
Solar to suppliment battery charging, also good when storing. Backup camera so you don't have to rely on someone to guide you in tight spots. Backup lights, incase you arrive at the park in the dark. The usual accessories, lights for the awning, small morning coffee table, outdoor mat/carpet Replace all bulbs with LED to reduce power consumption on batt. MaxAir vent covers. Digital Thermostat connected to heater and AC. Plenty of outlets for 120v/12v/USB Lots of outlets/powerstrip for all the phone chargers. (not near the sink!) brushless replacement fans for the vents powered exhaust vent for the bathroom, like in a house. extra house batteries (i.e. T105's) Quiet Generator, capable of powering everything for when shore power fails. Better stablization jacks lots of creative storage ideas to increase storage space (i.e. pvc pipe under body to store sewer pipe). coiled water line for hookup, no more messing with a hose in a compartment. I'd love a retractable power cable that reals in like a vacum. better tv antennea293Views0likes0CommentsRe: 12 volt system problems
Old-Biscuit wrote: IF it was the in-line fuse or circuit breaker how does it work when connected to tow vehicle? The main breaker/fuse is next to and protects the battery from a dead short. The Tow Veh. connects downstream of that, prob in the fuse panel. Mine is just a simple 30amp auto breaker with two bolts and wires nutted down. I would disconnect the TowV and shore power, put a few lights on and then short across the bolts (i.e. with plyers) to see if they come on, if they do, your breaker is faulty and needs replaced.213Views0likes0CommentsRe: What to use to keep battery charged while sitting?
DatacomGuy wrote: Good point - I dont boondock presently, nor do i need to recharge while in use as we're always on shore power.. The previous owners of my TT were the same way, didn't even have a generator. The batt was dead from years of over-charging. I plan to add solar, and since there is so much surface area, why not put a couple hundred watts of power. I've been to a couple parks where it was full when we arrived and was sent to the Over-Flow lot, which means...maybe water, but no power or anything else. (thankfully the 21' had a generator so we weren't hurting for AC.) At least with solar, you have the option of charging during the day, so you have lights at night, without shore or generator power.372Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 13, 202544,029 Posts
