Trailer shape matters more than weight/size

[KrennPowerSports]

I just wanted to give some of my experience with towing. I've put over 70,k miles on ct's and my current beast has 52k miles... We travel all over and I also pull lots of different trailers. I've found that the shape of the trailer/load make the most impact.
For example... the 2 4 wheelers on the trailer got better MPKWh than my 5.5x10 trailer unloaded. by about 20% actually. It also was much better than the jetski trailer with just small stand-ups on it. weight wise was about the same total. The width of the trailer thinks makes the biggest impact. the 4 wheeler trailer has a 4.2' wide deck, it's very narrow and the wheels don't stick out past the side of the ct. also the height is higher making the top of the quads just under the camp height giving it better aerodynamics. I did a test run of 2 100 mile trips, with the 4 wheelers at 800lbs each i was at 550kw/mi. typical with no trailer is around 450 (bed cap did drop millage). with the unloaded or even loaded 5x10 I takes 650-750wh/mi. and the jetski trailer around 750 wh/mi. the car hauler was ridiculous at 950-1050 wh/mi unloaded.... it's wide and 18' long, not heavy....
so here's kinda the conclusion for people that don't want to read
1 truck only w/cap 450/mi
2. truck with empty or loaded 5.5x10 650/750/mi
3. jetski trailer loaded 750/mi
4. 4wheeler trailer 4x14 loaded w/2 in pic 550/mi
5. car hauler unloaded 1000/mi

I think the narrow 4 wheeler trailer is going to be the winner for long trips (yes it even pulls great, better than i thought it would). I probably will make a conversion to haul jetskis on it also

Sponsored

 

[sefar]

I am surprised that the air dam on the car hauler doesn't help. My trailer is a little wider than the truck, it has fenders that stick out. Do you think a shaped air dam on the front would help with range?

 

[KrennPowerSports]

I am surprised that the air dam on the car hauler doesn't help. My trailer is a little wider than the truck, it has fenders that stick out. Do you think a shaped air dam on the front would help with range?

i thought it would, but I don't think it does. I had another car hauler that got the same hauling my 4000 station wagon on, it didn't have the rock-guard..... I think the width is the killer on both and the rock guard probably makes it worse...

 

[sefar]

i thought it would, but I don't think it does. I had another car hauler that got the same hauling my 4000 station wagon on, it didn't have the rock-guard..... I think the width is the killer on both and the rock guard probably makes it worse...

Semi trucks run those shaped air dams on top of their cabs, the alternative may be to add a guard in the front of the trailer that slopes down towards the back and tracks the line on the CB cab. I hate to invest the time to fabbing one if someone has already tried it and failed though.

My trailer has fold up ramps and it is like towing a sail as far as range goes. My experience tracks with your car hauler with the sail on the front.

 

[cyberhero32]

Ok great this is about towing I wasn’t sure and came to see

 

[Langestreet]

Average 760Wh per mile over 4000 miles. 4700 lbs. (Corrected)

 

[Mark Lindgren]

Average 160Wh per mile over 4000 miles. 4700 lbs.

Just curious? Is this a typo error on the Wh per mile? Thank you for your time.
-m

 

[Langestreet]

Just curious? Is this a typo error on the Wh per mile? Thank you for your time.
-m

Lol. Yes...760

 

[mongo]

Average 760Wh per mile over 4000 miles. 4700 lbs. (Corrected)

Is that the Urander bed cap?
Did you happen to do much towing before adding it? I'm looking into adding one or similar to improve towing aerodynamics.

Also, what was your average speed?

 

[mongo]

I just wanted to give some of my experience with towing. I've put over 70,k miles on ct's and my current beast has 52k miles... We travel all over and I also pull lots of different trailers. I've found that the shape of the trailer/load make the most impact.
For example... the 2 4 wheelers on the trailer got better MPKWh than my 5.5x10 trailer unloaded. by about 20% actually. It also was much better than the jetski trailer with just small stand-ups on it. weight wise was about the same total. The width of the trailer thinks makes the biggest impact. the 4 wheeler trailer has a 4.2' wide deck, it's very narrow and the wheels don't stick out past the side of the ct. also the height is higher making the top of the quads just under the camp height giving it better aerodynamics. I did a test run of 2 100 mile trips, with the 4 wheelers at 800lbs each i was at 550kw/mi. typical with no trailer is around 450 (bed cap did drop millage). with the unloaded or even loaded 5x10 I takes 650-750wh/mi. and the jetski trailer around 750 wh/mi. the car hauler was ridiculous at 950-1050 wh/mi unloaded.... it's wide and 18' long, not heavy....
so here's kinda the conclusion for people that don't want to read
1 truck only w/cap 450/mi
2. truck with empty or loaded 5.5x10 650/750/mi
3. jetski trailer loaded 750/mi
4. 4wheeler trailer 4x14 loaded w/2 in pic 550/mi
5. car hauler unloaded 1000/mi

I think the narrow 4 wheeler trailer is going to be the winner for long trips (yes it even pulls great, better than i thought it would). I probably will make a conversion to haul jetskis on it also

Was car hauler with or without truck cap?
Rough illustrations of airflow, the vertical portion of frontal area may be the bigger issue versus width
Red is low pressure/ turbulence

 

[Langestreet]

Is that the Urander bed cap?
Did you happen to do much towing before adding it? I'm looking into adding one or similar to improve towing aerodynamics.

Also, what was your average speed?

Towing always 55-60mph.
The bed cap came before the airstream. I don't have good data on its impact. It wasnt noticeable. I suspect it aids towing. And yes, its @Urander . I'm on my second d generation of their accessories. Great stuff!!

 

[KrennPowerSports]

Was car hauler with or without truck cap?
Rough illustrations of airflow, the vertical portion of frontal area may be the bigger issue versus width
Red is low pressure/ turbulence

car hauler was with cap also. the small jetskis on the trailer actually didn't get great MPW. I think the width made a huge difference also.

 

[Langestreet]

car hauler was with cap also. the small jetskis on the trailer actually didn't get great MPW. I think the width made a huge difference also.

You might consider a tight tarp over the trailer to smooth the air flow.

 

[TyPope]

I have that same trailer with the expanded steel ramp. I noticed that the "hinges" can slide apart and was wondering if it would be worth laying the ramp flat in the trailer to let me stop dragging that sail through the air.

 

[mongo]

I have that same trailer with the expanded steel ramp. I noticed that the "hinges" can slide apart and was wondering if it would be worth laying the ramp flat in the trailer to let me stop dragging that sail through the air.

Efficiency wise: yes
Depending on difficulty to re-engage hinge pins:

Sponsored