SCCAForums.com

SCCA Racing Forums, Discussions and Blogs

Welcome to SCCAForums.com Sign in | Join | Latest Posts | My Posts | Help
in Search

Nose cones on enclosed trailers

Last post 04-02-2008, 9:45 PM by TeamFRD. 7 replies.
Sort Posts: Previous Next
  •  03-19-2008, 11:33 AM 290846

    Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    Has anyone ever added a nose cone or bubble to the front of their enclosed trailer? How painful was it, how much did it cost and what kind of milage improvement did you see?

    I've got a 2004 Pace Shadow that has been a great trailer. When I bought it, I estimated that it would take about 7+ years to justify the expense of the adding the ~$700 nose cone option from the builder. Of course that was based on $1.80ish diesel and most of our local events being within 10 miles of home. Since then diesel has shot up to $4 and our primary "local" site is now 90 miles away. The economics have changed a little. I get about 10mpg at 70-75 mph. Guessing at a 2mpg improvement I would probably pay for it within a year or two depending on how much they cost.

    Any feedback from someone whos been there?

    Tom


    Tom Holt
    FP199 280Z
  •  03-19-2008, 4:52 PM 290932 in reply to 290846

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    Most recent trailer I had was a 24ft 2000 Pace Shadow.  I towed it 2 or 3 long distance trips in early 2000 (several hundred miles roundtrip) before installing a nose cone on it.  A somewhat unscientific comparison, as terrain, headwinds, etc all affect mileage when towing something with that much frontal area.

    Having said that, though, it appeared that I gained about 1mpg from the cone installation, from 10 to 11.  Not as much as you may be hoping for, but diesel isn't likely to get any cheaper, if any, for a long time either.  I was driving in the same speed range you mentioned...obviously we both would get better mileage if we just slowed down 5 or 10mph.  Wink

    I also noticed a definite improvement in how the trailer handled crosswinds.  The nose cone generally promotes smoother airflow around the entire trailer, since you've decreased the turbulence otherwise created by the squared-off front corners without the cone.

    The other way to increase mileage with an enclosed trailer is to do something about the huge amount of drag created by the squared-off *rear* of the trailer, but that would require a boattail attachment of some sort.  The trucking outfit that hauls BMW's from Spartanburg, SC to my part of the country uses rigs with that sort of arrangement on the rear end of their trailers, but they can unload them in parking lots and don't have to deal with backing them up to a loading dock, which is what has prevented their general use by the trucking industry so far.  Probably as much or more to be gained mileage-wise than at the front of a large trailer.

    GH

  •  03-19-2008, 5:10 PM 290939 in reply to 290932

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    I have heard those vortex generator thingies at the back of the trailer (on the sides) make a difference. Anyone have any experience with those?

    DaveW

  •  03-19-2008, 7:09 PM 290965 in reply to 290939

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    Tried those too, on the same trailer, the last season that I had it.  Subjectively, the trailer did seem more stable when passing big trucks, but as for mileage I didn't see any obvious gains.  Of course, even a gain of 0.5mpg would help at today's fuel prices, but that sort of number is difficult to document without controlled testing.  It easily falls within the noise of terrain and weather differences and how consistent your driving technique may be.

    If I remember correctly, they are to be used across the top rear-edge of the trailer in addition to both vertical sides.

    You can check them out here:

    www.airtab.com

    They come with double-sided tape already applied, which makes for an easy do-it-yourself installation.  And they're quite a conversation-starter at gas stations and at events. Smile

    GH

  •  03-19-2008, 7:54 PM 290970 in reply to 290965

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    Remember in aerodynamics it's not the hole you punch in the air but how you close it back up when it comes to drag.
  •  03-19-2008, 8:32 PM 290973 in reply to 290846

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    A 2mpg improvement, yeah right. Maybe .2mpg.

    allen
    SpecMiata
    other thingy's
    www.allenskillicorn.com
  •  03-23-2008, 5:48 PM 291574 in reply to 290973

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    Oh well... call me an optimist... Smile

    I might have to try that going slower concept... but that really sucks!

    I liked the airtab website... 20 people like GH, claiming better stability and maybe a little milage improvement and one guy claiming a 9mpg improvement with 67 tabs on his truck and 95 on his trailer...

    Thanks for th feedback. 

    Tom


    Tom Holt
    FP199 280Z
  •  04-02-2008, 9:45 PM 293286 in reply to 291574

    Re: Nose cones on enclosed trailers

    I use Airtabs across the back and sides on my tall 14 ft v-nose trailer.   They help with turbulence.  I dont see any difference in MPG.  I'm towing with an Astro and it's maxed out.  

    Trivia: They were designed by Gary Wheeler, designer of the 1978 Wheeler Super Vee that Danny Ongais drove.  He sold the design off...now retired. 


     


    TeamFRD - 1974 Royale RP18 - http://drive.to/TeamFRD ~~~ Historic Formula Super Vee Register - http://drive.to/FSV
View as RSS news feed in XML