Farmerjon
Niangua, missouri
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Joined: 08/24/2010
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yes we have drafted behind semis while taveling with our TC,yes it saved gas,it was 40 years ago, it was very stupid then and would be a bad idea now too.
00 F350 SC LB 4x4 DRW 7.3 PSD 6sp 3.73 DYI over load bumpers
99 Starcraft 953
87 F250 460 4x4 4sp 4.11 ex cab 8ft
95 jeep YJ 4cyl 5sp
69 f250 360 4sp
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tilemantim
Santa Rosa,Ca
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Joined: 10/31/2010
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I did it a bit when I had my class A, kinda stupid, if you were back to far I would get a ton of tail wag.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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K Charles wrote:A long time ago when I drove semi, I could gain a few MPH if I tailgated another semi but if you were further then 10 or 12 ft away you were too far away. That would be dumb to do with an RV. Looking back, it was dumb then too.
Exactly.......
To benefit you have to be pretty dang close to the back end of other vehicle otherwise you are riding in the wake and will get buffeted around with no improvement.
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sabconsulting
High Wycombe, UK
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Joined: 10/10/2010
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I tried it with the camper but found:
1) It did have an effect, but I didn't measure it - you could feel yourself being sucked along by the big rig, so it probably would have made a significant effect on the fuel consumption.
2) I had to be pretty close for it to work.
3) I found it tiring trying to keep to that distance continuously.
4) Sitting for ages looking at the back of a shipping container wasn't the greatest experience.
Steve.
'07 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab diesel + '91 Shadow Cruiser - Sky Cruiser 1
'92 Suzuki Samurai 4x4 1.6
'09 Fiat Panda 1.2
'10 Citroen DS3 1.6 turbo
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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I tried that twice towing a 5th wheel. Once going on I-80 and once on I-70. I didn't get any increase in MPG but I did get bounced around with the tailwinds that follow them. Besides that, if the wind was not a direct headwind the buffeting really got horrendous. That cured me.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
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serpa4
East Coast
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Joined: 06/15/2002
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skipnchar wrote:You will probably get SOME benefit from drafting up to 100 feet behind a big truck depending on wind direction. The closer you get the more effect you will have but in spite of your request to NOT make it a safety issue, it is when you get too close. Myth busters managed to get up to 40% increase in fuel mileage by drafting about three feet behind an OTR truck so it is OBVIOUS that it works very well.
Yep, interesting show on that topic. Lots to gain. Surprised how much can be gained staying fairly far back also.
Love the camping life. 06 Host Rainier SS, 07 Classic GMC Sierra 3500 DRW.
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DWeikert
York, PA
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Joined: 02/07/2006
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Until Google perfects their self driving vehicle software so my truck can perfectly match the speed and hit the brakes within microseconds of the vehicle in front of me, I wouldn't want to get close enough for it to make a significant difference in fuel mileage. The very few times I thought I'd try it the closest I felt safe getting to the back of the truck had way too much buffeting to comfortably stay there for any length of time. To get into the dead air behind the trailer would've meant getting much closer. For now, I just follow Kohldad's suggestion and slow down a little if I want higher MPG's.
2008 Chevy D/A 2500HD ECSB
2010 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer
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Steelhog
Harvest, AL
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Joined: 03/25/2008
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39 years ago did it on a Spring Break run from Minneapolis to New Orleans in a VW beetle. This was during the height of the CB craze so the semi's knew where we were and gave us the OK to be in the saddle. Best we did was 32 MPG running about 75, About 50 feet back we would get buffeted and then as we closed it would smooth out and we'd have to back WAAAY out of the throttle. Young and stupid but what a ride. (The next year we took my Hurst Olds, CB and a Fuzz Buster and nearly went back in time.)
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skipbee
Glen Arm,Md. 21057 USA
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I believe that an 18 wheeler can out brake a Heavily loaded TC by a great deal.
I have found the milage difference for us between 62 mph and 70 mph is alot.So slow down a bit and save alot is our motto. We had a VW campmobile years ago, drafting allowed us to get up to 75mph, no drafting 65 was the limit.
skipbee
2004 F350 Diesel CC SRW 19.5" Rickson W/T 4WD
2005 Lance 1121 well found.
12' Porta-Bote alongside
All that glisters is not gold. All who wander are not lost. See us on YouTube" Living the Lance Life" 3 of 4.
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Pete_k
Stantonville Tn
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Joined: 03/18/2004
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Know this is not the answer your looking for. But if a Truck Driver hits the jake brake and your drafting him. That ICC bumper does a number to autos.. I can tell you first hand how bad it looks. As I used to drive a truck, And that jake brake is faster then your reflexes.. Also ask your self, how do you like some fool tailgating you? Then make the choice
Slowing down to 55 MPH does more and plus allows you to have a stress free drive that you enjoy.
2004 Duramax/allison Trans C/C 4x4
2012 Landmark Key Largo
2008 Lund 1825 Pro Guide Tiller, With a Evinrude 90 HP E-Tec
Live near Pickwick Dam and the Tn river
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