Newbie here, been lurking for a while, but this subject compelled me to register with the forum.
No RV yet, have had a popup, then moved up to a 32 foot trailer then up to a 32 motorhome then sold it all 10 years ago. Just didn’t have enough time to use way to many toys (sports cars and motorcycles too). The wife and I are getting older and closer to retirement and thinking of getting back into part or full timing it. Now tired of being slaves to couple pieces of property.
Regarding the drafting I had a very bad experience doing this and it cured me for life of ever doing it again. Now I can’t stand being in any situation where I don’t have a clear view of the stopping distance I need. I was coming home on a Friday night from being out of town all week running late at night (1:00am) from a work assignment. I was running through a major city freeway in a car. I was very tired and following a semi way to close in the passing lane. Not really drafting as such just being inattentive and tired and wanting to get home. All at once the semi moved over real quick and in front of me was a step van with an arrow board mounted on top of it with a flashing arrow to move traffic over a lane and 4 traffic cones closing the lane . At the back of the step van were 2 guys standing peering down an open man-whole . I was doing 70-75- mph with maybe 100 yards from hitting them. I whipped the wheel and moved over a lane didn’t even check my mirror (no time) and just missed the van and the 2 guys by feet. I still get chills running up my spine when I think about what could have happened. Running with an RV with that added stopping distance and most of them not taking a quick violent lane change like it took it would have been disaster. Not trying to lecture, only passing along a bad situation that changed my driving habits for life..
Slow down 5 mph and you will gain the same MPG along with being safer.
In order to get any measurable increase in MPG, you have to follow to close. If the guy in front has to slow down quickly, you will hit him before you can even think about applying brakes. While he may be able to stop, if he is trying to stop you 12,000# too, may be too much.
Just don't do it, the gain, even at $5/gal isn't worth the risk to you or others.
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I gave it a shot one time with my Class "A". I had a friend of mine who used to drive the same routes I did, was still driving big rigs and we conversed on the CB and I gave it a shot, being only 5-10 feet off the back of his 53' dry van trailer. It only took me a few miles to decide that it was just to hard to hold it in that zone. The buffeting that I took in my 34' motorhome was the worst experience in driving I had ever had ... and I have driven many different types of vehicles.
I found that driving my Class "A" at posted truck speed limits, gave me the best gas mileage. I also find that driving my dually with the T/C on the back at posted truck speed limits gives me the same result. I also try to drive on the slow end of those posted speeds.
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kohldad wrote: Slow down 5 mph and you will gain the same MPG along with being safer.
In order to get any measurable increase in MPG, you have to follow to close. If the guy in front has to slow down quickly, you will hit him before you can even think about applying brakes. While he may be able to stop, if he is trying to stop you 12,000# too, may be too much.
Just don't do it, the gain, even at $5/gal isn't worth the risk to you or others.
Photog101 wrote: I found that driving my Class "A" at posted truck speed limits, gave me the best gas mileage. I also find that driving my dually with the T/C on the back at posted truck speed limits gives me the same result. I also try to drive on the slow end of those posted speeds.
IT_Burnout wrote: I was running through a major city freeway in a car. I was very tired and following a semi way to close in the passing lane. Not really drafting as such just being inattentive and tired and wanting to get home. All at once the semi moved over real quick and in front of me was a step van with an arrow board mounted on top of it with a flashing arrow to move traffic over a lane and 4 traffic cones closing the lane . At the back of the step van were 2 guys standing peering down an open man-whole . I was doing 70-75- mph with maybe 100 yards from hitting them. I whipped the wheel and moved over a lane didn’t even check my mirror (no time) and just missed the van and the 2 guys by feet. I still get chills running up my spine when I think about what could have happened. Running with an RV with that added stopping distance and most of them not taking a quick violent lane change like it took it would have been disaster. Not trying to lecture, only passing along a bad situation that changed my driving habits for life..
Thanks for sharing. That's a very good reason not to do it.
In my younger days, I have tried it. I have no idea about the mpg effect, since I only tried it a short time and decided it was a bad idea. Haven't done it since. I'd rather just drive slower.
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.
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On our last trip over the Everglades I was drafted by an 18 wheeler. We had a 30mph head wind and my max speed was 60 mph without my EGTs getting into the danger area.
At first I didnt care much but he started getting closer and closer so I pulled off the next rest exit. After seeing all those gators sunning on the side of the glades the last thing I wanted to do was to join them.
With that much weight on an overloaded truck I need as much room to stop or make a turn so Ill keep my distance.
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