drafting an 18 wheeler

[78X]

so ive got this semi running as my bird dog here on 35 doing 90- how close does a car have to get to get a decent enough draft from a rig that size? ( i wouldnt do something that stupid just thinking out loud here) shit his peterbilt is nearing 100 mph now, guy is moving

[Grape]

so ive got this semi running as my bird dog here on 35 doing 90- how close does a car have to get to get a decent enough draft from a rig that size? ( i wouldnt do something that stupid just thinking out loud here) shit his peterbilt is nearing 100 mph now, guy is moving

with as much air gets under the trailer, it's wasted effort, unless it's a lowboy of some sort

[347Mike]

Mythbusters says less than 2 feet.

[78X]

with as much air gets under the trailer, it's wasted effort, unless it's a lowboy of some sort

whats funny is his trailer has wind skirts on it

[78X]

Mythbusters says less than 2 feet.

aye, i knew they did an episode on that thanks

[347Mike]

Why the fuck is an 18 wheeler doing 90ish?

I actually saw an 18 wheeler wreck on my way to Houston Friday. It looks like he jumped the guard rail and ate the slope part of the under pass face first.

[78X]

Why the fuck is an 18 wheeler doing 90ish?

I actually saw an 18 wheeler wreck on my way to Houston Friday. It looks like he jumped the guard rail and ate the slope part of the under pass face first.

i guess he is late for something. surprised not more traffic today, currently running 95 but i bet he backs off once we hit alvarado

[347Mike]

Texting and driving! Superb!

[HarrisonTX]

Myth busters did this. They claimed something like a 25% increase at 20 or so feet out. They did it with a regular semi, and a dodge magnum was the drafter.

I tested this last weekend.

I made a 250 mile road trip, and for an 80 mile stretch of i-45 I drafted a semi at 80 MPH, the whole time.

I immediately filled up, and got 21.1 MPG. I average 18, and havnt seen anything above 18.5 in over 3 years. 230K mile '97 full size chevy.

I believe it absolutely works.

[78X]

Texting and driving! Superb!

*ahem* posting and driving

[line-em-up]

...

I'm beginning to think mythbusters is full of shit. When I had my Suzuki 125, I could go much faster behind an 18 wheeler. If I remember correctly, my doodlebug would do the same thing. I used to hate to get beside an 18 wheeler in those. It was like a vacumn trying to pull me under the trailer.

[flybye70ss]

Why the fuck is an 18 wheeler doing 90ish?

I actually saw an 18 wheeler wreck on my way to Houston Friday. It looks like he jumped the guard rail and ate the slope part of the under pass face first.

if it was near alma, i saw that one too.

[347Mike]

if it was near alma, i saw that one too.

I don't remember where it was exactly but had to drive to westheimer in Houston, I passed it maybe 15minutes after it happened (police looked like they just arrived) and they were still there on my way back 2-3 hours later pulling the trailer out of the ditch. The traffic had to stretch for atleast 5 miles. I was glad I woke at 3 AM to get there! There was a pick up truck or SUV i want to say that was involved too, hope everyone is well..

[Captain Crawfish]

if you leave some room about 3-4 car lengths youll get better drafting. ive watched the fuel avg gauge on my truck and if you stay back a lil bit it does better than being right behind the other vehicle.

[Ratt]

if you leave some room about 3-4 car lengths youll get better drafting. ive watched the fuel avg gauge on my truck and if you stay back a lil bit it does better than being right behind the other vehicle.

That's because you're using too much gas pedal tryin to stay close. The nervousness of being so close causes you to waste gas by feathering the throttle all the time.