MPG question.

[Shield Arc]

Don't think I've ever posted in this section before, generally stay in the welding section.
Anyway I got a 1,700-mile round trip coming up next week to pick up a tractor. I was wondering if I would get any better mileage if I left the doors open on my dump trailer? With diesel pushing $4.30 a gallon here on the west coast I need all the help I can get! Do you think this would help any, or do I just have wishful thinking.

 

[thatguy]

IIRC - on Mythbusters they tested the pickup truck tailgate down vs up - and the tail cut UP got a slightly better MPG.. It was the swirling action as the air came over the cab that 'pushed' they theorized..

with that said - I have no idea if the same effect would happen with the trailer or not..

A couple other thoughts -

Do the doors have the conspicuity (reflector) tape on them? If so, the doors open may not meet DOT required markings.

IF you blew out a tire it appears that the door latches could take a hit..

Where is your license plate? I dont see it in the 'rear' shot

Brian

 

[Shield Arc]

That is very interesting about Mythbusters! I always leave the tailgate down on my little Toyota pickup.
The doors being open has me worried, looks like a wedge to catch air. Blowing a tire, and having to repair the latch doesn't worry me to much. I know a guy who has a welder, and a torch.

Yes there is reflective tape on the outside of the doors. The license plate is mounted up under the bed, attached to the frame. That is where PJ has the license plate mount and light.

 

[mikehaugen]

Someone told me about that mythbusters episode as well. I did not see it, but the testing was described to me. Let's just say that I was a little... well skeptical (as usual). I have never considered "mythbusters" as a reliable source of information, though it is quite entertaining. I just don't feel that there testing is thorough enough, nor controlled enough to be considered conclusive. There are too many variable to consider to make such broad statements.

That being said, even if you save .5 miles per gallon on a 850 mile trip (I assume that you will need to close the gates on the way back) and let's say that the cummins gets 20 mpg, then the difference between 20 and 19.5 mpg over 850 miles amounts to less than 1.4 gallons of fuel. Is it even worth worrying about and/ or risking the dot non-conformance mentioned above? Not to mention they have got to rattle around a lot more when open I would imagine.

 

[mikehaugen]

Also, the trailer is designed to have the doors shut during transport. The doors are probably designed to give the sides stability when closed, so with them open you are stressing the sides that much more with the wind at 65mph. Maybe not a huge deal but again, is it worth it to save 1.4 gallons?

I have always thought the same about leaving the tailgate down, that thing rattling around and stressing the cables and whatnot is not worth the rather insignificant fuel saving that may or may not be possible. I only leave mine down occasionally for visibility purposes when backing up a small trailer.

 

[sdkubota]

I had my Kubota L3400 shipped 900 miles for $900 through Uship. The trucker who actually hauled the load only got $600. Try and find a direct trucker to haul it back.

 

[Shield Arc]

Someone told me about that mythbusters episode as well. I did not see it, but the testing was described to me. Let's just say that I was a little... well skeptical (as usual). I have never considered "mythbusters" as a reliable source of information, though it is quite entertaining. I just don't feel that there testing is thorough enough, nor controlled enough to be considered conclusive. There are too many variable to consider to make such broad statements.

That being said, even if you save .5 miles per gallon on a 850 mile trip (I assume that you will need to close the gates on the way back) and let's say that the cummins gets 20 mpg, then the difference between 20 and 19.5 mpg over 850 miles amounts to less than 1.4 gallons of fuel. Is it even worth worrying about and/ or risking the dot non-conformance mentioned above? Not to mention they have got to rattle around a lot more when open I would imagine.

Also, the trailer is designed to have the doors shut during transport. The doors are probably designed to give the sides stability when closed, so with them open you are stressing the sides that much more with the wind at 65mph. Maybe not a huge deal but again, is it worth it to save 1.4 gallons?

I have always thought the same about leaving the tailgate down, that thing rattling around and stressing the cables and whatnot is not worth the rather insignificant fuel saving that may or may not be possible. I only leave mine down occasionally for visibility purposes when backing up a small trailer.

All good points, maybe I'm just over thinking this, (insert being cheap here)! That 6.7L Cummins has got up to 23-MPG, but that was at 65-MPH with no load. Not to bad for a truck pushing 500-HP.
2007.5-2009 6.7L Dodge Cummins - H&S Performance

I had my Kubota L3400 shipped 900 miles for $900 through Uship. The trucker who actually hauled the load only got $600. Try and find a direct trucker to haul it back.

Oh this is one of those brother-n-law things, have to pick him up as well. We're gonna build him a log splitter, and install a new loader on his tractor.

 

[mikehaugen]

Oh this is one of those brother-n-law things, have to pick him up as well. We're gonna build him a log splitter, and install a new loader on his tractor.

then isn't he covering the fuel bill?

 

[sdkubota]

If your brother in law is bringing all his belongings...drive away really fast. He is planning on a 45 year "visit".

 

[Shield Arc]

then isn't he covering the fuel bill?

Lets hope so! :laughing:

If your brother in law is bringing all his belongings...drive away really fast. He is planning on a 45 year "visit".

I hope not!