DavidinPhx
Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2019
- Messages
- 27
I have some practical experience with aerodynamic design as I raced recumbent bikes for awhile that had both front and rear fairings. A properly set up bike was noticeably faster or easier (better mpg, if you like) to move.
The big differences came from the rear fairings - essentially a tapered tear drop close against the seat to ease the transition of the air around the riders trunk and the hard edges of the seat back.
Anything that softens the edges of the square back of a camper will help a bit, but the challenge is our square rear ends are huge in proportion to any gains from softening the edges with a fairing, because we cant really make a tail box that’s a meaningful size.
You’ve seen the tail fairings on big rigs on the highway that look like a 1-2 foot angled strip on all four sides of the trailer rear. Those are actually enough to make a bit of a percentage difference in cost when used constantly over whole fleets. Our problem is something like that is very hard to rig and be able to use the camper.
Camper makers could help use out be by making the edges rounded even a bit, but thats a cost and engineering thing few will do. I think the splitters under the cab overs have some effect because they shoot the air past the hard leading edges of the camper.
Perhaps your SUP board does something similar at the rear.
The big differences came from the rear fairings - essentially a tapered tear drop close against the seat to ease the transition of the air around the riders trunk and the hard edges of the seat back.
Anything that softens the edges of the square back of a camper will help a bit, but the challenge is our square rear ends are huge in proportion to any gains from softening the edges with a fairing, because we cant really make a tail box that’s a meaningful size.
You’ve seen the tail fairings on big rigs on the highway that look like a 1-2 foot angled strip on all four sides of the trailer rear. Those are actually enough to make a bit of a percentage difference in cost when used constantly over whole fleets. Our problem is something like that is very hard to rig and be able to use the camper.
Camper makers could help use out be by making the edges rounded even a bit, but thats a cost and engineering thing few will do. I think the splitters under the cab overs have some effect because they shoot the air past the hard leading edges of the camper.
Perhaps your SUP board does something similar at the rear.