Overall hood cost - Aerodynamics

You’ve missed my point about what is behind the tractor being insignificant. It is insignificant, because what’s happening back there is going to be the same with either truck. Therefore, it doesn’t matter…much. The reason I say “much” is because the cleaner air coming off the aero cab and down the side of the trailer is going to contribute to better efficiency, regardless of the trailer, just like the tractor itself.

Yes. I’m very aware of the backend’s contribution. But, I didn’t bring it up, because the topic was tractors. The backend actually has a larger effect than the frontend, because of the vacuum being created by the vehicle splitting the air. The more gradual the air can be brought back together, the better. This is why an aircraft, fixed or rotary wing, can get away with some fairly blunt frontends, but, the backends are usually as gradual of a taper as possible.

Wind tunnels are a mixed bag, because they can’t mimic how wind actually behaves in our natural environment. When I see new ideas being applied to trucks, I look with skepticism. An example is the air foils being attached to the A-pillars. In a crosswind, I can hear the turbulence they generate. My inclination is noisy air is dirty air/wind resistance. However, in a wind tunnel, at zero yaw, they probably produce a benefit, by helping to keep the windshield air attached to the sides of the cab. In the real world, not so much.

 

You only live once and the way I see it is I’d rather live with style and class then being stuck inside a rolling plastic porta potty my whole life even if I am saving a few bucks.

 

There's a reason why fleets are making their trucks shorter wheelbases now. Practically bringing the reefer snug up against the cab.

 

and once one of the clowns rips a fairing off all that fuel savings goes out the Window…

 

I like the 1/2 fairing look, fairing on one side, not on the other, ya never know what's coming at ya

 

Clowns have been ripping them off before shorter wheel bases came around.

They've even been ripping off the tails you don't see anymore.

 

I have a small Fleet, 7 trucks. My newer Aero trucks, for the most part get slightly better fuel mileage, but the newer aero trucks overall cost is higher than the hoods. All of my trucks run Flatbed, mostly steel and always heavy. 65-75% oversize. My most efficient truck is and has been since day 1 is the Freightliner Columbia, Glider. I can do most of the work on the older trucks and the Gliders but don't have the computer and software or knowledge for the newer trucks, Especially the 2 with the Auto Transmissions. If I had known then, what I know now, I would have a fleet full of Gliders. Hoods or Aero. For my personal truck and the other 2 hoods there isn't enough difference to make me want to change, and if I did, I would probably lose my 2 best drivers.

truck 8541- 99- 379 Cat, ungoverned, 10spd, 6.3 Lifetime (my personal truck)
truck 0369- 96- 379 Cat, ungoverned, 15spd 6.2 Lifetime
truck 0616 -2015 389 Glider, series 60 Detroit, 13spd 6.5 Lifetime set @72mph
truck 0315- 2015 FL Columbia Glider, series 60 Detroit,10 spd, Lifetime 7.2 set at 72mph
truck 0220- 2016 T680 with a Paccar, 10 spd auto trans, 6.8 lifetime set at 72mph
truck 0523 - 2020 T680 with a Paccar, 12 Spd auto trans, 6.5 lifetime set at 72mph
truck 724 - 2023 PB 567 with a Cummins and 18 spd 6.3 lifetime Set at 72, (only had for 2 months)

 

Somewhat Aero, doesn't have the Fairings or skirtings and it's lightweight. Driver is also a good driver that never gets in a big hurry.

 

Super efficient?

Then, there’s these guys.