Van Wyk Inc.

Somebody in this forum started a thread http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/questions-to-truckers-from-general-public/147257-long-panels-below-trailers-reduce-windrag.html about these things. This guy "ironpony" disagreed with everything I mentioned I'd heard about the belly skirt trailers. He was dead-freakin' wrong about the super singles (Ask any Van Wyk driver who got stuck with one of those trucks) so I don't know how much stock I can put in his words about the belly skirts.

Basically he was saying is they don't collect snow and ice in the winter due to the slick waxy material they're made of, and because they're flexible and will "shake off" accumulated snow.

I wouldn't be too sure, I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude because I know that just because something is flexible doesn't mean snow and ice won't build up on it. I've had CB antennas break off due to excessive ice buildup, and I've seen little ice-bergs hanging from the hoses under the belly of the trailers. Ice can build up on freakin' airplane propellers that are spinning at 3600 RPM so why wouldn't it build up on the flexible rubber on the bottoms of the skirts?

 

I still haven't pulled a wagon with skirts yet.......I feel left out! Lucky me got a day off in Waynesboro so Cory got me a room at the Days Inn & it has a pool side view! Hopefully Reynolds has my trailer loaded at a decent time so I can get boogying out to Utah tomorrow.

 

#### husker i was in town man... i went out to take a quick load to Albany.... my paycheck next week is going to suck!!! ######!! that 600 bucks cant come soon enough... and if i found out ive been screwed then there shall be hell to pay!!!!! roll #### tide!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Husker I haven't had an opportunity to pull one of our lady trailers yet either. Nor have I been in Utah since upgrading to solo driver status! Are you going to be able to stop at home for the big weekend? I'm headed to Holcomb next though so who knows?!

However, I used to tow these big girls around at Central when on the "super exclusive" and now defunct North Lawrence (Upstate New York) Dairy dedicated fleet. They were cheaper skirts with no fancy fold up abilities or rubber "lowering kits." Never had a problem with winter buildup, nor did I notice any gains in fuel economy or differences in loaded or empty handling. YMMV

 

One time I was at the yard and saw Leah leaving with one of those trailers. She had had tandems ALL the way back. I was laughing about it, but it was probably a good move, as the wind that day was terrible.

 

Change of plans.......no Utah for me. I got down to Lexington when Cory called me to say that the receiver in Salt Lake would not take the product until Thursday of next week, rats! Had to meet a guy in Mount Crawford so he could take it back to the yard & I'm doing a White Wave load to Cedar Falls for Saturday morning. He had a load going to Lincoln out of Cargil but they were waiting for some beef to show up and they had no clue when it would be loaded either. Looks like it's another holiday on the road for this guy!

 

That sucks man. I'll drink an extra beer for ya' on the 4th.

 

I was actually wanting that Cargil load since it would take me right to the house, oh well I usually do pretty good getting loads going to Sysco in Lincoln so I'm not terribly broken hearted. Just an FYI, I do like Yuengling so if you cheers me with one of those tasty treats id be that much more special! Be safe all and have a happy 4th!

 

I'm on the road every New Years. But I always park it before midnight when all the drunks are on their way home. You might wanta think of that, since the 4th of July is also a drinkin' holiday.