Tarping the front of a load of pipe?

Am wondering how much difference it makes to put a tarp up in front of a load of... say pipes or culverts.. to try to cut down on the amount of drag... I see it once and a while...am wondering if it improves mileage much?

 

The shipper requires it to eliminate smoke damage to the pipe from the truck's stacks.If you have grass burner stacks it's not required.

 

Hence the term.. Smoke tarp.. You'll notice this is required on a lot of different loads that really don't need to be tarped.

 

It would probably have a negative effect on fuel milage if it had any effect at all because the wind will travel through the pipe and the tarp just blocks it creating a little more wind drag...

But that's not why we use them, They're called smoke tarps and they're there to keep exhaust from contaminating the pipe.

 

Now let's see....
I have a CARB approved engine in my new rig....supposedly the "air" leaving the stacks is cleaner (in some cases) than the "air" going through the intake.......

Now that being the case....why do should we be required to use a "smoke tarp"?

 

I've asked myself that question before too....

 

Because of the smog in Los Angeles basin area and don't forget the smog layer in SLC....the exhaust is govern-mentally proven to be clean...like AlGore's utility bill!

 

If that's the case....I would suggest the shippers shrink-wrap all loads...period...

 

Can't do that...wouldn't be environ-mentally sound...plastic takes centuries to break down!

BRING BACK THE GLASS BOTTLES! SAVE A LAND FILL!

 

I work directly for a pvc pipe manufacturing company. We shrink wrap all of our B stock to avoid sun damage while it sets in the yard .... and company policy still requires a smoke tarp to be placed on the load. Why? Because of receivers (rejecting pipe due to possible contamination). We have to fully tarp any of our weldable pipe ... why? because of receivers (they'll reject it if its dirty). I know tarping sewer pipe is retarded .... I get to do it every day. And no ... having cal clean air cert exhaust does not exempt you from having to tarp. Tarp pay is built into the load price. It takes 15 min. Purchase 2 10x12 walmart tarps and you'll be able to cover the front of the bundles on the ground.