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#194363 - 01/27/10 04:09 AM Re: Building a teardrop trailer [Re: Dagny]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
The reverse teardrop looks good. Where is the mount for the bicycle(s)?
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#194377 - 01/27/10 11:31 AM Re: Building a teardrop trailer [Re: Dagny]
Eugene Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/26/02
Posts: 2995
Thats kind of what I was going to do, since I wanted to go a little taller it would be taller than the vehicle towing it so I wanted the slope in the front, then more flat in the back like that one. Kind of combining a full height travel trailer with a teardrop to make something in between. That plan had to change now that I have a family of 4, can't fit all of us in a teardrop.

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#194510 - 01/29/10 03:31 AM Re: Building a teardrop trailer [Re: Susan]
Eric Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 09/09/06
Posts: 323
Loc: Iowa
Sue,

It is a bit counter intuitive but aerodynamically it is best to have the big part at the front for relatively low velocity airflow. A perfect, smooth teardrop or raindrop shape (blunt front, tapering to the rear) is very low drag with a drag coefficient of about 0.04. Reversing the shape would drive the drag coefficient to probably double it (depending on the specific shape).

For comparison, Formula 1 racers (small front, large rear) have drag coefficients around 0.7 or higher. A Toyota Prius with a blunt front and tapered rear (sort of) has a drag coefficient of 0.26. The Prius depends on an aerodynamic "tricK" to create a static pressure area behind the car so it appears longer/more tapered to the air flowing by.

-Eric
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You are never beaten until you admit it. - - General George S. Patton


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#194567 - 01/29/10 06:28 PM Re: Building a teardrop trailer [Re: Eric]
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
Okay, Eric, thanks for explaining!

I wonder what the drag is on those large motorhomes built like boxes? You would think someone would have redesigned them by now.

Sue

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#194577 - 01/29/10 09:25 PM Re: Building a teardrop trailer [Re: Susan]
Eric Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 09/09/06
Posts: 323
Loc: Iowa
Most RV's have surprisingly decent drag coefficients, typically between 0.32 and 0.45. This is because they are relatively long compared to their frontal area, which reduces a lot of the "form" drag. RV's do have a large frontal area compared to a car which means they experience a lot more drag than something with a smaller frontal area and a similar drag coefficient. They also experience more "friction" drag since they usually have much more surface area.

Several companies keep looking at updates with lower drag coefficients and/or smaller frontal areas, but you have to have something that meets the safety regulations and appeals to buyers which does put some pretty interesting limits on the options.

- Eric
_________________________
You are never beaten until you admit it. - - General George S. Patton


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