If I tied the curtains back (on a curtain sider not in the [zb] cab)
Would this reduce wind resistance and thus give more miles per gallon?
Even though there was no wind?
I wonder if you are serious sometimes.
The answer is no. All the time the curtains are closed they are deflecting air. By tying them back you are creating a second bulkhead at the back of the trailer which causes extra drag which will actually increase your fuel consumption.
Mythbusters tried something similar with a pick up truck with the tailgate closed vs. the tailgate open. Having it closed actually used less fuel than having it open.
Boss & Driver:
If I tied the curtains back (on a curtain sider not in the friging cab)
Would this reduce wind resistance and thus give more miles per gallon?
Even though there was no wind?
Why not give it a go I’m sure your employer will welcome you’re ingenuity you need to tie the doors open as well to let the wind through, you’re a regular genius you are whose talent is obviously wasted as a driver.
Boss & Driver:
If I tied the curtains back (on a curtain sider not in the [zb] cab)
Would this reduce wind resistance and thus give more miles per gallon?
Even though there was no wind?
You don’t have the mental capacity to undo the curtain buckles, never mind undoing the ratchets, and then strapping back the curtains.
Do you sit at the front or the back of the Sunshine Bus?
Saw a curtain sider drive past me with curtains tied back, doors not pinned to side, and the whole trailer had gone from being a rectangle to a rhombus. The roof had moved back and the rear doors were at an obscene angle. You’d have to check if trailer is designed to be driven curtain less. Even with doors pinned, If not most likely you’ll blow the ■■■■ roof off and the force of the air on headboard could blow the thing into an angle. It just creates loads of drag anyway. Only time I ever saw it attempted was high crosswinds. Keep them done up.
Freight Dog I may be mistaken but from your description I’d say that the vehicle had struck a bridge and was being taken for repair/scrap. Once they get forced into a rhombus shape there aint no way on earth you’re gonna shut them curtains.
There was no headboard damage but like you say could well be a bridge strike.
Fibreglass roofs can also become somewhat detached when driving with open curtains.
Boss & Driver:
If I tied the curtains back (on a curtain sider not in the [zb] cab)
Would this reduce wind resistance and thus give more miles per gallon?
Even though there was no wind?
The answer to that is no. Even though there may be no “wind”, you will generate an airflow (wind) by driving at speed. Instead of the wind travelling easily along your curtains if you tie them back it will flow and come to an abrubt halt at the back doors, creating turbulence and thus resistance. This resistance will increase the power your engine needs to use to overcome it, thus creating a need for more fuel from the engine, resulting in a higher MPG. You can test this theory out by making a paper plane and throwing it, see how far it gets. Then throw the same plane backwards and see how far you get compared to the first throw ? The sit and figure out why ? You can do this even when there is no wind.
Yes I can now see the point now
The wind flow instead of running down the side of the curtains and off the trailer; it runs inside the trailer pushing against the barn door and slowing it down
If you could tie the barn doors open then what
Dose a flat bed run at better mpg then a curtain?
Boss & Driver:
Yes I can now see the point now
The wind flow instead of running down the side of the curtains and off the trailer; it runs inside the trailer pushing against the barn door and slowing it down
If you could tie the barn doors open then what
Dose a flat bed run at better mpg then a curtain?
I’d say so yes, a flat bed would have better MPG than a curtain, but if you tied the doors back you still have an issue with wind coming up against the roof so i’d say that ones a no no. Actually i think a roof can come adrift (if there are high winds about) . I think some companies say…no tied curtains for this reason.
Yeah, flats create less parasite drag and therefore burn less to tow. Even with doors pinned on a curtain, the headboard creates a disturbed flow of air behind it. Air hits it, goes round the side then is drawn behind the back of the headboard and eddies around. With curtains closed you have a better air flow before separation at the rear.
What’s a rhombus ? any relation to Romulus and Remus …
An empty flat would have better mpg but loaded is a different story. Some loads are bad for mpg
Depends what shape it is and how well sheeted
Doing any more food vids btw? Think I’ve mentioned before but that cab curry was nice. Made it for the misses and she loved it
Boss and driver , excellent idea about the curtains,why don’t you switch engine off and coast down hills to and obtain more mpg. Not impressed with this subject not as good as your usual blogs
raymundo:
What’s a rhombus ? any relation to Romulus and Remus …
I think they were an arch enemy of Captain Jean Luc Pacard of the star ship enterprise■■? 
pull the mirrors in …doh…
Mike-C:
Boss & Driver:
Yes I can now see the point now
The wind flow instead of running down the side of the curtains and off the trailer; it runs inside the trailer pushing against the barn door and slowing it down
If you could tie the barn doors open then what
Dose a flat bed run at better mpg then a curtain?I’d say so yes, a flat bed would have better MPG than a curtain, but if you tied the doors back you still have an issue with wind coming up against the roof so i’d say that ones a no no. Actually i think a roof can come adrift (if there are high winds about) . I think some companies say…no tied curtains for this reason.
Unlike the wind pushing against the doors pushing the truck backwards
The wind would push the roof up the truck upwards
Giving it that helium bloon effect hence making the truck lighters but would make the truck drift more and loose traction and all over the road in rain