How many draft truckers to save gas?
December 14, 2009 in NASCAR
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Judy B asked:
Mythbusters tested and proved at a 10 foot drafting distance, a car used 40% less gas. Just think of the millions of gallons of gas that can be saved if all Americans drafted every time they drove. Show your patriotism, draft anything that moves!
http://mythbustersresults.com/episode79
“Drafting behind a big rig will improve your car’s fuel efficiency.
confirmed
To test this myth, the build team procured a car, a big rig, and a device that could measure a car’s fuel efficiency. They then drove the car behind a moving big rig at various distances ranging from 100 to 2 feet and measured the amount of fuel the car consumed. The Build Team discovered that the closer the car was to the big rig, the less drag is produced, thus the more fuel saved. At just ten feet, the car managed to increase its fuel efficiency by 40%. Drafting at two feet was slightly lower than the ten foot distance, mainly because Grant had to keep working the car pedal to maintain distance from the truck. Howe
I can’t believe so many negative answers. Like Bill O’Reilly asks the anti-war libs, I also have to ask- “Why do you hate America? Do you want us to lose the war on terror?”
Here is a way we can save millions of gallons of gas. That’s American dollars NOT going to the terrorist-sponsoring oil countries. And it doesn’t cost a penny! All red-blooded Americans should be drafting every chance they get. the country you save might be your own!
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Does bumpdrafting count? Police call it “tailgating” and apparently it’s illegal, but I think it might work!
But seriously, I’ll try it. I need to save some gas anyway.
Interesting. Only around here- ya try to draft off a log truck (lots of those in Oregon)- the wake throws ya all over the road
I do, actually. But it depends on the general flow of traffic. If it is slow then I will, if not, I go with the flow.
Go Jr.>>>>
if you want to know what it really feels like to draft behind a truck do it on a motorcycle you can feel yourself being pulled up to the back of it
saw that segment on mythbusters!!, been doing it for years and it works even if you don’t get as close as they did (10 ft), you can still get a good draft at any distance under 100 ft and will save some gas and maintain your same speed.
That’s nothing new, we use to do that as kids, the biggest thing is: It is very dangerous and it has gotten people killed.
Along with that u will get ur self a citation for tailgating, among other things they can and will find to cite u for.
Yup thats why Nascar Drivers ussually stay right on the person next to them. lol Paul ya dont think the police would like it or the person ur bumping
Not me, I enjoy living. If you’re 10 feet, or even 3 or 4 lengths, behind a big rig at highway speed, you have NO forward vision and no chance of reacting if the truck suddenly slows. Those rows of license plates from different states are kind of interesting, but I don’t want to eat them for lunch.
Here’s the sentence you left off: “However, the Build Team has warned that drafting is incredibly dangerous because the truck driver may not able to see you and you may not be able to react in time if the truck were to make a sudden stop.”
My Dad was a truck driver all his life and I warn you people that try this, truck drivers do not take kindly to this practice.They can’t see you back there that close and you not only risk your life but his doing this. I have know truck drivers that have pummeled people at truck stops for doing stupid things like this. The highway is not a NA$CAR track .
Truck driver here. A word of advice to those that want to do this. I WILL put you in a ditch or into my trailer bumper. I can stop my rig faster than you can react. Keep back where you belong.
I would seriously advise against this. If you cant see the trucks side mirrors clearly your way too close. Truck drivers hate it when you do this and a lot will intentionally put you in a ditch. And anyone dumb enough to draft a big rig at 10 feet deserves to eat a bumper or be in a ditch. At 2 feet your not gonna live and Im not sure you deserve to after doing something that moronic.
I saw that episode. Never thought that after a certain point it was start going down again, but I assume if you were able to keep your distance and your foot steady on the pedal, you’d do even better.
I advise AGAINST drafting big rigs, however. It’s very dangerous. My driver education instructor from my sophomore year had actually done this before, and he ended up crashing into the back of the rig. Luckily, he was alright, and was around to tell us about it. He was a lucky one, but there have been other cases (one just a couple of days ago around my area), where they weren’t so lucky.
As the old saying goes, “Don’t try this at home!”
Or on the road, actually…
It works but I won’t do it for very long. 1 mile at the most. I also pull out a little to the left where I can see his mirror to let the guy know i’m there.
The first time was with my old Trans/Am I had with the t-tops off. As soon as I got up to the trailer all the wind went away like I was sitting still!! Pretty neat.
Since some of you can’t read, and leave the subject alone….here’s my earlier post……..
No, we may not be able to out stop you empty, but we definately CAN loaded. Why? More brakes, with more pressure on the tires pressing down on the pavement. What’s that mean? That means our brakes will not lock up when we’re loaded, and we will stop quicker than a car that locks it’s brakes up.
BTW, if you ever decide to do it to me, LMK and I’ll let you find out what aluminum tastes like. Then, you can buy me another brand new $60,000 Hopper bottom trailer, and pay the $60-70,000 damage to the truck from the trailer getting slammed into the back of the cab.
Oh…one other thing….you do know that the trailer lights are operated through a TEMPORARY connection, that has been known to fall out of the socket from time to time? What do you do when the truck in front of you sees something down the road, and slams on the brakes, after the plug has fallen out of the socket? That’s right, you find out what aluminum and plastic tastes like.
In short, DON’T DO IT. IT’S NOT WORTH YOUR LIFE, and it’s not worth my time stopping to fill out the paperwork on why some ___________ decided to try drafting.
Depends on if it is one of our haulers or not. I know the drivers and they know me so they wont slam on the brakes.
Not only is tailgating illegal, but tailgating a truck takes too much concentration and makes for a poor view. If someone is that desperate for gas mileage, ride a motorcycle or take public transportation.