Drafting

[Dr. Jerryrigger]

joebob, I've heard that to, but I don't think it's real... with out some down hill

Drafting works, it helps the mileage of both vehicles, but it's a stupid thing to do unless there is a lot of open road, few cars, and most importantly a CB. You are putting a lot of trust in the truck driver. If there is no communication it's just dumb

[theholycow]

If you need a CB and lots of trust, you're way too close. Drafting for fuel economy is NOT like drafting for racing.

When you get too close to a big truck in a little car, there's lots of turbulence pushing the car sideways to and fro. There's also the difficulty of keeping such a short following distance; it requires lots of small bits of braking and accelerating.

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by theholycow

If you need a CB and lots of trust, you're way too close. Drafting for fuel economy is NOT like drafting for racing.

When you get too close to a big truck in a little car, there's lots of turbulence pushing the car sideways to and fro. There's also the difficulty of keeping such a short following distance; it requires lots of small bits of braking and accelerating.

i dunno when i did it i just matched the trucks cruise control so maybe once every 10 miles i would have to back off a tad (just tap the coast button on the CC then when i needed to speed back up just tap the resume button)

[Jay2TheRescue]

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[IndyFetch]

I have had a lot of success drafting. My mileage usually increases by 10%-20% when drafting. The biggest problem for me is finding a vehicle to draft off of that is going the same speed I want to go.

[theholycow]

I caught a drafter's dream yesterday. It was one of these:


My trip average plummeted while I drafted because I couldn't P&G. So, for my VW, P&G > drafting. I bet it would have helped a lot in my GMC.

[thecheese429]

Originally Posted by JoeBob

My father used to tell me about people he knew who could drive up behind a truck and then turn off the engine and just be pulled along by the vacuum behind the truck...

Hmm... I wonder how well that would work with my brick of a vehicle. I wonder, further, if that would work better with the bed cover on or off.

[shatto]

Originally Posted by thecheese429

Hmm... I wonder how well that would work with my brick of a vehicle. I wonder, further, if that would work better with the bed cover on or off.

Bed covers improve MPG........so does leaving the tailgate closed if you don't have a lid.

[thecheese429]

Originally Posted by shatto

Bed covers improve MPG........so does leaving the tailgate closed if you don't have a lid.

I meant if the "vacuum bubble" would pull me along better with or without the lid. As in, I'm young and stupid enough that I might try it once (or....).