Feel the draft....FEEL the DRAFT!

[R.I.D.E.]

Probably half the big rigs here are carrying containers. Yesterday I watched one pull over behind another one with 40 feet between them at 70 MPH. The 6 cars behind them were less than two car lengths apart.

I have had a big rig pull over in front of me in the right lane less than 40 feet in front of me. Traffic around here is that bad.

If they don't like me following them 120 feet back, I don't need to post my feelings about that on this forum. That distance gives me a chance to avoid a chunk of big rig tire or other road debris, and believe me, at least around here it is LESS stressful.

In one case I actually had to DFOC down a hill on I95 to keep from being sucked into the rear of the trailer for at least .3 mile.

I think if you do it right you can average 65MPH with the same fuel consumption, as you would at 50 MPH without drafting. Depending on your distance it could be the same as 45MPH.

A bicyclist's speed can be doubled by drafting.

regards
gary

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

About the only times I can remember being "rocked" by a truck is when having to pull out close behind a flat bed or low loader to get on the highway (They have all sorts of crap blowing off the bed, stay back) or when I've been in a different lane to the truck, coming past it... oh and once or twice from trucks travelling in the opposite direction.

[red91sit]

You really notice the buffeting on a motorcycle haha, it's like getting whacked on the side of the helmet with small pillows.

[GasSavers_BluEyes]

Speaking of drafting, I have noticed a good draft effect simply by driving in thick but freely moving traffic. With a large block of cars/SUV's all 1-2 car lengths apart and 2-4 lanes wide all going similar speeds my dashboard FE display definately shows higher figures than I would expect if I were going the same speed on my own. Better yet, it doesn't kill visibility like being behind a truck.

With regards to "surfing" it is definately dangerous. I recently drove a 24' moving truck nearly across the country. The cab is getting close to semi-truck size even though it was "only" a 13 ton truck. I did have a major blind spot right next to the cab on both sides, especially to the passengers side. The wide angle mirrors and looking down took care of most of my visibility on the drivers side, but several cars could easily have hidden beside me on the other side without me having any way to see them. Drivers who hung next to the truck were also the most stress-inducing. People behind me I didn't give a hoot about because I knew my bumper would eat them for breakfast without me even feeling it (actually they would have hit the car I was towing, but I still would never have noticed)

[COMP]

Originally Posted by BluEyes

Speaking of drafting, I have noticed a good draft effect simply by driving in thick but freely moving traffic. With a large block of cars/SUV's all 1-2 car lengths apart and 2-4 lanes wide all going similar speeds my dashboard FE display definately shows higher figures than I would expect if I were going the same speed on my own. Better yet, it doesn't kill visibility like being behind a truck.

With regards to "surfing" it is definately dangerous. I recently drove a 24' moving truck nearly across the country. The cab is getting close to semi-truck size even though it was "only" a 13 ton truck. I did have a major blind spot right next to the cab on both sides, especially to the passengers side. The wide angle mirrors and looking down took care of most of my visibility on the drivers side, but several cars could easily have hidden beside me on the other side without me having any way to see them. Drivers who hung next to the truck were also the most stress-inducing. People behind me I didn't give a hoot about because I knew my bumper would eat them for breakfast without me even feeling it (actually they would have hit the car I was towing, but I still would never have noticed)

it is strange that the blind spots are a draft area but it is

[8307c4]

I would say you were tailgating.

[sonyhome]

If you look at your SG, as you pass cars on the highway, it seems like the MPGs go up and down and back up. So even on the side of cars there seems to be draft spots, and bad wake spots.

I seem to draft best with the CR-V behind a Mazda3. The worst depends, can be boxy pickups/SUVs or some beaters.

With flowing traffic I seem to get 2~4MPGs better.
Head wind knocks 2~4MPGs.
I seem to average 25MPG with the CR-V on highway at 75MPH with cars around.

I rarely stay behind a truck. Too slow.

[1cheap1]

I always look for trucks to follow. For me the best ones are the grocery chain trucks because they only go 55. I leave with plenty of time to get to my destination so the slower the better. I just EOC behind the truck.

[Saab named Jag]

I know on my motorcycle I can feel a HUGE difference when I'm behind a truck. Not only that but my throttle position fo say 60mph without a truck is about 50-75%. Behind a truck it is about 10-25% for the same speed. Thats crazy awsome!