Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm....... no.

 

That's my logic. The sleeper is so far ahead of the load you are pushing air twice or more than twice depending on pieces of tall freight. Once with the truck and then with the freight.

You compare a low load of say... steel bars. A flat top Pete will push less air than a condo with the same load.

And when you have tarped loads you might not want to run the speed limit. The slower you run the less destruction to tarps even though you should tarp to prevent any flapping. If you run between 50 and 65 like me (avg 60) cab aerodynamics isn't as much of a factor as at 70-75 mph but still that 3'X8' extra clearance upstairs is a lot. A piece of plywood is 4'X8'. Hold up a piece of plywood on a windy day and see.

Nice looking trailer. Just paid off my not brand new anymore Fontaine Renegade flat.

 

Yes, but my tall aero truck doesn’t push much more or less air than a low long-hood with its flat nose, twin cans and side mounted pipes. Actually it probably pushes less, since they call it an “aero” truck for a reason, right? With either your hypothetical low-rise long-hood or my 387 high-rise, the amount of wind resistance generated on the freight is the same. If we were talking about a flatbed you might be able to get me on-board with your assertion (with certain loads); but with a stepdeck, the very design of the trailer would seem to render much of your argument moot. The only kind of load that your argument might be valid with is a full load of lumber or other similarly shaped items than is on the upper as well as lower deck. If the load is on the lower deck only, the fact that it is eleven feet behind the front of the trailer means that the wind current flowing onto the load would be nearly identical no matter what the configuration of the power unit in front. With the average stepdeck load (especially LTL) which is irregularly shaped equipment, machinery or vehicles, etc., I would think it doesn’t matter what the power unit looks like, fuel economy will suck.

I set my cruise between 61 and 63 mph… always. I do this not only to increase my fuel economy and decrease wear on tires and other components, but I’ve found it makes my day a lot less stressful not having to interact with most of the other traffic on the highway. I just stay in the right lane and listen to my ipod or satellite radio.


The plywood analogy is a poor one because when you say to try to hold it up in the wind, I am pretty sure you have in mind me trying to hold it up at a ninety degree angle to the wind and that is not what happens with wind currents flowing over an aerodynamic shape like that of my 387. Because the truck is designed from front to rear with rounded edges and gentle slopes, the difference in wind resistance between a 387 and a 379 or W900 is much less than the amount of wind resistance exerted on a 4x8 piece of plywood being held up perpendicular to a 70mph wind. A better experiment would be to get a friend to drive you in the bed of a pick-up truck down the highway at 70mph. First hold up a 2’x4’ piece of plywood (representing a 379 or W900) perpendicular to the ground. Once you get out of the hospital, repeat the same experiment, only this time holding up a 4’x4’ piece of plywood at a 30 degree angle to the ground (representing my 387). I think you might actually be able to stay in the bed of the truck and out of the hospital holding up the plywood that more closely resembles the design of the 387.


Now here’s something we can agree on for sure. Both the Fontaine and Reitnouer are nice looking pieces of equipment. While I am financing mine, I hope to be able to pay it off in the same eight month’s time we did the reefer trailer we just sold. NOTHING looks as good as a paid for piece of equipment on the road.

 

will you guys be selling tickets to this show?

 

Now THAT is a great idea. I'll be the guy behind the camera.

 

TMC uses some 387's and everyone knows they are top dog.

 

Well let me just ask, if you were looking for a tractor to pull an open platform trailer, would you be looking for a full double decker sleeper or a flat top/mid roof type? Remember that bit of extra fiberglass on the sleeper adds weight.

Side note: just checked my mail box and got my trailer title back from Navistar Financial!!! I have an extra $500/mo play money now.

 

I think we ought to start a pool betting how many loads Musicman hauls on his new trailer before a forklift driver dings it.

Musicman, don't turn your back to the forklift or he will ding your new trailer.

 

The weight issue I’ll concede. If I were spec’ing a truck to pull a step or flat, I’d not start out targeting a high-rise 387. However, I already own the 387 and I’m not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon, so I’ll have to make the best of the situation.


Well, I just refinanced my mortgage and THAT will put nearly $400 a month in my pocket, so there! Oh, oh, oh…. and I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

Not even funny. I used to refuse to allow anybody to load or unload my reefer trailer without my either being there on the dock or without the shipper or receiver signing something stating that the trailer was in pristine condition before they entered it. There were some shippers that I almost had to leave because they tried refusing to allow me on the dock. My brand new all aluminum step? They'd better not even look at it cross-ways or else....