Trailer side skirts.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I read somewhere on this forum that the new big rig trailer side skirts could wreak havoc on our trailers. Since then I have traveled quite a few miles with my trailer in tow. I have seen these on some of the trucks, but not that many so far. Anyway, I have passed them in the same direction and in the opposite direction and they have passed me, but I didn't feel a thing, either way. What do you think about these and has one of these effected your handling or stability?

[slowmover]

The rig still displaces the same amount of air, but with a reduction in drag. If anything a tractor-trailer drag reduction benefits other vehicles in adjoining or oncoming lanes.

The side skirts are only a partial solution compared to enclosing the gap between tractor & trailer, the next real benefit will come with retrofit "kammback" devices at the trailer doors.



Trailers designed from scratch for best aero performance, as with this rendering of a UK Don-Bur design:



When air is kept from crossing underneath the trailer, or between tractor & trailer, there is a reduction in drag that is in all ways good.

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[Wayne&Sam]

I saw and was passed by a lot of them this summer. I didn't notice any difference between them and trucks without.

[Pahaska]

I was on the road with a lot of skirt-equipped semis this summer and I could feel absolutely no difference between trucks with the skirts and without. Classic 28 with a Reese HD dual-cam hitch.

Other than a slight movement of the wheel to account for the bow-wave, I notice almost no effect from passing trucks.

[withidl]

3000+ miles this summer; passed many trucks and could not tell any difference between those with and those without.