Date:         Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:14:57 -0700
Reply-To:     dylan friedman <insyncro@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         dylan friedman <insyncro@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Drafting for better MPG
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

2 van lengths isn't really drafting in my opinion.
2 Nasacr inches from the rear bumper of the tractor trailer is drafting.
Be careful!
To truely get any benefit from drafting you will be so close the the trailer that the driver WILL NOT be able to see you and you will be blind to what is happening in front of that truck.
If  they were to emergency stop, your van will end up in that trailer.
Safety first please.


----- Original Message ----
From: Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 4:16:17 PM
Subject: Re: Drafting for better MPG

Here's some food for thought about drafting trucks - - under the
category of "Things laying in the road that I have been forced to
straddle while driving a semi":

1. Concrete blocks
2. Big rocks
3. Assorted pieces of lumber, some with nails
4. Ladders
5. Mattresses
6. Dead animals
8. Unidentified pieces of scrap metal
9. Etc., etc.

And under the category of things that fall off of trucks:

1. Lug nuts
2. Huge chunks of rubber from tires that suddenly blow
3. Big steel rings from "split rim" style tires
4. Broken leaf springs
5. Chains
6. Etc., etc.

Of course, none of these items would be of concern in an ideal world, but YMMV.

Gary



>> >
>> > I drafted a bit on a recent trip and wondered what the
>> > 'sweet' distance is.
>> > I was about 2 van lengths behind the semis.  Any idea?
>> >