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03-03-2012, 01:43 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Posts: 48
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Drafting and other "Stuff"
DISCLAIMER.......THIS IS ILLEGAL (AND PROBABLY FATTENING) IN MOST STATES......UNLESS YOU HAVE FAST REFLEXES AND ARE VERY AWAKE I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.....IN FACT, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT AT ALL.....EVER.
That said.....
Growing up in the old country (70's) I drove one of these:
27 horsepower...... So, my commute was about 45 minutes every morning. The routine was to set an alarm early, and listen to the weather man to get wind direction and velocity..... You see, a headwind would make the commute an easy 60 minutes, as the top speed would decrease from a blistering 65-70 to 50.... or worse.
What we learnt to do in bad headwinds was to snuggle up behind a big truck and to just stick with them like a remora. Often the truck drivers would know you were there and would drive accordingly, leaving you room to stay put.
So...... last night we had another 54 miles to go to the next Flying J, and according to the fuel range we had about 50 miles left in the tank.....
That's too close. So, as it was the middle of the night and the road was about empty I tucked in behind an 18 doing 64-65 and stayed there. How close is close? Well, 20-30 feet..... Cranked the trailer brakes up to 7 and figured that he wouldn't be able to stop any faster than I was. And, I sat up and had both hands on the wheel and one foot a half inch above the brakes.
So I reset the MPG and went from 10-11 to.......16!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, we made the Flying J with room to spare.
So, if you're ever in a pinch.....it DOES work.
OK, bring on the lynch mob.....
__________________
2008 Cougar 29BHS Ultralight.
2009 Chevy 2500HD with Duramax and 6 speed Allison.
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03-03-2012, 03:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Posts: 129
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No lynch mob here. I've done it on my motorcycle and gained about 7-8 mpg and tuck in close in my tractor trailer to another to help just like you did. Never done it in my 5er with the TV but always figured it would work. I like the Citreon if I'm correct correct??
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Joe & Terri
2005 Raptor 3612DS ToyHauler "the Pearl"
2001 Ford F550 4X4 (or is that 4X6!!) 7.3L Crew Cab - "Jack Sparrow"
2010 Victory CrossCountry
2012 Bushtec Spartan trailer (behind Victory)
2006 Suzuki DR650
Trek EX8 Mountain Bike
Trek 7100 Hybrid
48" Penny Farthing Bike
Haro Sonix International Mountain Bike
Haro Sanford Road Bike with a B.O.B Trailer
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03-03-2012, 04:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Lindale, TX
Posts: 137
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Drafting does work. I've gotten close enough to an 18 to notice the difference by just being able to ease off the accelerator. Drafting even works on bicycles. I draft off my wife although she doesn't like me riding that close to her. Can you say "peloton"? Even geese know it works by flying in a V formation.
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Walter & Kathi
2011 Keystone Bullet 246RBS
2000 Chevrolet Silverado
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03-03-2012, 08:36 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
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Oscar, Howdy;
I remember the Citreon Diane (?), we (other Service members myself included), used to refer to it as the uglest car in the world... Sorry,
we grew up in the world of Mustangs, stingrays, GTO's etc.
When I was Stationed in Naples (69-72), one of my friends had one.
Shift lever came out of the dash and did a twisty-turney routine to get through the gears... bouncing on the surgical tubing seat suspension.
My memory isn't that good ...those cars are just unforgetable...
hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...
Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
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03-03-2012, 10:27 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 63
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What you are doing is not drafting. The big rig is breaking the wind for you, so you are seeing some benefit. To truly draft, you have to be much closer so that you are basically being sucked along in his vacuum. Race cars do this all the time, but it takes being within inches of the other vehicles.
Anyways, doing either is foolish and dangerous, and not worth the pennies you are saving in gas.
__________________
2013 Palomino Columbus 320
2011 Silverado 2500 HD 4X4 LTZ, Duramax Diesel/Allison, 3.73
2013 Vantage 19UL / 2012 Suburban LT 4X2 5.3L
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03-04-2012, 11:43 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Posts: 48
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Citroen indeed......2CV4 to be exact.
No, we're not getting within inches and yes, there is a risk associated with it, so we're not doing it regularly either. Like I said, I needed to stretch the last gallons a few more miles and the road was about empty......
__________________
2008 Cougar 29BHS Ultralight.
2009 Chevy 2500HD with Duramax and 6 speed Allison.
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03-04-2012, 12:55 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscar
Citroen indeed......2CV4 to be exact.
I needed to stretch the last gallons a few more miles and the road was about empty......
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"That's my story officer and I'm sticking to it."
That's why I carry about 4 gal. of fuel in a 5 gal. can..... jussssst in case. Haven't needed it so far but it makes the co-pilot feel better. She would have me stopping every half hour to top off if it were up to her.
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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03-04-2012, 01:45 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego Il
Posts: 820
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There is an article in one of the diesel magazines that I read called: Are you a hitch hater? A gentleman in Texas was complaining about pick-up trucks with hitches installed in the receiver on the pick-up truck. He could not see a reason for the hitch to be installed when trucks were not towing. I do!
It seems he impaled his ford escort on the hitch when the truck stop and he did not. I think he was not paying attention or tail gating. Needless to say he almost totaled the ford out and the hitch was damage but that was all that was damaged on the truck.
So the moral of the story is: Do not trail gate if you love your car especially a diesel truck equipped with an exhaust brake.
Jim W.
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Jim & Jill
2010 318SAB Cougar
2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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03-04-2012, 03:18 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Lindale, TX
Posts: 137
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152 MPH on a bicycle...........by drafting.
__________________
Walter & Kathi
2011 Keystone Bullet 246RBS
2000 Chevrolet Silverado
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03-04-2012, 03:25 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage
That's why I carry about 4 gal. of fuel in a 5 gal. can
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Amateur. I carry 5 gallons of fuel in a 4 gallon can.
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-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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03-04-2012, 03:31 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdayman
Amateur. I carry 5 gallons of fuel in a 4 gallon can.
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5 out of 3 people are dyslexic.
__________________
2008 Cougar 29BHS Ultralight.
2009 Chevy 2500HD with Duramax and 6 speed Allison.
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03-04-2012, 04:14 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdayman
Amateur. I carry 5 gallons of fuel in a 4 gallon can.
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Being an old fart I find it easier to pour and lift. Maybe next year I'll only put in 3 gal. If I could I would use your method and just put 40 gal. in my trucks 35 gal. tank.
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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03-05-2012, 06:20 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscar
5 out of 3 people are dyslexic.
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And 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions...
__________________
Myself, the wife, 3 boys a dog and cat
2011 Laredo 303TG
2015 Chevy 2500 Crew 6l V8 4x4
Previous Trailers
2011 Jayco 17z
Previous Tows
2007 Toyota Sienna
2008 Toyota Tundra DC 5.7L V8 4x4
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03-05-2012, 07:56 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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Sorry, Hank. I didn’t know that lifting it was the issue. It may help if you use a 10 gallon can and fill it half way. It’ll be more empty than your current method.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage
Being an old fart I find it easier to pour and lift. Maybe next year I'll only put in 3 gal. If I could I would use your method and just put 40 gal. in my trucks 35 gal. tank.
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__________________
-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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03-05-2012, 09:30 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdayman
Sorry, Hank. I didn’t know that lifting it was the issue. It may help if you use a 10 gallon can and fill it half way. It’ll be more empty than your current method.
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__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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03-05-2012, 03:04 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DTJ9610
And 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions...
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'scuze me, but that's just improper!
__________________
2010 Laredo 245RL
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD 4x4
Andersen Ultimate Gooseneck mount
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03-05-2012, 03:05 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DTJ9610
And 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions...
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There's also 10 kinds of people in the world - those that understand binary and those that don't ...
__________________
2010 Laredo 245RL
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD 4x4
Andersen Ultimate Gooseneck mount
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03-05-2012, 07:25 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
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gkainz, Howdy;
Quote:
Originally Posted by gkainz
There's also 10 kinds of people in the world - those that understand binary and those that don't ...
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Always thought that was 01 kinds of folks... must be one of those chicken & egg kinda things... ro mayeb it's thta dyslexya thingyy thinyg..
eyaknah
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...
Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
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03-05-2012, 07:39 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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I think it is much more than dyslexia or being mathematically challenged. Rather than being a medical or educational issue, I think it has now become a psychological and physical one. Looks like an outbreak of cabin fever has started amongst certain forum members.
Binary numbers? Improper fractions? Whatever happened to "drafting"??
Really, we do need a vacation!
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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03-05-2012, 07:52 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
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Festus2, Howdy;
Quote:
Originally Posted by Festus2
I think it is much more than dyslexia or being mathematically challenged. Rather than being a medical or educational issue, I think it has now become a psychological and physical one. Looks like an outbreak of cabin fever has started amongst certain forum members.
Binary numbers? Improper fractions? Whatever happened to "drafting"??
Really, we do need a vacation!
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I thought drafting was for engineers ????
whooo-whooo chuga-chuga
hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...
Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
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