Thanks for answering.
2006-11-19 17:08:05 · 5 answers · asked by Ilooklikemyavatar..exactly 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Not worth the trouble, and it increases the length of the vehicle.
In general, a large truck / tractor's front is already un-aerodynamic enough that the rear really does not matter :)
But the real reason is the length. The highways have strict restrictions on length, and any addition would make the vehicle LESS manueverable.
Finally... any sort of addition would only add to loading and unloading time (the docks want to just drop and you go) and doesn't really add that much fuel efficiency.
2006-11-19 17:14:09 · answer #1 · answered by Kasey C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just guessing, but I'd say the current design allows the largest door opening for ease of loading. To change the rear to a rounded design would require a large bubble-like section that would have to open up somehow to create a large square opening like they currently have. This would create all kinds of problems in how to open it, as well as where it would be after it was opened (would it raise up, would it swing out, etc), which would make for all kinds of problems at the loading docks. I've seen places where there is just one dock after another, side by side, and there would be no room for such a bubbled section to open. It is also a possibility that the added costs, inconvenience, bulk and weight of this different design would out weigh the aerodynamic benefits.
2006-11-20 01:17:24 · answer #2 · answered by crx81 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rounding out the end would require and industry wide change that is sufficiently far reaching that the economic benefits from improved fuel savings are simply to high.
If you change the shape of the big rigs, you have to change the shape of the containers as well or lose space. This would impact shipping globally, as well as the rail industry, and small trucks as well.
The global impact is so large, with the current standardized containers system, that its simply impractical.
Which I find unfortunate as the long term implications of streamlining probably outweigh the short term losses.
-dh
2006-11-20 01:21:01 · answer #3 · answered by delicateharmony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becausw the sqaureness of the rig has less drag towing a trailer down the road if it were rounded it would not only drop wind efficiency but drop gas milage and most rigs only get 6-7 mpg as it is
2006-11-20 01:16:25 · answer #4 · answered by marfanman00000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they do round out the back of closed auto haulers but this is because they open the rear upward,a regular truck needs to back up to and into buildings for loading or unloading,and its much cheaper to have a flat back end
2006-11-20 01:31:11 · answer #5 · answered by doug b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋