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How effective is the teardrop shape on gas mileage?

ZeeeyZeeey Member Posts: 4
in Trailer & Towing
Does anyone have a link to a video or an article discussing the effectiveness of the aerodynamics of the teardrop shape? Curious as to how much it effects the TW vs a brick trailer of the same weight class
2017 Chevy Colorado - Charlene
2018 T@b 400 - M@x (Flight of the Navigator)
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,961
    Welcome to the Forums.....here are a couple of threads that discuss the shape, the wind drag and stuff like frontal area. 
    This thread even has some "wind tunnel simulation graphics" of the Tab shape.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • GeoGeo Member Posts: 160
    A fellow T@Bber stated to me that he got better MPG with their DM T@Dda than with their DM T@B 320CS with the same TV. Perhaps the rounded tail is preferable to the sloped tail, same frontal area profile ? ? ?
    Geo & Liz
    T@BMahal
    '04  #100
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  • N7SHG_HamN7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    Can't answer the specific question, but I feel like towing a 400 that it isn't very aerodynamic. Pulls "hard" for size behind full size pickup, especially with a headwind. I notice a swirling vortex of dust in the mirrors behind the trailer too if on forest roads. My guess is despite being rounded it was NOT designed with aerodynamics in mind.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
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  • VictoriaPVictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    Very aerodynamic...in reverse. LOL I rode out a windstorm last spring with my tail facing into the wind. Stabilizers down, went through 70mph gusts and slept through the whole thing even though I’m a VERY light sleeper.

    Honestly the front of the teardrop is nearly as blocky as any boxy trailer. MPG reported by most owners for most vehicles sees about the same drop as it would with any run of the mill RV of comparable size, at least from what I’ve seen.
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
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  • TampakayakerTampakayaker Member Posts: 554
    VictoriaP said:
    Very aerodynamic...in reverse. LOL I rode out a windstorm last spring with my tail facing into the wind. Stabilizers down, went through 70mph gusts and slept through the whole thing even though I’m a VERY light sleeper.

    Honestly the front of the teardrop is nearly as blocky as any boxy trailer. MPG reported by most owners for most vehicles sees about the same drop as it would with any run of the mill RV of comparable size, at least from what I’ve seen.
    Looking at them, you would think the hitch would be on the back, then at least you have a wedge shape going into the airstream.
    2006 RAM 1500 4 door, 2016 T@B 320 MAX S 
    Tampa FL
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  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    But teardrops from our eyes are shaped with the leading edge being the “ball” end of the shape.  

    As the teardrops have evolved into larger and taller campers, the gas mileage of the tow vehicles keeps going down.
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • TabberJohnTabberJohn Member Posts: 588
    Tampakayaker said:
    VictoriaP said:
    Very aerodynamic...in reverse. LOL I rode out a windstorm last spring with my tail facing into the wind. Stabilizers down, went through 70mph gusts and slept through the whole thing even though I’m a VERY light sleeper.

    Honestly the front of the teardrop is nearly as blocky as any boxy trailer. MPG reported by most owners for most vehicles sees about the same drop as it would with any run of the mill RV of comparable size, at least from what I’ve seen.
    Looking at them, you would think the hitch would be on the back, then at least you have a wedge shape going into the airstream.
    Hmm... The axle looks about centered on a 320 Max S. 
    nuCamp should make one with the floorplan reversed and test it with same TV over same conditions especially highway miles at 50-65 mph.
    If mpg results are significantly different I would have no problem trading in my gas guzzler for the "nu" look. :o
    2015 T@B Max S (White/Silver) -> 2014 Ford Escape 2.0L (turbo, AWD, factory tow)
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  • VictoriaPVictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    Verna said:
    But teardrops from our eyes are shaped with the leading edge being the “ball” end of the shape.  

    As the teardrops have evolved into larger and taller campers, the gas mileage of the tow vehicles keeps going down.
    Yep. I think if MPG is a primary concern, there are a few options. Don’t get the Boondock, that saves a few inches of height. Get a diesel tow vehicle. Or skip the Tab and go with a popup, either canvas sided or hard sided (A frame, TrailManor, etc.). Those get way better mileage than a Tab at a cost of increased setup time.

    Didn’t Little Guy produce a reverse teardrop at one point? (Not a stand up model though.)
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
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  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Yes, Pleasant Valley Teardrop Trailers (previous name for nüCampRV) manufactured an RT (Reverse Teardrop), marketed by Little Guy. 

    @Ratkity had her RT for some time. The lack of a galley was one reason many did not choose it. 

    There were never enough of them to get a consensus as to whether their tow vehicles did get better gas mileage. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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  • ZeeeyZeeey Member Posts: 4
    Thank you all for the information friends!
    2017 Chevy Colorado - Charlene
    2018 T@b 400 - M@x (Flight of the Navigator)
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,961
    There are a couple of Reverse Teardrops available on RV Trader.....

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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