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Old 12-20-2014, 05:10 PM   #41
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It just occurred to me that my avatar picture is a interesting example.
So, we have 10'x16' frontal area, very flat, and 4400 HP.
Comments?
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:14 PM   #42
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:23 PM   #43
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Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
It just occurred to me that my avatar picture is a interesting example.
So, we have 10'x16' frontal area, very flat, and 4400 HP.
Comments?
It would work pretty well - if we all wanted to go to the same place at the same time. And since it seems like almost all RV parks are next to tracks and a major highway, having to go where the rails do is probably not a limitation.

Imagine a train with several hundred Escapes, criss-crossing North America. AND we could travel inside our trailers, looking out the windows.
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:41 PM   #44
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There is a pattern of your responses that I am very uncomfortable with, and I notice other people are too.

Second request, as a Site Team person please try not to show your heavy bias. I think of the Site Team as a 'lubricant' making things go smoother and adding to healthy discussions.
Seriously, you think a moderator should not be allowed an opinion? I totally disagree. If they can't participate in the forum, other that to 'lubricate' things, it would be a very boring volunteer position. As a moderator on FGRV I state an opinion lots of times, always making sure it is in no way a personal attack on someone. If you had of made this post on FGRV, rest assured it would be deleted. If you have issues with anyone, and especially a site team member, respectfully use PMs to discuss.

OH man, I can't believe I am actually defending baglo.
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I hesitate to ever comment on heated threads. But TO ME, any blanket statements on frontal area would seem very hard to be accurate.
It seems to me that it is being used as an excuse to justify a big truck, instead of a mid sized SUV. Using an SUV is the reason many go with a lightweight trailer like the Escape, I know it was a factor for me.

I have towed into a few really strong headwinds with my Pilot, and have suffered no ill effect, other than finding it tough to keep up to the speed limit when it is 110 kph, and watching the fuel gauge slowly sink to 'E'.
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CTV site says: "Sorry, the video you have selected is not available for viewing outside of Canada." The humor must be to intellectual for us and only appropriate for

This post brought to you by The Smilies Thread.
ABOUT TIME!!!!

Retribution is ours, says the Canucklehead. Hundreds of times in the past I have clicked on links posted by American friends, and have been unable to view them, because to some that own the video rights, Canadians are viewed as pirating scum.
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:46 PM   #45
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Originally Posted by jamman View Post
It would work pretty well - if we all wanted to go to the same place at the same time. And since it seems like almost all RV parks are next to tracks and a major highway, having to go where the rails do is probably not a limitation.

Imagine a train with several hundred Escapes, criss-crossing North America. AND we could travel inside our trailers, looking out the windows.
As you may have figured by now, that Certainly works for me.
( now where are those railroad emoticons??)
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:53 PM   #46
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In the interest of 'lightening up' this thread, tell that to this guy:

I found a photo of a Corvette towing a (much smaller) trailer and sent it to a friend who owns a Corvette - he was not amused.

And since boats are so much easier to tow...
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:53 PM   #47
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Imagine a train with several hundred Escapes, criss-crossing North America. AND we could travel inside our trailers, looking out the windows.
This is exactly what the Escapees RV Club does. Loaded on to flatbed rail cars and off they go. Typically down into Mexico, once a year.
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:55 PM   #48
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One of the reasons that I appreciate the well rounded shape of the Escape is that I had a pretty graphic demonstration of the effect of a rounded shape vrs. the typical stickie flat wall.

A few years ago I wanted to tow my bike trailer to the land of sunshine with my Mazda B2300. I didn't want to put a camper on but I wanted a little more headroom and space than a canopy had. I took a junked F150 canopy, notched out the front and raised it. Took it on the highway for a try out. Even though I was expecting "to feel" it I was shocked. It was like hitting a brick wall just short of legal speed. It had no future.

I added a sloped front with rounded corners. Made several trips to CA without any problem. So, one more reason to appreciate an Escape.

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Old 12-20-2014, 06:08 PM   #49
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Loaded on to flatbed rail cars and off they go. Typically down into Mexico, once a year.
You can also go to Churchill Manitoba this way (typically to see polar bears) - with no road, it's the only practical way to get an RV there.
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Old 12-20-2014, 06:34 PM   #50
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Hi: All... Frontal area is another reason to like a 5.0TA.
Every morning I enjoy a cup of "Hi Test" Alf
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Old 12-20-2014, 06:51 PM   #51
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Hi: All... Frontal area is another reason to like a 5.0TA.
Alf escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
Yah, but it's not as rounded as that Corner Gas mug. Where'd you get that?

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Old 12-20-2014, 06:58 PM   #52
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If any of you have flown an airplane you will respect the fact that weight and drag are very important issues. You load an airplane based on its capabilities. The smaller the plane the lower the weight etc. Same with a trailer. You load it evenly and power the unit properly. The load which equals weight and drag come into play dramatically when you want performance. You want to do 100 then your load/drag will wear out your transmission as well as the motor. Driving within the confines of your tug will go miles to giving you acceptable performance and minimal repairs. Streamlining reduces drag thus reducing load. The escape is probably the most streamlined unit available.
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:03 PM   #53
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Hi, I want to make sure that I understand the frontal area issue. The frontal area for a 15 foot escape is 43.5 sqft based on the H X W X .8: 8.16 X 6.66 x.8 = 43.5. I assume the .8 is for ground clearance. I found this formula on the web.

The manual for the Nissan Frontier says that the maximum frontal area should be 30 sqft.

Thanks
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:04 PM   #54
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An employee former employee of mine grew up in Ralleigh Saskatchwan, where Corner Gas is filmed
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:21 PM   #55
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Originally Posted by Jfocallag View Post
Hi, I want to make sure that I understand the frontal area issue. The frontal area for a 15 foot escape is 43.5 sqft based on the H X W X .8: 8.16 X 6.66 x.8 = 43.5. I assume the .8 is for ground clearance. I found this formula on the web.

The manual for the Nissan Frontier says that the maximum frontal area should be 30 sqft.

Thanks
No allotment for the rounded corners.
Using your formula, maybe 7.16 x 5.66 x .8 = 32.4
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:21 PM   #56
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Originally Posted by Jfocallag View Post
Hi, I want to make sure that I understand the frontal area issue. The frontal area for a 15 foot escape is 43.5 sqft based on the H X W X .8: 8.16 X 6.66 x.8 = 43.5. I assume the .8 is for ground clearance. I found this formula on the web.

The manual for the Nissan Frontier says that the maximum frontal area should be 30 sqft.

Thanks
Now I am really confused. The 2013 Frontier manual says it is 60?? Typo in 2014 and 15?
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:36 PM   #57
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Now I am really confused. The 2013 Frontier manual says it is 60?? Typo in 2014 and 15?
Could this be the difference:

'The towing capacity is calculated using the SAE International SAE J2807 test method.' It is in the 2014 but not the 2013 manual.
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Old 12-20-2014, 11:36 PM   #58
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I haven't had any luck finding it on any of my streaming services in the States -iTunes, Netflix or Amazon - but maybe the Canadian versions have it?
And, this is what I get on this side of the border when I click on Comedy Central US
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Old 12-21-2014, 01:08 AM   #59
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Yah, but it's not as rounded as that Corner Gas mug. Where'd you get that?

Ron
Hi: Ron in BC... My son brought it back from the film set in Rouleau Sk. aka (Dog River). IMHO it's a national treasure!!! http://www.townofrouleau.com Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Old 12-21-2014, 01:33 AM   #60
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The escape is probably the most streamlined unit available.
While Escape bodies are more rounded on the front than typical "box" RVs, I don't see any objective reason to believe that they are more streamlined (have lower aerodynamic drag) than a typical trailer (many of which have moulded fiberglass nose cones), let alone most trailers. The rounded rear corners are bad for aero, the overall shape doesn't have favourable characteristics (such as tapering slightly toward the tail), and the bottom does not have a smooth flush cover. The good feature is the rounded front corners, like all of the Trillium derivatives and less rounded than all of the Boler derivatives.

Perhaps the most frequently cited "low drag" trailer has been Airstream, which has a more rounded front than an Escape (how rounded depends on the vintage) and a flush bottom... but unfortunately a rounded tail as well.

Objective data about travel trailer aero drag is notably lacking, possibly because it depends so much on the tow vehicle, and no one has enough incentive to test a wide range of combinations.
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