[Wheel Interested]

I came across this post when I googled hail damage on Airstreams and I got such a big laugh out of it that I wanted to repost it here. Originally posted by Charlie Burke.

"Several years ago, after the 1993 Bismarck International rally the following
theory was presented in the Blue Beret. It went to the effect that:
Hail damage is not a bad thing. It may actually enhance the performance of your
tow rig/trailer. If you will recall golf balls have dimples on them. The reasons
given are increased speed, stability and accuracy. Applying these theories, an
Airstream with hail damage or dimples will exhibit greater stability in towing
and reduced wind resistance and therefore increased fuel mileage.
That's what they said!"

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I would rather not have the advantages of a dimpled Airstream, but it would be interesting to see a test done on one [three] using an un-damaged trailer, a hail damaged trailer, and one that had the dimples evenly placed by a machine when shaping the end caps.

[Cortés]

Originally Posted by Wheel Interested

I came across this post when I googled hail damage on Airstreams and I got such a big laugh out of it that I wanted to repost it here. Originally posted by Charlie Burke.

"Several years ago, after the 1993 Bismarck International rally the following
theory was presented in the Blue Beret. It went to the effect that:
Hail damage is not a bad thing. It may actually enhance the performance of your
tow rig/trailer. If you will recall golf balls have dimples on them. The reasons
given are increased speed, stability and accuracy. Applying these theories, an
Airstream with hail damage or dimples will exhibit greater stability in towing
and reduced wind resistance and therefore increased fuel mileage.
That's what they said!"

Not sure how it would look, but it does work:

The Science of Dimples

[cburke]

Mythbuster show recently ran an episode where they were testing the myth that a dirty car got better fuel mileage than a clean one. NOT. So they took it one step further, loaded it up with several hundred pounds of clay, dimpled it and tested it. Got a solid 10% or 3 mpg improvement in fuel mileage. It does work. Not too practical, but it works.

[SierraBreeze]

Here is a picture of hail damage on an Airstream. It does sort of look like a golf ball. I don't think this helped their gas mileage though I believe this happened at the Bismark rally.

[Silvertwinkie]

Yea, dimples may make it more efficient, but unless I was hard pressed, I'd pass.

I have actually seen Airstreams hit by golf ball sized hail. Those leave some BIG dimples.

[VINSTREAM]

Well living in Colorado, this time of year we get blessed with many people who Ski at our many out standing resorts! Many look great, but can not go down the mountain to safe their lives. So the example of skiing, looking better than performance does not always fit...

But when I comes to Airstream's we already know that they perform better than any other "SOB" on this nations Highways and Byways... So then it does matter how they look traveling down the road. Most people that know me, know that I have been known to uses vital water, to clean dirt off the outside of my trailer while camping. So when I see a ding.... Its a big deal! LOL... But owning trailers almost 50 years old... I guess you have to think of fine wine!

Todd