Disadvantages of a V-nose trailer?

[Scoobert]

Since my wife and I are looking into bigger trailers we have come across a couple that are v-nosed. She likes the layout of them with the kitchen up front in the V.
There must be some disadvantage to this or you would see every company utilize the space over the hitch better. The one I see is that you lose the big outside pass through storage up front but it seems like it has more storage in the rear.

What else am I missing?

Thanks folks, I did a search but maybe I am not using the right terms as I couldn't come up with much at all.

[robbiels7]

Not that it's a disadvantage but I would imagine it would have better gas mileage for the tow vehicle. I could imagine there's a lot less wind resistance

[Superslif]

With all the weight of the kitchen really "up front" it can be a very tongue heavy unit. I thought they were popular 5 years ago. I just don't see many on dealers lots.

Remember your frig will be filled, all your dishes, pots and pans, canned goods, beverages....The weight of the cabinets, counter-tops...

[Carefree]

We used to own a Viewfinder trailer with a v-nose. It was only 19 feet in length but felt much bigger inside because of the kitchen in the V. It towed like a dream. We went all over the country including a trip from Phoenix to Fairbanks, Alaska. We towed it with a Volkswagen Touareg Diesel, no less. Didn't even know the trailer was behind us most of the time.

[keymastr]

From the reports I have seen the fuel mileage was not improved and Many folks report that they react to wind more than traditional trailer shapes.

[robbiels7]

That's interesting.

[Carefree]

Fuel mileage improvement is indeed negligible BUT it handled great in any weather. We drove through some heavy storms and with the WD hitch and a sway bar the trailer was rock solid behind our SUV.

[lynnmor]

I guess some like the space for propane, batteries, toolboxes and possibly weight distributing hitches.

My large snowmobile trailer is a V-nose, when traveling together with another similar rig that has a square nose, he always gets better mileage.

[1bigmess]

I only met one couple that had a V nose travel trailer, and they loved it, until they had to refill their propane bottles, which were kept in a compartment on the back that was accessible from the outside, but under the bed. Had to stoop down to remove them and replace them.

[rtbroke]

We just traded ours in. It pulled OK, but the new camper I just bought pulls better and weighs the same. The one we had, the bathroom was in the V-nose. We liked the floor plan but we had to lift the 2 recliners and move them for the slide when traveling.

[tuffr2]

The Vee nose IMHO is a great design to help with aerodynamics. I would think the heavier front along with no pass through are the big 2 disadvantages.

I would say added areodynamics and front kitchen layout as advantages.

[Gigattime]

I have a v-nose cargo trailer and one disadvantage over a flat front cargo trailer is tight turns when backing. I would assume this may be true for the v-nose camper as well.

I have found the v-nose gets really tight to the bumper (jack knife position) in a tight manuever and could be damaged if not careful.

[bobbin]

Originally Posted by Gigattime

I have a v-nose cargo trailer and one disadvantage over a flat front cargo trailer is tight turns when backing. I would assume this may be true for the v-nose camper as well.

I have found the v-nose gets really tight to the bumper (jack knife position) in a tight manuever and could be damaged if not careful.

agree. this has been my experience.

the math is: R = ½ρCAv**2.
R = drag
A = surface area
v= velocity

fact: a "V" increases the surface area facing into the induced wind, and thus increases drag. (consider a triangle). more drag = more fuel consumed. more surface + more speed = greatly increased drag.

to reduce drag, a curved surface area is required, which produces a laminar flow.

A V can be handy though, for interior space. a front kitchen will create high hitch weight, so a heavier truck is required. the pro to this is better stability when towing.

[keymastr]

The rear of the trailer has more effect on drag than the front. A model A Ford is more aerodynamic in reverse. Whales, submarines etc have a tapered rear for just that reason. Semis are using tapered cones at the back now too.