# Are "Road Trains" Feasible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-road-trains-feasible/281377 "2004-12-23T20:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-road-trains-feasible/281377/21 "2004-12-24T23:25:03Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > If you didn’t have a supersized engine to pull the road train, performance would be just terrible, terrible. Having played with automobile performance simulators, I can say that: A) You’re right. B) The acceleration would be even worse than a normal semi, which takes two to three times as long to traverse a quarter mile \<1\> C) However, the top speed is mostly determined by horsepower and aerodynamics. Thus, a road train will have a top speed nearing that of a regular US or Euro semi, but will take noticeably longer to get there. And, the stopping distance will be amazingly long, but with a proper braking system could be the same as that of a regular US or Euro semi. \<1\> Go ahead and play with [http://users.erols.com/srweiss/calcehp.htm](http://users.erols.com/srweiss/calcehp.htm) to see what I mean. My car is 4,400 lbs with a probable 182 RWHP, giving a 16.8 second quarter. A typical US semi would weigh 80,000 lbs and have 280 RWHP, giving a 38.3 second quarter. A hypothetical road train weighing in at 290,000 with 420 RWHP would give a 51.5 second quarter. Actually, not THAT much worse than the US semi. ---
**Author:** ![Trailer\_Park\_Casanova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Trailer\_Park\_Casanova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trailer_Park_Casanova)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-road-trains-feasible/281377/22 "2004-12-25T06:26:50Z")
Ralph, I think you may have a good novel story there. Interesting idea, Road Trains. Some passenger, some freight. Perhaps some moving businesses. Warehouse, office, all inclusive moving across the land. Start writing. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-road-trains-feasible/281377/23 "2004-12-25T13:15:03Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > I remember about ten years ago there was a pseudo-PSA commercial about not allowing nationwide triple tractor trailors. I say pseudo because if you looked at the fine print at the end of the ad you saw that it was actual sponsered by the Railroad industry. The ad featured a woman driving a minivan with a kid in a car seat being passed by the big, bad truck. Really annoyed me (like the RR industry really gives a crap about highway safety). > > **As far as problems driving them thru intersections or drive-thrus, um, you guys do realize that multiple trailors are only allowed on interstates, right?** > > I think triple trailors should be allowed on interstates nation-wide. Big rigs are operated by professional drivers. A bigger danger would be from the dumb broad in the minivan wetting her pants because a big scary truck passed her! 😃 Cite, please. That is incorrect. Used to be. I see them off the interstates every week. They are allowed on certain other highways 'tho I do not have a citable link right now. I’m talking doublebottoms, don’t know about bigger ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-road-trains-feasible/281377.md?page=1)