Are "Road Trains" Feasible?

[Mr.Slant]

@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 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.

[Trailer_Park_Casanova]

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.

[Ignatz]

@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.