An apparatus (10) for a trailer (12) that has a trailer skirt (32,36) in which the majority of its outer surface length is oriented at an angle from 3 degrees to 7 degrees to the longitudinal direction and extends inboard in the lateral direction upon extension forward in the longitudinal direction. An aerodynamic mud flap (22) is present and configured for being located rearward of the trailer skirt (32,36) in the longitudinal direction. The aerodynamic mud flap (22) has a barrier section (24) that includes apertures therethrough that allow air and particles to flow during travel of the trailer (12). A top fairing (26) is present and is configured for being attached to a top surface of the trailer (12). The top fairing (26) is configured to be located closer to the rearward terminal end of the trailer (12) than to the forward terminal end of the trailer (12) in the longitudinal direction. The apparatus (10) also has a rib cover (74).

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for reducing drag. An exemplary apparatus includes a semitrailer having a main frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a subframe movably connected to the main frame between a first position along the longitudinal axis and a second position along the longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes an axle assembly attached to the subframe, the axle assembly including an axle, a left wheel set, a right wheel set, and a suspension, and a first recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the left wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a given spacing. The apparatus still further includes a second recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the right wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a second spacing.

The present disclosure is directed to an adjustable mud flap assembly and associated mud flap material. The adjustable mud flap assembly includes a motor, a motor housing, a mud flap extension bar connected to the motor housing, a sheet of mud flap material wrapped around a drive bar which is housed within a mud flap extension bar and a motor drive shaft which rotates or drives operation of the drive bar and the extension or retraction of the mud flap material from an opening at the bottom side of the mud flap extension bar.

Embodiments of the disclosure include a mud flap for a vehicle having a mounting section and a barrier section. The barrier section is configured to deflect matter discharged from a tire during vehicle operation. The width of the mounting section is greater than the width of the barrier section. The mounting section optionally includes a first set of mounting features, each of the mounting features forming a recess or aperture. One mounting feature of the first set of mounting features is arranged at and/or beyond a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. The one mounting feature is also arranged at least partially within a portion of the mounting section width extending outwardly from a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. Further embodiments include mounting a single wide mud flap on a vehicle configured to receive a dual wide mud flap.

Mudflap in a wheel arrangement for a vehicle such as a truck or a utility vehicle or a trailer, the mudflap comprising a plate, arranged substantially in a vertical position, the plate being attached to a support in the vehicle, a front side being oriented toward the wheel, and a rear side oriented away from the wheel, the plate having a plurality of holes and closing member(s), wherein each closing member exhibits a rest position in which the closing member closes holes at the rear side thereof, and a deflected position in which a dynamic air pressure pushes the closing member away from its rest position, thereby allowing air to pass through the hole, and thereby reducing the aerodynamic drag of the mudflap.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for reducing drag. An exemplary apparatus includes a semitrailer having a main frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a subframe movably connected to the main frame between a first position along the longitudinal axis and a second position along the longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes an axle assembly attached to the subframe, the axle assembly including an axle, a left wheel set, a right wheel set, and a suspension, and a first recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the left wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a given spacing. The apparatus still further includes a second recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the right wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a second spacing.

A snow and rain deflector assembly for vehicles for preventing whiteout conditions on snow covered roads caused by commercial vehicles. The snow and rain deflector assembly for vehicles includes a sleeve assembly including a sleeve having a side wall and a bottom; a sleeve support assembly in communication with the sleeve and adapted to removably mount the sleeve to a vehicle such as a trailer; a panel support member removably fastened to and depending from the sleeve assembly; and panels secured to and depending from the panel support member.

A fairing assembly for a commercial vehicle is disclosed. The fairing assembly includes a fairing and a mounting system for mounting the fairing on a frame of the commercial vehicle. The mounting system includes a first mounting bracket assembly mounted on the fairing and a second mounting bracket assembly configured to be mounted on the frame. The mounting system is configured to hold the fairing in a covering position for laterally covering at least a major portion of a wheel of the commercial vehicle and allow the fairing and the first mounting bracket assembly to pivot from the covering position into an intermediate position and translationally move along the second mounting bracket assembly in a transverse direction of the commercial vehicle from the intermediate position into a stowed position in which the fairing rests on the second mounting bracket assembly via the first mounting bracket assembly.

A mud flap is attachable to a selected group of through-holes of a vehicle running board. Plugs clamp to inclined surfaces of the through-holes, thereby firmly affixing a bracket portion of the integrally molded mud flap body to the running board. A flap portion of the mud flap body is connected to the bracket portion of the mud flap body only by a hinge portion. The hinge portion has a straight front surface, a straight rear surface and a thickness that is less than the overall thickness of the mud flap body. The flap portion has at least one wall portion that does not conform to any yz plane, stiffening the flap portion and inducing it to rotate around the hinge portion as a unit when a front-to-rear shear force impinges on the flap portion. A notch may be formed to interrupt an otherwise convexly curved rear flap portion surface so to receive a downwardly depending running board reinforcing member when the flap portion flexes out of its rest position.

Embodiments provide an aerodynamic fairing system that may comprise a base configured to mount to a vehicle, an arm coupled to the base at a proximate end and extending laterally, and a fairing mounted to the arm having an inboard and an outboard surface. The fairing outboard surface may provide an aerodynamic outer surface to direct flow to an angle to the rear. The arm may a fixed or adjustable length arm. The arm may provide a mounting area for a mud flap such that aerodynamic system may act as a mud flap hanger. Embodiments also provide an adjustable mud flap hanger.