How much drawbar pull does it take to move your vehicle? The answer may surprise you!
Below is an item taken from Fluid Power Data Book, produced by Womack Fluid Power.
I have written it, as published, in imperial measurements. You can make your own conversions if you need to. The article reads as follows:
Drawbar pull required to keep the vehicle in steady motion on a level ground depends on the road surface.
The following figures are pounds of drawbar pull per 1,000 lbs of vehicle weight.
Concrete ………………………………………………….. 10-20 lbs.
Asphalt ……………………………………………………. 12-22 lbs.
Macadam (broken compacted stone) ………….. 15-37 lbs.
Cobbles ……………………………………………………. 55-85 lbs.
Snow ……………………………………………………….. 25-37 lbs.
Dirt ………………………………………………………….. 25-37 lbs.
Mud ………………………………………………………… 37-150 lbs.
Sand ………………………………………………………… 60-300 lbs.
Of course, if you then throw in incline and speed as well as air resistance, then all the numbers go up. The formulas are available, but good luck working them out. My eyes were getting crossed just deciphering them, but in these times of home confinement, it might make a change from the crossword book!
Contributed by Kerry M