Quote:
Originally Posted by darcane
How about one of the mini-motorhomes based on a toyota truck platform. Here's an example from a local craigslist ad:
1987 Toyota Dophin Motorhome
No idea what sort of mileage they get.
Mike |
Well, that thing is not exactly laminar flow.
Basic shape is the most important variable at highway speed, and that Toyota cab-over is about as draggy as it gets. Ideally, a VW microbus* shape, but significantly larger, would seem best. However, I don't know about RV/motorhomes or what shapes and efficiencies there may be to choose from.
The GM motorhome appears to be reasonably well shaped, but one of the posters above reports it only got about 8 mpg, which is terrible. Surely, there is a good basic shape out there, suitable for improvement with undertray/pizza pans/wheel spats/air dam/reduced aero mirrors, etc..
The Oscar Meyer weinermobile has better aero than most motorhomes, no thanks to those rocket scientists in Detroit. For that matter, the doggy van in
Dumb & Dumber probably beats most of Detroit's work product. Sorry to say.
Any ideas about midsize trucks such as UPS or FedEx vans, but known for efficiency and have good aero shapes? Maybe one of those could be ecomodded and outfitted with bed, chairs, etc..
*per
Whole Earth Catalog, the microbus was the most efficient people mover of its day, given fuel burned / people aboard = passenger miles per gallon.
Some larger variation on that theme is what I have in mind.