Quote:
Originally Posted by skyking
Which one first?
I'll post more detailed pictures when I get it hooked up again.
I just installed my wood bed sides/toolboxes, which allow me to tow the trailer at the proper, lower height.
Note that the sides of the boxes allow for an easy full wheel skirt.
I am covering the running boards with teak decking, and I am looking at a fillet fairing for that hard corner at the lower front of the toolbox/back of the cab area.
I am building new front and rear bumpers and grill. That is why I consider it a "clean slate" if you will.
The front bumper will be lower than stock and wider at the bottom to more effectively cover the front tire.
Back to the question: which to do first, a really tight articulating deflector in front of the trailer, going forward onto the truck cab roof, or a three piece folding boat tail?
I have to make the boat tail easy to fold, with a "door" I can open in front of that back window. Hinge the sides in, then lower the top down and open a door.
Advantage of the deflector: Don't have to fold it up to get parked. Don't have to worry about hitting things with it.
Advantage of the boat tail: Quicker build by far. |
The tail is going to help but they don't operate properly if the air coming their way is trashed with turbulence.
The AC units and rooftop cargo box will ruin the airflow up there.If you could fashion better fairings ( boat-tails ) you could quiet down the storm up there.
Your running boards need a leading edge fairing ,even if it's just PVC pipe,ripped longways and bolted on.
Then,at the back,you need to soften the leading edge of your new box ( nice! ) where the running boards come up to meet it on the sides.
The wheel skirts will be great!
We need a look at the nose of the trailer itself.Any big gap that can be closed in is good.
Since you're starting fresh,you could do a cap over the box which acts like a flow integrator,smoothing the transition from the truck onto the trailer face,effectively having it 'draft' behind it.
The air has already collided with the front of the truck,you don't want it all to have to slam again into the trailer,so to speak.
The aluminum struts for the awning are catching some air.You could think about them.