[Big Dave]

Lassiter:
Thanks. Its been a long battle getting here.

Answers:
My air dam is 0.375" rip stop steel reinforced conveyor belt. Not cheap. A real bear to work (next time I'll pay the shop rate and let the supplier fab my dam), but pretty much indestructible. Parking curbs and road debris don't even scratch the stuff.

3.08 is the numerically lowest gear I've ever seen for a 10.25" sterling axle. I don't think they are commonly available anymore.

What's more, I now have a Gear Vendors 22% electric overdrive. In top gear, I'm pushing a net (0.71x0.78x3.08) = 1.71:1 net gear ratio. At 50 MPH I'd be turning 950 RPM and my big diesel easily pushes that gearing.

a "4" slam" is sport truck talk for lowering the truck by 4 inches. I used drop I-beams up front to lower the front plus dropped down to a 225-75x16E tire to reduce radius by an extra inch. Used drop shackles to lower the rear. Not an overly expensive project and was good for a solid 1 MPG.

Right now I'm running a flat hard A.R.E. tonneau while I contemplate another shot at a aerolid.

I looked at your website and have a few questions.

1. How big a fuel tank are you gonna allow? Going 2,300 miles on one refill means I have to go 1,150 miles on a tankful. My truck has a 29 gallon tankl but going further than 25 gallons into increases my pucker factor (you never want to run a diesel out of fuel) so my limit is 25 gallons. to go 1,150 miles on 25 gallons requires 46 MPG. Now slowing down to 50 MPH, I am confident I can get 33 MPG. Look back. I have described my testing routine. its considerably higher road load than a steady 45-55 MPH. Even at 33 MPG, I'd need a minimum 35 gallon fuel tank. For lightly modified gas engine pickups, low 20s would be fine performance. If you could squeeze 23 MPG, you still need a minimum 50 gal tank and you coast into the gas station on fumes.

2. Going 2,300 miles at 50 MPH means four long days of getting flipped off by people travelling 20-30 MPH faster than you and maybe getting hassled by cops. You'll need a two-lane US route, not I-10.

3. I can appreciate your desire for fidelity to the way most folks use pickups. To achieve fidelity to the "max utility" configuration you should be running open bed. But an open bed will rob 3 MPG off the best of designs.

4. But the basic idea is a very good one. There is waaaay too much BS in MPG claims because there is really no quick way to verify. with other parameters of performance measurement is quick and decisive. Acceleration is easily judged on a drag strip in a matter of seconds. Top end is easily shown at Bonneville (or in a less arduous logistical exercise at Maxton or Goliad.) A few minutes on a dyno gives a lot of motorheads suitable bragging rights. MPG requires more time. the EPA thing is just an estimate made by people who are not that sharp. You are proposing to step into that void.