Quote:
Originally Posted by Sven7
Sounds like a good plan. I wonder how much it will wiggle side to side due to the loose tolerances in hitch design. Maybe you'll have to do some sort of straps around the truck's rear hatch to secure the boat tail. Go for it, and report back!
Make sure you have a belly pan first though, as it will help the boat tail function properly. You're trying to move the point of flow separation back a few feet, and if the air is already separated it does no good.
With a box shaped rear end you'll want a zero degree angle on the rear of the belly pan. Completely horizontal- any upward slope will increase drag comparatively. I'm not sure how far back this applies so you may want to ask Aerohead and study Basjoos' AeroCivic.
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Already planning some strapping, have some trampoline springs which I am thinking will be good to take out the slack, also planning some tension points to attach to the gutters on the roof on either side, this should hold it firm but still allow a bit of give.
Full belly pan is a bit of an issue as there is quite a bit of movement in the solid axles when in the rough stuff, but may be able to look at flattening out the rear from the axle back to give a more tidy entry. Some of the things I've read indicated around 2 degrees on the rear belly/diffuser as an optimum to avoid drag.
Lots of reading to do.
I'll spend the week reading everything I can to evaluate if this is a viable prospect in terms of $$$ and payback, but thanks for the positive input.
Edit: Just did some measurements and the axle itself is 12" off the ground, the diff is about 8", going back the tank guard angles upwards from the axle to the bottom of the towbar to a 16" clearance, that's a rise of 4" over about 36", angle about 6 degrees, but I imagine with the overall height I don't expect too many issues with downforce The unit I'm looking at will be about 5" above the tow hitch, this could be done with a tapered rise by attatching a flat panel to the base of the unit which would give about 5" over the 24" depth of the unit. I feel that I need the additional height clearance for dips as I do live in a rural area and like to get out in the scrub regularly.
Anyway will start searching the site for more info.