Thread: 50mpg truck
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Old 05-20-2012, 02:46 PM   #56 (permalink)
rmay635703
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead View Post
That's at 18.5 sq ft frontal area and Cd 0.35 for the car.No idea about the trailer.
So a gasoline pickup of 2000 lbs,18.5 sq ft,and Cd 0.35 would be 52 mpg (Honda tech, circa 1984).
It would be a gutless-wonder on grades,and you'd be rowing through the gears,but on flat land,she'd sing.
47.8 is the all-time record for mine so far,pulling the trailer up in Colorado with a perfect 20 mph tailwind (only a 45-mph airspeed).
Thats sort of the way antique granny geared 4 or 6 banger trucks were, they would pull most anything but topped out at 50-55mph, they were designed for run time and being capable of pulling a load not how quickly. They didn't have the right motor tech or CD but at one point trucks were more focused on economy than they likely are now. Many of the really "old" trucks would get better day to day mileage than many of the semi modern equivalents. My fathers 48 seemed to get around 20ish mixed driving, might have been his driving habits but I doubt it.

Its unfortunate purpose built stripper trucks with good payload but a narrow body with a moderate CDa aren't really available in this country. They have uses but the guy who buys for show would never want one.

Cheers
Ryan
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