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Old 01-24-2014, 02:30 PM   #90 (permalink)
Thenorm
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 132

The Rental - '13 Hyundai i30
90 day: 37.55 mpg (US)

Autocross - '04 Ford Focus ZX3
90 day: 24.76 mpg (US)

The Wifes - '02 Ford Focus SVT
90 day: 23.54 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic View Post
Build a Ranger out of AL. Put a 1.6 liter ecoboost engine, or a small diesel and you would have the right truck as long as it had brakes to tow. Make the bed so you can lay a 4X8 flat and close the tailgate. 40 MPG.

regards
Mech
i was thinking along the same lines.

why are trucks shaped the way they are?

i think the bed is the biggest constraint. you need to fit a 4x8 sheet between the wheel wells, so that governs your width. But why are they so tall? 98% of trucks don't need such serious off road capability. (im making that stat up).
Also why are the cabs so tall.

so ,build a ranger out of aluminum, but make the cab look more like a Ford Falcon Ute from Australia (like an El camino). low and swoopy. make the bed fit a 4x8. keep the whole thing alot lower to the ground. add a belly pan.
40mpg.
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