View Single Post
Old 07-22-2008, 04:35 PM   #17 (permalink)
twentysixtwo
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
SAE Paper on Pickup Truck Aerodynamics

Quote:
Originally Posted by MechEngVT View Post
I'll chime in here with anecdotal evidence since what little data I have is not from ideal methodology nor immediately at hand.

In my experience the best option is a "streamlined" bed cap, next to that is a flat tonneau, and next to that is tailgate up. This is with a Quad Cab/Short Bed combination.

IIRC this agrees 100% with the SAE paper I read. It was from about 1990. There is another one here from 2004 which is very similar:

http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/ge...hi1/pickup.pdf

BTW they only tested the mesh gate on one config but it performed very poorly. The Mythbusters are busted again.
  Reply With Quote