Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-10-2009, 04:11 PM   #161 (permalink)
Cogito Ergo Ecomod
 
davidgrey50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Algarve, Portugal
Posts: 61

Dobbin - '04 Dodge Dakota 3.7 V6 A/T
Thanks: 9
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
Took me a while, but I've found a picture of a Ford show car I remember from an old Road & Track - 1965 Galaxie 'Magic-Cruiser. Still looks great, and still makes sense.The link is http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...CCRUISER-1.jpg

  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to davidgrey50 For This Useful Post:
aerohead (11-08-2014)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 03-18-2009, 08:46 PM   #162 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: California
Posts: 26

DADS - '17 kia sorento
90 day: 21.83 mpg (US)

Cyn - '14 Kia Forte Lx
90 day: 27.75 mpg (US)

Van - '19 dodge grand caravan se plus
90 day: 14.82 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bondo View Post
It took King C. Gillette 19 years to get his razor off the ground. I can identify with him. Everything was looking good with a manufactuer in October of last year, then came TARP. The company I talked to is just barley able to keep their doors open now and gas prices falling by 50% didn't help either (but I am glad the gas prices came down.) Everything is on hold right now.

I am trying to get some Federal money from the stimulus package thrown my way since the aero cap is a green product. We will see if my Senator might finally come through this time. If you know of any manufacturers who might be interested let me know.

Bondo
I wish you the best of luck. I would defiantly be interested when they are made
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 03:49 PM   #163 (permalink)
Pickup Fuel Meiser
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 32

Blackline - '09 Nissan Frontier King Cab SE V6

Jetta - '11 Volkswagen Jetta Sportswagen TDI
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Hi I am new to these forums. After driving a small, economical car for years I now need a truck for my small business. I chose a Nissan Frontier King Cab as a good compromise between capability and efficiency.

So Brett, what is your status currently with these cabs? I know my truck is not the most common on the road, but I am very excited about the possibility of getting one of your cabs. Is there any chance you might bring one to market for my truck this year or should I "not hold my breath" and just bite the bullet with a standard cap when I need to cover up the back?

Good luck with your venture. I am finding how challenging starting a business can be myself and I admire your dedication and spirit.

Last edited by GoodOak; 04-01-2009 at 04:12 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 03:53 PM   #164 (permalink)
Weight Reduction
 
Drive Stick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NJ
Posts: 113

Celica GTS - '02 Toyota Celica GT-S
90 day: 36.32 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Drive Stick
Quote:
Originally Posted by bondo View Post
My name is Brett
Even if you didn't invent the cap, you'd automatically be cool because you have the same name as me (and I'm awesome so you're now officially cool too.)

- Brett
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 09:39 PM   #165 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
GoodOak,

We do hope to make an aerocap for Nissan trucks. It won't be anytime soon though. It is difficult to post here with nothing new to report.

The lack of capital has been the main cause of not getting the aerocap to market. As stated in a previous post, last October we had gained an alliance with a manufacturer to produce the caps. I would do the tooling and they would produce and market the aerocaps. That went away with the TARP bailout and the subsequent down turn in the economy last fall. Now my time is spent doing contract work, mowing grass, whatever I have to do to keep the bills paid, me and many others like me who are presently out of work.

I wish you well GoodOak in your business startup. Make sure you have enough capital before you start. I continue to look for capitalization. There might be some Government money available in the stimulus package. Hopefully someday soon I will have some good news to report on the aerocap.

Yeah Brett, I have a brother named Bart. My mom loved to Maverick brothers!

( I did put some better looking side windows in the aerocap.)
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	p1010652.JPG
Views:	191
Size:	69.8 KB
ID:	3120   Click image for larger version

Name:	P1010657.JPG
Views:	176
Size:	67.2 KB
ID:	3121  
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 09:44 PM   #166 (permalink)
Dartmouth 2010
 
SVOboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 6,447

Vegan Powa! - '91 Honda CRX DX
Team Honda
90 day: 66.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 92
Thanked 122 Times in 90 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SVOboy Send a message via MSN to SVOboy Send a message via Yahoo to SVOboy
Bondo's back! Good to hear from you Brett. I hope things work out with the cap,
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 09:51 PM   #167 (permalink)
Moderate your Moderation.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Troy, Pa.
Posts: 8,919

Pasta - '96 Volkswagen Passat TDi
90 day: 45.22 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,369
Thanked 430 Times in 353 Posts
Hm... wonder if a set of CRX's 1/4 panel glass would look better in the shape of the aerocap?

I'd love to see these things come to market, and watch the traditional truck guys try to think of reasons and excuses why they won't work to do what they say...

Those crowds seem to be counter-intelligent at times, from what I can see in the RW... They swear by things that we all know don't really work, yet they look down on the stuff that's been proven by countless tests and data extrapolation.
__________________
"¿ʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"

  Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2009, 12:17 AM   #168 (permalink)
Pickup Fuel Meiser
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 32

Blackline - '09 Nissan Frontier King Cab SE V6

Jetta - '11 Volkswagen Jetta Sportswagen TDI
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
The traditional truck guys are the target market for this product so I think that convincing the traditional truck guys is job #1.

Bondo, if I may offer some unsolicited advice/my opinion on the subject of marketing these things. If you go straight for the MPG issue I don't think there will be as much interest as if you focus on "performance". For example the "aerocap reduced drag, which increases acceleration, top-end speed and (this one goes at the end) drastically improves fuel economy."

Also, style is so important to these guys. Looking cool is more important than actually performance increase, after all most of these guys rarely use their trucks for their intended purposes. They are more show than blow. So think about style elements. Think about the street racers with their low slung trucks and what style the aerocap will add to these trucks in addition the the reduced drag. Think about the 4x4 gear heads and what they will think will look cool. It seems like you got a lot of negative feedback on one of those truck forums from a bunch of bone-heads and some very simple style changes could turn those opinions around. Things like graphics, lights, small body-form changes and window shapes can go a long way. A good graphic designer or other artist might have some useful input.

Also, maybe a cooler name would help. Not that I have a problem with aerocap, but something else might appeal to your target audience more. I think I saw the term "fastback" somewhere in this thread, that sounds pretty good to me.

So those are just my thoughts. Good luck getting your business online. Your latest version looks great. And when you get around to making a cap for a Nissan Frontier (king cab!) you will have a customer ready and waiting for your product.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2009, 12:45 AM   #169 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
I agree with GoodOak.

Call it a "Humveeback"
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2009, 12:34 PM   #170 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
You guys are right, the product needs a good trademark name. I have been using "Aerolid" and one of the pictures show the name on the side. I could use some help in this area and welcome any suggestions anyone might have.

GoodOak, your marketing ideas are sound. The product should be marketed as a replacement for the traditional camper shell, with a camper shell having a poorer aerodynamic coefficient of drag than a truck running with an open bed with the tailgate up. As you can see, the aerocap raises up into a camper shell configuration and can be driven at sustained freeway speeds in this mode.

Therefore you get the utilitarian aspects of a camper shell with out enduring the penalty of increased fuel consumption. Again, I am open for suggestions on a good name for the product.

Thanks,

Bondo

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	P1010507.JPG
Views:	210
Size:	53.0 KB
ID:	3123   Click image for larger version

Name:	P1010524.JPG
Views:	224
Size:	61.9 KB
ID:	3124   Click image for larger version

Name:	P1010690.JPG
Views:	193
Size:	69.8 KB
ID:	3125   Click image for larger version

Name:	P1010658.JPG
Views:	214
Size:	67.5 KB
ID:	3126  
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Easy Aero Fix? (Modding a pickup?) DifferentPointofView Aerodynamics 53 04-13-2012 05:46 PM
SAE report: Pickup Truck tailgate aerodynamics... better up, down, or off? MetroMPG Aerodynamics 5 11-17-2011 02:35 PM
Sources of Aerodynamic Drag in Automobiles and Possible Solutions SVOboy Aerodynamics 12 02-17-2010 02:09 PM
How much do y'all pay for trash pickup? roflwaffle Saving@Home 15 08-23-2009 10:46 AM
Daihatsu Mira aerodynamic modifications newtonsfirstlaw Aerodynamics 5 06-13-2009 09:43 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com