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

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-01-2011, 08:56 AM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
Interesting read on pickup truck aerodynamics.

It seems the geometry of a truck bed has a great effect on the Cd of the pickup truck. This research paper presents some interesting wind tunnel data and explains why later model pickup trucks have such high side walls and tailgates.

It seems the manufacturers have sacrificed the utilitarian aspects of earlier model pickups (with low side walls and tailgates) for the taller bed height we see on the late model pickup trucks, especially those trucks with the shorter beds. It's all about reducing the Cd of the pickup truck to improve the fuel efficiency of the truck.

http://www.wseas.us/e-library/confer.../FMA/FMA17.pdf

Happy New Year and may 2011 be a good one for us all.


Bondo

  Reply With Quote
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to bondo For This Useful Post:
BamZipPow (01-01-2011), Cd (01-02-2011), cfg83 (01-01-2011), ChazInMT (01-01-2011), Frank Lee (01-02-2011), KamperBob (01-02-2011), landsailor (01-03-2011), Piwoslaw (01-01-2011), Rokeby (01-01-2011), slowmover (01-03-2011), t vago (01-01-2011)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 01-01-2011, 09:35 AM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JasonG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Charlotte NC / York SC
Posts: 728

05 DMax - '05 Chevrolet 2500HD
90 day: 18.48 mpg (US)
Thanks: 120
Thanked 56 Times in 52 Posts
Interesting.
Makes sense though. Same principle of why wagons and stretch limos get better FE.
Apparently flow reattachment over length is more important than I thought it was.
__________________



I can't understand why my MPG's are so low..........
21,000lb, 41' Toy Haulers are rough on FE!
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 12:27 PM   #3 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonG View Post
Interesting.
Makes sense though. Same principle of why wagons and stretch limos get better FE.
Apparently flow reattachment over length is more important than I thought it was.
That would explain why all of those late model pickup trucks have such high beds. They're almost like open-topped versions of the traditional van body.
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 02:07 PM   #4 (permalink)
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 530 Times in 356 Posts
bondo -

Great find! Do you think that this stuff like this could be a missing detail in the "tailgate up/down" theory? That is, it depends on the length of your bed (the geometry!) :



What do you think?

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to cfg83 For This Useful Post:
bondo (01-01-2011), Piwoslaw (01-01-2011)
Old 01-01-2011, 02:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: southern indiana
Posts: 126
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
yea i guess that makes sense after i think about it
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 02:18 PM   #6 (permalink)
aero guerrilla
 
Piwoslaw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 3,691

Svietlana II - '13 Peugeot 308SW e-HDI 6sp
90 day: 58.1 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,268
Thanked 721 Times in 458 Posts
Thx Bondo and cfg83.

I thought the high bed walls were for a more massive/macho look.
__________________
e·co·mod·ding: the art of turning vehicles into what they should be

What matters is where you're going, not how fast.

"... we humans tend to screw up everything that's good enough as it is...or everything that we're attracted to, we love to go and defile it." - Chris Cornell


[Old] Piwoslaw's Peugeot 307sw modding thread
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 03:21 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ryland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 3,903

honda cb125 - '74 Honda CB 125 S1
90 day: 79.71 mpg (US)

green wedge - '81 Commuter Vehicles Inc. Commuti-Car

Blue VX - '93 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 867
Thanked 433 Times in 353 Posts
That does not explain why the body is jacked up and why the frontal area of a truck is so big! even the little Toyota trucks are a half ton truck, just like F-150's and Toyota made a 1 ton truck that wasn't much bigger then their half ton truck.
That paper seems to agree with the van shape but the big problem with trucks is that you need a step ladder to get in to the truck bed.
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 04:43 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfg83 View Post
bondo -

Great find! Do you think that this stuff like this could be a missing detail in the "tailgate up/down" theory? That is, it depends on the length of your bed (the geometry!) :



What do you think?

CarloSW2
It may very well be. You have now attached a theory to a theory but it does make sense. Your graphic does a very nice job of explaining your thought.

That is definitely thinking oustside of the box!


Bondo
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2011, 10:23 PM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Big Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Steppes of Central Indiana
Posts: 1,319

The Red Baron - '00 Ford F-350 XLT
90 day: 27.99 mpg (US)

Impala Phase Zero - '96 Chevrolet Impala SS
90 day: 21.03 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 186 Times in 127 Posts
This would militate toward the sloped sidewalls of the GM Avalanche.
__________________
2000 Ford F-350 SC 4x2 6 Speed Manual
4" Slam
3.08:1 gears and Gear Vendor Overdrive
Rubber Conveyor Belt Air Dam
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2011, 05:06 PM   #10 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by t vago View Post
That would explain why all of those late model pickup trucks have such high beds. They're almost like open-topped versions of the traditional van body.
I suspect they did not get high for aero; they are high because of the ginormous wheel/tire packages driving the entire chassis up. The cabs are higher too.

__________________


  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




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