T-100 side skirts and belly pan...

[BamZipPow]

It was pretty windy on the return trip that it blew out the left rear wheel skirt.


I guess it's time to build a new set.

[freebeard]

Maybe if they were bungeed like a front wheel skirt, they would percolate instead of blowing clear off.

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Well...not exactly sure how much the side skirts on their own contribute to my gas mileage. Haven't played around with the height of the side skirts yet...maybe that might be something to look at once I git the conveyor belt material in.

I've entered my fuel data and the various mods from the first day I got my current T-100. I've separated out each years worth so you can see which direction I've gone so far...
1998 Toyota T-100 SR5 Gas Mileage (BZP T-100 current (2013)) - EcoModder.com

On the side skirt saga, I was using a piece of 6" high corroplast for quite some time. Had difficulty getting it to quit flapping while on the road though. Never tore off. Had two 1/4" bolts about 6 inches from each end holding it on.
Changed that about a year ago to a sort of corroplast box design. I'll try to add a picture sometime. The 90* bends seem to help stiffness a lot.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Maybe if they were bungeed like a front wheel skirt, they would percolate instead of blowing clear off.

The rear wheel skirt was screwed 4 places, bolted in 2 places and ziptied in the front. All fasteners were ripped out.

[freebeard]

What was the failure mode? Ground strike or air pressure? Did the mounts, fasteners or skirt fail?

I ask because I found my fiberglass skirts that need a new mounting method. It came with three gripping fingers.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by freebeard

What was the failure mode? Ground strike or air pressure? Did the mounts, fasteners or skirt fail?

I ask because I found my fiberglass skirts that need a new mounting method. It came with three gripping fingers.

I think the front mount and ziptie failed and when the air caught the front edge, it ripped the rest of the fasteners out.

I was overdue fer a rear wheel skirt rebuild so this was just good timing.

[freebeard]

My plan is two sockets at the lower front and rear and a cam-lock at the center top.

The skirts will have a vertical 3/4" tab and the fender will have a section of 3/4" tube with a single slot at 45°. The skirt is offered up at an angle and the tabs are trapped between the top and bottom of the tubes when it is rotated into position.

The cam lock might be from a old Type II gas flap door; then I could use an OG church-key.

If your skirt overlaps the fender, maybe put a fin inside that follows the front lip of the wheelwell so it blocks the air if it does bow out?

[aerohead]

Katrina took my front passenger skirt back in 2005,heading west towards Tucson.I aborted the trip and headed home with my tail between my legs.
The newer all-metal skirts are holding together but will 'dance',and rock-hauler bow/stern wakes at 75-mph,on two-lanes, and close distance,head-on will trash.

[freebeard]

Underlap the skirt and dog it down like a submarine hatch.

[aerohead]

I'd eventually like to have electro-magnets hold them,and a circuit which goes open if I turn the wheel beyond a specified degree.In an emergency,I could quickly pull off the road without fear of tires being captured inside the skirts.