aero bed cap questions

[canadian_yeti]

Would like some help with designing my own aero bed cap. I have Google searched and searched through this forum and have yet to see anyone do an aero cap on an ext cab s10. I have looked at and downloaded the streamline template, but im very new to all this and im not sure how to interpret it. I plan to build the frame using 3/4" electrical conduit pipe, and i have a connection to get large sheets of 1/16" clear acrylic plastic. What id like help with is how to calculate the appropriate angle and curve for my truck. Not sure if it matters, but my ext cab s10 is lowered 3.5"f/4"r. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Side note, id also like to know hkw some people have made the streamline template transparent, allowing them to place it over a picture of their vehicle as a reference

[BamZipPow]

Pssst!
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ion-21952.html

I'm not a fan of using acrylic as yer panels as they won't be able to take any significant amount of physical impact without shattering or cracking. Try some Coroplast or cardboard to experiment with first.

[freebeard]

The Template is not fit for purpose. It is for a free body moving against a ground plane. An aerocap is a special case. It needs to transition from a tight fit against the cab to a low arc at the tailgate, pace aerohead.


http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/baby-template-car-darko-2016-a-32673-26.html#post537059

Here is how I laid out streamlines:



Here is the material I would use, Polymetal is stiff as 5/8" ply and skinned with aluminum. More expensive, but prefinished:



But 1/8" ABS would be better that acrylic. This is for a teardrop, but it shows how you could use large sheets with minimal cutting. Think Armadillo:

[kach22i]

There is a recent aero-cap thread where wood slats were used. Seek it out, I might be able to find it. I'm mentioning it because he said he made a slight mistake not following the template true which no one else could see. You don't want to make the same error, apparently it is all to easy to make.

I've done over a hundred of these overlays, and I have to say an issue came up today when doing one for you.

I'm hoping Aerohead can make a clarification, it's a real puzzle.

Part of a photo Aerohead posted recently, flipped 180- degrees and given an Aero-template overlay. Oh yea, ground plane was out of tilt by 1/2 degree - fixed it.

Source profile photo:
5-175.jpg Photo by aerohead2 | Photobucket

Aerodynamics by George Kachadoorian | Photobucket


The pink vertical line isn't supposed to be the line-up mark, but that's how it came out. I think we are supposed to use the yellow line, but I've seen people use the middle point of a flat roof (orange line). I wish I knew what to tell you.

Anyway.......... you have an extended cab, the 3-door, right?

This is the most conservative use of the template shifted all the way back.


This is the middle point, which I see used more often.


Base image so you can try your own.


There are slightly longer and shorter versions of the aero-template floating around, I use this green one just because I like the color to be honest. I think Bim-Bow-Blam or something like that made it up for the sticky thread at some point in time.

[kach22i]

While trying to find the latest aero-cap posted in the forum, that nice wood one, I found the following.

Would you rock this topper on your ride? - Page 2 - Toyota Tacoma Forum


The above has too steep of an angle, but it is sexy looking.

There are quite a few other examples in that thread as well, some of them may have been posted in this forum before.

[canadian_yeti]

thanks guys...and this is why I made a thread. I found a few different things and I really only wanna do this once. ive seen the one that's on the crew cab Dakota an I have to agree that it looks very well built. I'm glad I asked for guidance cause I was actually using that one as a reference. only difference being that I knew I would have a different angle on mine cause that's a crew cab short bed and mine is an ext cab reg bed. different bed length and different wheel base.

kachi22i, ive seen ppl use the template in those same ways you've posted. and yes I do have an ext cab that has the third door. I'm glad I'm not the only one with an s10. I know its not the most efficient of small pickups out there, but I'm a GM guy born and raised. I considered a Nissan frontier, but didn't like the lack of aftermarket support compared to the S-series. from an aero point of view, id say they look about the same

[freebeard]

That's a very interesting example. I don't think those are compound curves.

Starting with a rectangular sheet, you can make a simple conic curve starting from one corner, or have a flat diamond in the center with the four corner/tips bent or curved. Mixing the two might set up tensions in the sheet that would fight the fasteners on every jiggle, but maybe #1 on the side triangles and #2 on the top?

[canadian_yeti]

ok, so I used the streamline template and came up with this. does that look about right?

[canadian_yeti]

[freebeard]

Nada.

ok, so I used the streamline template and came up with this. does that look about right?

Oddly, the IMG tag doesn't display as Code. Maybe add a space at "right?[IMG]". But delete "?filters[user]=77882641&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0" and try again.