aero-mods ( installment#8-INDUCED-DRAG(spoilers/lips/flaps)

[radioranger]

Great list of mods, went on you tube and saw the 1978 Capri 3 intro tape from ford, The Ranger is going to get a try with the sheet of plywood across the back of the truck, may extend it a bit beyond the rear gate lid, I was wondering if a piece of plywood cross the top of the rear bed area combined with having the tailgate down will add anything, like a aero slot to evacuate the air in the bed,

[oil pan 4]

This is good.
Added to the wiki

Rear Spoiler - EcoModder

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by radioranger

Great list of mods, went on you tube and saw the 1978 Capri 3 intro tape from ford, The Ranger is going to get a try with the sheet of plywood across the back of the truck, may extend it a bit beyond the rear gate lid, I was wondering if a piece of plywood cross the top of the rear bed area combined with having the tailgate down will add anything, like a aero slot to evacuate the air in the bed,

After Texas Tech had published their pickup research in 1983,Sport Truck Magazine ran an issue on aerodynamics.They had interviewed some of the Big-Three aero gurus at one of the national auto shows.
I believe that it was Glen Scharpf (sp? sorry Glen) of General Motors Aero Lab which said that,and I'm paraphrasing, it was important for the gate to be closed,as the low pressure of the locked-vortex on the inner face of the gate was lower that the base pressure of the wake behind it,and this favorable delta-P was partly responsible for the 1/2-tonneaus performance.
So the science says 'don't go there,'with respect to the open gate.