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Old 05-28-2011, 05:58 AM   #21 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FORDF250HDXLT View Post
that's my snow plow attachment brackets,called push plates.
You could easily bolt on an air dam there.
Swap it out for the plow when required.

Looking at your fuel record, it looks like you've already broken the long downward trend.
@ 15mpg, even small improvements are going to add up to a lot of fuel.

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Old 05-28-2011, 06:39 AM   #22 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by FORDF250HDXLT View Post
KamperBob,
i'll never consider going smaller with the bed.the whole reason i drive this truck is to move wood and chips etc.the larger the bed-the fewer the trips,making FE almost meaningless.by the miles driven less because i can take more at once,and all the time saved by doing so as well.since its a 100% work truck only,you know what they say time is....
truck duty first.fuel economy will always be secondary.
iv got a small car when i need to just haul myself around.
however if you have some ideas for the bed in its current state,id be interested to see some ideas.
im not going to get hardcore,like many here do.for example trying to close up gaps between trim/headlights etc.
all im looking for are the big obvious things,and a few smaller.but nothing tedious.
this truck doesn't move,unless it's to make $.however,i don't want to be like most folks,who just do nothing about aero once they setup their work trucks either.fuel costs way too much now,to do nothing.
basically,if i can gain .5 (true average) mpg from aero modding,then im a happy guy.though,if there is obvious room for improvement after that,i won't stop until most here say iv got all the big basics covered.
I hear you loud and clear. I don't start my truck without good reason. The car gets 2X, motorcycle 5X, and bicycle or walking infinitely better FE.

Requirements definitely come first. If you need every square inch of every corner of that box then you're stuck with a 100% full box that cannot be shaved anywhere. Nothing wrong with that. My point was expectations. A required big flat rear limits the good that front mods can do.

Under side work could pay dividends.

You're a man of action. I look forward to following your ongoing trials and results. Rock on!
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Old 05-28-2011, 10:53 AM   #23 (permalink)
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There's a good thread on boat tails here:

Big Rig Boat-tail Can Cut Fuel Consumption By 2 Percent - CleanMPG Forums

It's a different site, but heck - I read and learn from both sites

There is one boat tail configuration which claims 7.5% improvement. In light of some automotive boat tail experiments discussed here I think the number is reasonable.

Jim E.
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Old 05-28-2011, 04:04 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimepting View Post
There's a good thread on boat tails here:

Big Rig Boat-tail Can Cut Fuel Consumption By 2 Percent - CleanMPG Forums

It's a different site, but heck - I read and learn from both sites

There is one boat tail configuration which claims 7.5% improvement. In light of some automotive boat tail experiments discussed here I think the number is reasonable.

Jim E.
I don't know how to link it,but @ GOOGLE IMAGES at the search word above,on page- 3 is a photo of their boat tail that they've been running for years now
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Old 07-22-2011, 07:08 PM   #25 (permalink)
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custom built front air dam
so i finally got around to building my custom front air dam.
i had running boards on my old '96 f150 super cab (perfect length) that i kept.i used one of these.
i flattened it out by running over it with my heavy dually.
anyway.doesn't look half bad either i don't think.
perhaps a few running lights on it sometime to dress it up a bit too.you can see where i used to have some still.not polished up yet,and the holes are still there.(look along the bottom.)
it does need a little more polishing to really brighten it up to match my under body toolboxes on each side.but i can do anytime.
it does make my rusty bumper look worse though haha.
when i eventually replace that bumper (its worse than it looks.there are actually large rust holes on each bottom side now.) i'll do something about adding a clean make shift trim between it and the bumper to really finish it off.

the air dam with my TTB front suspension (f250) and shorter tires: LT225/75/R16 (29.3X8.9) is 9.5" above the ground even still.

pic of behind too.
the running board is pretty near dang perfect,because it has two reinforced bars already.
simply got out the torch and made a couple notches up at the top where i wanted my bends,and bent it around to follow the bumper mostly,and then just drilled a hole on each outside and one in the center and bolted her on.come winter,when its time to hookup the plow,removal is easy as pie.
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Old 07-22-2011, 10:12 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Hmmm......

That's not half bad. I have sheet metal that I could make that out of, but I've seen others here post noticeable gains from a forward belly pan under some pickups too. Decisions, decision....
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Old 07-22-2011, 11:30 PM   #27 (permalink)
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Looks like you are doing good work already here! I think every little thing you can do will add up and pay for itself eventually. 15+ mpg on a rig this size is good work!

I have a brother that does landscaping/tree service/etc in Michigan and he is in a very similiar situation to you. He has a 1 ton diesel chevy duelly+box that gets about 14 mpg that he hates to drive. I'm not sure how many "little" jobs you do, but with the economy the way it is up there he does about 50% of his business anymore on small, one day jobs. He was getting eaten up on diesel whenever he had to travel to do one of these jobs.

His solution has been a Diesel Nissan pickup from the early 80's and a small trailer. I know getting another vehicle is never ideal, but if hes just going to timber the front of somebody's house, or plant/remove a few trees or whatever, he just doesn't need to get the beast out. At well over twice the gas mileage, he can afford to take some of those jobs he would have passed up on in the past.

Glad to hear that all your mods are working out for you and looking good too. I wouldn't think that 16 is out of the question considering the speed you drive. Good luck man.
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Old 07-23-2011, 08:14 PM   #28 (permalink)
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i got it just nicely below my front axle with some garden edging now.
so i think that takes care of this.
next up; side skirts.
i'll work on enclosing the dump bed sides at least a little.
i'll go the whole length of the bed from toolboxes to the rear,but im only going down to the tires,not over them or anything.
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Old 07-24-2011, 11:02 AM   #29 (permalink)
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I think it looks nice!! I'd be proud to roll into any c-store parking lot as I know others will be asking me how it's working out. 14-15 mpg is great after a 200-mile day: $55 for fuel and now it's beer o'clock.

A world of difference from the 8-mpg guys where maybe a 40-oz is the reward after spending just over $100 on fuel.

Look forward to more.

I'll never forget a guy riding with me one time, many years ago, (who didn't, and couldn't, have a vehicle) as he looked over a truck and said, "Man, I could really make some money with that truck" I'd never thought of that way (have truck, will work, can do) so it stuck with me. Been looking at all of them ever since.

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Old 07-25-2011, 12:14 AM   #30 (permalink)
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Found you from FTE.


Well my thought with idi 7.3L I used to own 87 F250 6.9L they are alike.

They get horrible mileage when it cold so you could try running little hotter thermostat like powerstroke 7.3L come with 203oF

They don't like run low rpm work. Mine get worse mileage if I have rpm around 1300-1600. Try run at 1700-2000 rpm it should improve.

City mile is BIGGEST KILLER. I try coast much I can in high traffic in city. It get 18-20 in warmer weather. In winter it 14-15.


I got much better mileage if I put about 2-3 gallons of used clean oil in tank. I did put oil in there first then go to diesel refill then reset mile. After that I refill with straight diesel. I saw 21 mpg city but it was slightly running hotter.


What psi you running on tires?



Have you thought of rewire switch to torque convertor to stay LOCK while you cruise 45 mph but turn off so it let rpm drop to idle while you coast.

My 00 F350 if I keep overdrive off I can let rpm drop to 600-700 while coast 25 to 55 mph. If I let overdrive ON it annoy it keep Lock torque convertor too early when you are try to coast it act like brake.

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