Aerodynamic Truck Front Bumper Options

[Big Dave]

I like your idea, but I would not slant the bumper.

At the speeds necessary for MPG, trucks have plenty of front end downforce. A slated bumper would add downforce and generate drag. Air has weight and "making your hole in the air" by pushing it up over the vehicle requires energy. Pushing it around the vehicle requires energy too, but not as much as lifting the mass of air.

[aardvarcus]

Thank you for your reply. I only was going to slant it to make it a little closer to the template in all dimensions, but I see your point. If I leave the bottom bumper flat up and down, that would direct most of the air striking it to the sides. It is hard to tell from the drawing, but the bumper will curve to match a fairly blunt template side to side.

That leaves the grill block directing all it’s air up and over, and the light covers would be doing a mix of up and over and off to the sides. Should I be trying to make any of those pieces direct the air differently?

[ron]

nice look and should serve both requirements

[freebeard]

At some point I may be making a curved front bumper for one of my vehicles.

My thought was to cut 1/4" plywood to the height of the bumper and then laminate strips with water-proof glue onto a form until it's ~1" thick. Or two, each 1/2-3/4" thick with a shallower curve behind a deeper one with the ends pinned together. It would be like a giant elliptical spring.

It would be less complex than this: