Airdam made of lawn edging

[joejoe317]

wow this is nice!

[Ultra-Orange]

no fuzzy dice? Don't make me pull your redneck license!

love the airdam by the way

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Dude, great minds think alike - I did the same thing two years ago on my S-10. Picked up 3-mph hwy.

Link:
Chin Spolier - fast/easy/cheap/effective - Pelican Parts Technical BBS


I did hit a snow drift (spun) this last winter when I went on to a side street and touched the gas coming out of the turn. I was trying to save gas keeping it out of 4WD, not always a smart thing to do. I now have a crack in the plastic chin valance above my home garden chin spoiler (in one corner). I still have to fix it, helps that the truck is all black, I forget it's even cracked.

2WD instead of 4WD doesn't save gas. All the same drivetrain parts are spinning, except it's the road spinning them.

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

2WD instead of 4WD doesn't save gas. All the same drivetrain parts are spinning, except it's the road spinning them.

If this were true, why would companies even bother with optional 4WD? Why not just make all their trucks permanent 4X4's?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

2WD instead of 4WD doesn't save gas. All the same drivetrain parts are spinning, except it's the road spinning them.

That is a nice theory, but in real world practice (on my truck) I can tell you that 4WD eats a very noticeable amount more of gas.

Off the top of my head, I lose about 3 mpg in 4WD.

When your are only getting 18 mpg hwy, and 13 mpg city this can add up quickly.

Lets say I average 15 mpg half/half, 12 mpg is way too low for me.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by Sven7

If this were true, why would companies even bother with optional 4WD? Why not just make all their trucks permanent 4X4's?

The trucks with part time 4WD usually have a 4WD mode where the front and rear axles are locked together. You should only use it on loose surfaces, not on dry, wet, or icy roads.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by kach22i

That is a nice theory, but in real world practice (on my truck) I can tell you that 4WD eats a very noticeable amount more of gas.

Off the top of my head, I lose about 3 mpg in 4WD.

When your are only getting 18 mpg hwy, and 13 mpg city this can add up quickly.

Lets say I average 15 mpg half/half, 12 mpg is way too low for me.

Is it because your front and rear axles are locked together and scrubbing during turning?

[Frank Lee]

The 4WD stuff does add weight and usually a taller, dirtier aero profile. And even in 2WD mode there's more drivetrain stuff spinning even if it's only in the transfer case- a larger drivetrain loss.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

The 4WD stuff does add weight and usually a taller, dirtier aero profile. And even in 2WD mode there's more drivetrain stuff spinning even if it's only in the transfer case- a larger drivetrain loss.

But it's not just the transfer case. The front axles and driveshaft still spin in 2WD, it's just that the tires are turning them instead of the engine.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

The trucks with part time 4WD usually have a 4WD mode where the front and rear axles are locked together. You should only use it on loose surfaces, not on dry, wet, or icy roads.

People use 4WD in the snow and wet roads all the time, which is why such trucks exist in the marketplace. To say never use it unless on loose surfaces may be correct, but not realistic in my opinion.

I limit my 4WD use as much as possible, two sand tubes over the rear axle helps.

My multiple aerodynamic improvements; front chin spoiler, roof cab wing, and rear spoiler all help to keep her on the road at speed.