Another truck aero cap idea... - Page 8 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

BamZipPow · 12-25-2010, 09:33 PM

Got some heavy rain last night and there was only a small amount of moisture at the back right corner of the bed. I think I should be able to take care of that by putting some camper foam seal between the hatch edge and the sides. Lucky I still have a roll of that stuff leftover...

I still have to shape the new ducktail with a heat gun so it conforms to the front edge of the aero cap. I also need to git my template made up fer the rear plexiglass window.

Here's the current piccies...

Aero mode...side view

Aero mode...rear view

Aero mode...top view

Aero mode...left corner view

richtate · 12-27-2010, 01:01 PM

Keep up the good work BZP, any figures from your new cap? Just got back from Oklahoma and my unmodified Chevy extended cab short bed and got 16.7 mpg. I need to pull some more data to really get a good average mpg as this weekend there was alot of wind to deal with.

aerohead · 12-27-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

During my first trip with my first generation aero cap to San Antonio and back, I didn't notice anything trying to pull itself apart...thank goodness!

Hopefully I designed my aero cap with enough structure to be sturdy enough to handle those kinds of pressure differentials.

I just reinforced all my taped joints with...Gorilla Tape!

Maybe when I zip back through...we can meet up again and you can see how far I've progressed...

That's good news on the cover.Explosions suck!
Let me know when you're head'n through again.I'm working a second job to raise funds for Bonneville,plenty busy,but with enough lead time I can wiggle schedules around.Lookin' forward to it!

BamZipPow · 12-28-2010, 08:05 PM

I head out late tonight...won't be able to stop by on the way up. Not too sure on the way back either.

I'll have to make a separate trip up that way sometime.

Got the rear window made and installed...made it out of Lexan.

BamZipPow · 12-29-2010, 11:17 PM

Ready fer the numbers?

From Houston to Ardmore...I got 25mpg. Got some ethanol free gas in Ardmore and got 28.69mpg to Wichita cruising at 65mph. Best mileage ever!

My normal mileage without any aero package is usually between 20-21mpg.

metroschultz · 12-30-2010, 12:51 PM

Way to go!
This is one of the times that lets everyone know how much aero helps with FE.

richtate · 12-30-2010, 01:10 PM

Congrats BZP! That is amazing to get a 36% increase in mpg. All due to aero mods.

BamZipPow · 12-30-2010, 01:17 PM

Forgot to add that I had 2 extra passengers and their luggage...about an extra 400 lbs. The clearance fer the rear skirts dropped from 8" empty to 4.5" loaded. I have all my data plugged into my fuel log.

The last trip in November was with my standard camper top but with the lower aero package installed...and the best I got from Ardmore to Wichita was around 26.58mpg.