ANY hope for a fullsized flatbed pickup?

[Ryland]

What are you using this truck for?

The least aerodynamic part of a truck is the under side, so I would start there.

[max_frontal_area]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-2-a-8613.html

Drive very, very, very slowly, and you can get 25mpg on diesel while using the truck as a truck.

Most of the suggestions made regarding Project Groovy apply here, but they all cost money, which you won't have if you commute in an F250.

Is there any hope, you ask? Yes, there is hope for saving lots of fuel through ecomodding. Driving style and simple mods will save you more gas than I burn in my Insight. But no, there is no hope for having a truck that uses as little gas as a car. The laws of physics prevent that.

"but they all cost money, which you won't have if you commute in an F250"

good one! it could be taken in more than one way
i get garound by pushbike most of the time.

ok, what are they?

some suburbans fitted with GM diesels claim to get up to 30mpg highway
and just running a diesel at operating temp will make a big difference!
saw an insight for sale the other day... how much would it cost to replace its batteries?

[max_frontal_area]

Coastrider and Ryland:

"what are you using the truck for?"

most often: freeway with light hauling therefore the desire to improve aero.
occasionally: hauling tires, dirt in the truck. towing; pumper pull 1k Lbs, and
5-6k Lbs. later possibly a 5th wheel camper.

"that auto is going to hurt OverDrive and preferrably a manual is a necessity for FE."

hurt, no kidding a bit too late, it shifts a bit late very hard going into 3rd.
not sure of its efficiency which is a factor about automatics i dislike
a few adjustments out of spec and it will soak up a lot of power.
how does the overdrive actually work on these trannys?

[max_frontal_area]

Originally Posted by Ryland

The least aerodynamic part of a truck is the under side, so I would start there.

how can you say that? this will be a flatbed. no bed, no tonneau cover, not even a tailgate.
ok while we are on that subject what do you suggest? the ride height is stock
and will remain that way. it has 5 leaf springs per side, solid rear axle with the customary big bell housing, single rear wheels standard width 16".
front end is twin i-beam, same chrome bumper (will delete the over riders)
as in picture.

[CoastRider]

The trans in your truck is probably a C6, a great HD trans (in its time) but also a big power sucker and no OD. I would at least hope it has a lock up TC but I don't know if they do or not.

If thats all your are hauling IMO you have more motor than you need, I am a tad bit biased I love the 300 and would only replace it with a 4BT.

If you want better FE get a manual trans a ZF5 would be perfect nice creeper 1st and a .70 overdrive. EOC is the the best way to improve FE manuals are much more eoc friendly.

22 mile trip last night 9.5 miles eoc. I would share the mpg I got on that trip, but no one would believe it.

[max_frontal_area]

The trans in your truck is probably a C6, a great HD trans (in its time) but also a big power sucker and no OD. I would at least hope it has a lock up TC but I don't know if they do or not.

If thats all your are hauling IMO you have more motor than you need, I am a tad bit biased I love the 300 and would only replace it with a 4BT.

300=??? is a 4BT a 4 or 5 speed? is a swap to a 5 speed more involved than a set of pedals. also are there any 5 speed trannys that dont have the twin clutch/PP setup? which rear end ratios generally come in these trucks?

If you want better FE get a manual trans a ZF5 would be perfect nice creeper 1st and a .70 overdrive. EOC is the the best way to improve FE manuals are much more eoc friendly.

22 mile trip last night 9.5 miles eoc. I would share the mpg I got on that trip, but no one would believe it.

ok, you have permission. what, is it, that you do that gets you 20 -30 mpg in a truck?

[CoastRider]

Originally Posted by max_frontal_area

The trans in your truck is probably a C6, a great HD trans (in its time) but also a big power sucker and no OD. I would at least hope it has a lock up TC but I don't know if they do or not.

If thats all your are hauling IMO you have more motor than you need, I am a tad bit biased I love the 300 and would only replace it with a 4BT.

300=??? is a 4BT a 4 or 5 speed? is a swap to a 5 speed more involved than a set of pedals. also are there any 5 speed trannys that dont have the twin clutch/PP setup? which rear end ratios generally come in these trucks?

The ford 300 or 4.9 inline 6, 50 year production run.Ford quit making them available in trucks after 1996 cause they last too long! Cummins 4BT 3.9 turbo diesel inline 4 mostly used in older bread vans/ frito lay trucks

twin clutch/pp? you mean the dual mass flywheel? you can use a standard setup. just add shifter, pedals, trans, clutch hydrualics, may need a shorter rear drive shaft

If you want better FE get a manual trans a ZF5 would be perfect nice creeper 1st and a .70 overdrive. EOC is the the best way to improve FE manuals are much more eoc friendly.

22 mile trip last night 9.5 miles eoc. I would share the mpg I got on that trip, but no one would believe it.

ok, you have permission. what, is it, that you do that gets you 20 -30 mpg in a truck?

Pretend there is an rotten egg between my foot and the gas pedal, Engine Off Coasting which is usually 1/3 or more the total distance traveled, that trip was almost half! so basicly I was getting mid 20's while the engine was running and infinity while it was off driving the mpg up, speed limits on most routes I take are 25-45 mph, at 35 on a flat I'm at 1000 rpms in 5th gear.

42.14mpg but that was just 1 22mi trip.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by max_frontal_area

saw an insight for sale the other day... how much would it cost to replace its batteries?

A kilobuck.

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

A kilobuck.

Of course, if your good with electronics and don't mind making a high voltage trickle charger, you can do it for a whole lot less.

See...

Picasa Web Albums - jsmosher - Battery Trick...

...for a way to do it yourself, if your so inclined.


Jim.

[aerohead]

Removing the bed from my Dodge truck cost over 2-mpg and the drag was so bad,she overheated above 50-mph.
A flatbed is an aerodynamic torture-chamber.