Commercially produced aerodynamic pickup bed cap

[bondo]

Hey round.boater

I've been checking your fuel efficiency numbers and it looks like you are showing a good increase here recently. I'm glad you purchased the first lid and thanks for being a perfect first customer and representative for the Aerolid.

The functional flexibilty of the Aerolid is a good selling point with superior fuel efficiency as the main reason to buy. Pickup truck owners are as varied as any other group of people. The ones who will want to buy an aerodynamic camper will be those realize there is a payback in the cost of fuel saved and each gallon of gas not combusted is one less gallon exhausted into the atmosphere.

I hope to see 25 mpg with the new lid on the 2009. I'm going to use rotary latches for sure and I use the Jackson method always now for folding the fabric sides.

Good to hear from you,

Bondo

[bluetwo]

Congrats on the first sale bondo! Glad to see it even if it still might be a bit before things move on it. I didn't even realize you'd sold one until today.

On the way home today I was just thinking what I really needed to do was to buy a flat tonneau cover because as soon as I do the aerolid will become available! Ha ha ha, and of course I'm totally just joking around. I couldn't shell out the cash right now anyway but if it was available I would certainly look at getting the money together.

[MadisonMPG]

What are they going to cost, and have you talked to Ford about marketing it for their trucks? (I can't read this whole thread)

Also, to the guy with the truck. GRILLE BLOCK.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by round.boater

I think you guys overestimate the hatred truck guys have for an Aerolid. I've had way too many people to count come up to me at gas stations / parking lots / etc and ask about it, many wanting to buy one, and have gotten quite a few thumbs up / mouthed "that's cool" / etc while driving. Sure, the people on forums only care about lift kits and mudders, but the real world has more shades of gray.

No, if you would have seen the NUMEROUS hate threads on them on Toyota/Ford/Dodge sites you would be in the same sinking boat as us.

[Big Dave]

There are a lot of meatheads out there.

[bluetwo]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

There are a lot of meatheads out there.

You can say that again. I catch all kinds of flak just because I drive a Canyon. It doesn't bother me because I know it'll tow just about as much as most full size trucks and it hauls great for it's bed.... anyway.

Hopefully tolerance for the money savings aspects of ecomodding will continue to grow as the amount of hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel efficient small cars populate the roads.

[round.boater]

Originally Posted by MadisonMPG

Also, to the guy with the truck. GRILLE BLOCK.

I've thought about it but have been pretty hesitant since my e-fans already kick on quite a bit. I've seen water temps of 207-209 pretty regularly this summer - especially with the trailer. Although, to be fair, my temps have kept in the 198-202 range more often and on hotter days now with the lower drag of the Aerolid than they did with my prior camper shell. And remember I drive to the Eisenhower tunnel semi-regularly - which is at about 11,000 feet, where the boiling point of water is something like 185 degrees...

And I saw all the hater posts, I'm just saying that my experience in the real world is much more positive than that.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by round.boater

I've thought about it but have been pretty hesitant since my e-fans already kick on quite a bit. I've seen water temps of 207-209 pretty regularly this summer - especially with the trailer. Although, to be fair, my temps have kept in the 198-202 range more often and on hotter days now with the lower drag of the Aerolid than they did with my prior camper shell. And remember I drive to the Eisenhower tunnel semi-regularly - which is at about 11,000 feet, where the boiling point of water is something like 185 degrees...

And I saw all the hater posts, I'm just saying that my experience in the real world is much more positive than that.

A good number of those hater threads are just internet generated garbage... most people are who you'll find on the average BB are just band-wagoners, and will jump to whatever side is "winning", just to say they had an opinion.

The worst part is that they will then liberally defend that opinion almost till death, with no real information to back it up, and based solely on someone else's opinion of their falsely formed opinion. Then another jerk-off forms an opinion based on that guy, they meet, stroke each others' egos, and live happily ever after in blissful ignorance of both the truth of the matter, and the fact that they could have been the ones to actually make the difference.


Congrats, Bondo, on the first sale!

[windrider919]

Bondo, You have an exciting concept but I think you might be missing the boat. I wanted to build a aerocap when I bought my '95 Dodge Dakota in '95. And I have considered it about a 1000 times a year since. Every time I drive from texas to a job in Florida or up to Washington state, etc. I am a construction Millwright and an A&P and a experienced sail/power boat FRP build/repair guy. I could build one. Yet I do not have one. I saw a sign a few years ago on a table at a craft show: "Yes you could make one but will you?" Obviously, as stated I have not. But I COULD and would buy one.

So, here is where you could make some progress towards your dream. You have the mould(s). Put them to work. How much would it take to cover materials for a 2006 F-150 Aerocap? Put out the word {here and other MPG sites} for orders and deposits to cover cost of materials. Set a deadline of submission of 30 or 45 days. See what the response is, what if 10 of us committed to buy? Then call for those deposits to get firm order numbers. What could it hurt to see what ACTUAL interest is? Let all of us who have expressed interest put our money where our mouth is. I work lots of small contracts where the customer pays 1/3 down, 1/3rd at 50% completion and 1/3rd at final. Or just deposit (non-refundable) and at completion pay the balance. If someone defaulted on final payment I am da*m sure someone else would buy it for the remainder.

And for shipping / delivery. Perhaps someone like me could come up to pick up my shell and load on a trailer 3 or 4 other guys shells and drive a route to deliver them if they pay a percentage of the gas. Or perhaps we could come out with something else creative for shipping / delivery.

The real cool thing about this is it is the best proof of saleability to go to potential investors or manufacturers and SHOW that there is a market. Its all about Forward Momentum. Lets make some!

[NeilBlanchard]

Welcome to EM, Windrider.

Bondo, I meant to ask earlier -- do you now have a patent on the Aerolid?