Commercially produced aerodynamic pickup bed cap

[ajohn7211]

Originally Posted by bondo

Post some of your fuel efficiency figures you realize with your aero shell.

Thanks,

Bondo

Unfortunately I've been a little low on money since I built it so I haven't had the ability to do "testing" but the figures that I do have are:

just shy of 30 MPG between Jackson and Rock Springs Wy doing mostly 65mph.
About 30 MPG between Laramie Wy and south Denver Co going along I-80 and I-25 largely going 75.

I apologize for not having more definitive numbers but financially I'm not in a position to get mo accurate numbers.

The truck is a 2001 Toyota Tacoma with the 4cyl engine, manual transmission, and SR-5 package. The tires look to be slightly larger than stock but distances and speeds were achevied via GPS.

[Chris D.]

Originally Posted by ajohn7211

and I put them on the Book of Faces. Click the link below to see them.

AeroShell | Facebook

Here ya go John..

[t vago]

Awesome! Duct tape - is there anything it can't do?

[ajohn7211]

Originally Posted by t vago

Awesome! Duct tape - is there anything it can't do?

Stick to hardware cloth. Its been pealing up and I'm having to go over it again. I did the hardware cloth to add support as it snows a lot here in Wyoming but because the contact area that the hardware cloth provides is tiny.

[t vago]

Originally Posted by ajohn7211

Stick to hardware cloth. Its been pealing up and I'm having to go over it again. I did the hardware cloth to add support as it snows a lot here in Wyoming but because the contact area that the hardware cloth provides is tiny.

You could do what some have done here with their wheel covers. Install the hardware cloth, then coat it with fiberglass resin. You might could do several layers of hardware cloth, or you could use the stiffened hardware cloth as a support for several layers of fiberglass.

[ajohn7211]

Originally Posted by t vago

You could do what some have done here with their wheel covers. Install the hardware cloth, then coat it with fiberglass resin. You might could do several layers of hardware cloth, or you could use the stiffened hardware cloth as a support for several layers of fiberglass.

yeah I have been considering fiberglassing but i've got some design changes i think i'm gonna do for version 2.0 and hopefully that will make things hold up better and be more aero. Maybe add a door or some plexi-glass so i can see out the back occasionally.

[KamperBob]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

Duct tape - awesome. Red Green would love it too.

[CFECO]

Maybe the heat-shrink wrap, used for sealing up boats for storage, would be good when the final shape is not determined yet.

[ajohn7211]

Originally Posted by CFECO

Maybe the heat-shrink wrap, used for sealing up boats for storage, would be good when the final shape is not determined yet.

I also considered that but I didn't know how strong the heat-shrink wrap is, if it would of held up under the snow by itself, or how well it would of held up to the sharp ends of the hardware cloth.

Again all changes that I'm considering for version 2.0. I'm gonna do more bent pipe and maybe some plywood and plexiglass.

[bondo]

ajohn7211, your 2001 Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cylinder engine and manual transmission is rated at 23 mpg for highway at Fuel Economy

If your preliminary road tests are showing a couple of 30 mpg runs, you and the aero shell you made are evidently doing something right!

Bondo