Community thoughts

[redpoint5]

I do t know the specifics about your vehicle, but you’ve got a lot more room for improvement than someone driving a Prius. A 10% improvement in your van is going to save a lot more money than a 10% improvement on a Prius.

[Tmugz88]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I do t know the specifics about your vehicle, but you’ve got a lot more room for improvement than someone driving a Prius. A 10% improvement in your van is going to save a lot more money than a 10% improvement on a Prius.

I'm still new to this world, so I'm only going of info I've obtained from the Econoline forums I've been part of.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Tmugz88

We own a 2007 E350 Superduty , 12 passenger auto 2wd with the 5.4L with OD.

Had this engine been at least as popular as the SBC among off-roaders, sure there would be more builds oriented toward low-end torque that you could replicate and match with a higher differential ratio

[Piotrsko]

Just checking: it's a passenger van, not some weird excursion variety. So aero is your devil. Brick wall in the front, huge vortices behind you, the side mirrors are probably worth a 2mpg penalty just by themselves.

80 psi tires means 6ply or better, probably another 1or 2 because they are heavy and not designed for fuel efficiency or low rolling resistance.

You're mantra should be clean up the flows around and below the vehicle. The people here know their stuff, welcome.

And no reason you can't improve the mpg. Wont be 30, but it will be better than you get now.

[freebeard]

Retractable boat tail, side skirts, and a half-circular front bumper (no pic from the front)

I made this for another thread. Half-rounds chamfer the stagnation point like the Cybertruck and bellmouth the radiator, mirrors moved away from the A-pillars, side skirts, Cruiser skirts and a boxed cavity.

[Tmugz88]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Just checking: it's a passenger van, not some weird excursion variety. So aero is your devil. Brick wall in the front, huge vortices behind you, the side mirrors are probably worth a 2mpg penalty just by themselves.

80 psi tires means 6ply or better, probably another 1or 2 because they are heavy and not designed for fuel efficiency or low rolling resistance.

You're mantra should be clean up the flows around and below the vehicle. The people here know their stuff, welcome.

And no reason you can't improve the mpg. Wont be 30, but it will be better than you get now.

Here's a side shot of our 07 Econoline.

I may start carrying the cargo carrier we have on the rear hitch like was suggested . Just need to install it in between work and packing for our move.

[freebeard]

Be aware that the hitch box shown by redpoint5 does what's called 'wake filling'. Some benefit, but not as much as if there is a smooth transition off the vehicle body.

Would you be more inclined toward skirts or lowering?

[Tmugz88]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Be aware that the hitch box shown by redpoint5 does what's called 'wake filling'. Some benefit, but not as much as if there is a smooth transition off the vehicle body.

Would you be more inclined toward skirts or lowering?

It really would come down to usability for our household, and living in Northern Wisconsin I wouldn't know how either would handle the changes in weather and seasons .

[65whitelion]

I'm thinking conveyor belt style front dam, underbody lining to smooth flow, side skirts and some flow separation at the back.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

80 psi tires means 6ply or better, probably another 1or 2 because they are heavy and not designed for fuel efficiency or low rolling resistance.

I don't see any full-size truck, van or SUV with anything below 8PR so often. And even some 8PR 185R14 tires for VW Kombis are already quite heavy...