Deep Blue- Suburban Streamlining

[freebeard]

ennored — Nice example, and I like the trailer tail light in the lower left.

[ennored]

Hadn't noticed that.

It's a random image from the web, but I recognize the intersection, Catalpa and Woodward, so I know the picture is from the Woodward cruise. 1 or 2 of everything out that weekend. Old truck with explosion proof housings used for taillights, check.

[slowmover]

This just turned into a, “ready to run in ten years” kind of project.

The fuel “savings” aren’t going to justify a pretty much solo-use, next-to-empty vehicle the majority of its miles.

It’s NOT the right vehicle.

If I believed it was and I just HAD to get an annual tetanus shot from hereon, I’d work on the rear exit (hitch mounted case with removable aero overhang as shown elsewhere) AND

I would focus on building an aero trailer that relied on the work done by Aerohead & Aerostealth re 100-mph tractor-trailers & buses.

Aerodynamics aren’t really going to matter much around town. It’s the steady-state Highway problem where it comes into its own. Dramatic drop in horsepower demand given close coupling.

That close-coupling is worthy of the effort, IMO.

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[freebeard]

I’d work on the rear exit (hitch mounted case with removable aero overhang as shown elsewhere) AND

I would focus on building an aero trailer that relied on the work done by Aerohead & Aerostealth re 100-mph tractor-trailers & buses.

Could you provide examples?

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by slowmover

This just turned into a, “ready to run in ten years” kind of project.

The fuel “savings” aren’t going to justify a pretty much solo-use, next-to-empty vehicle the majority of its miles.

It’s NOT the right vehicle.

I understand your point, but for a lot of us here this is a hobby/for fun. Speaking for myself, driving 1500 miles to compete in a fuel economy competition doesn't make any sense at all, but I still do it once a year because I enjoy the challenge. Modifying my car to improve its highway fuel consumption doesn't make sense when I could realize far more savings by leaving it at home and taking the train to the East Coast later this month, but I enjoy the car more and am comfortable with that emotional decision. I suspect the same is true of aardvarcus.

[aardvarcus]

Shaneajanderson,
Thank you for the suggestion, I am not sure that I would want to use a bedcover as part of my cargo area conversion. I do have a hard tri-folding cover on my heavy hauling/towing truck, they are great!

Ennored,
Thank you for the suggestions. I think the Magnum RT is the closest to working I have seen thus far, but isn’t quite what I was imagining. I am starting to think that exactly what I am looking for doesn’t exist. (Bigger version of a 2000's celica hatchback.)

2000mc,
The Aztec isn’t a bad suggestion, the two part with the upper being mostly glass would be nice if I converted the suburban to a step side tailgate.

Slowmover,
Thanks, I appreciate your feedback. I realize I have not posted a complete explanation as to why I chose to do what I am doing to the vehicle in question (largely because I don’t think anyone would read it nor would I expect others to draw my same conclusions) so I am not surprised the starting off point for this build to be questioned. I realize using it for what I have suggested is rather obscure. However the vehicle has been and will continue to be used up to its capabilities on a fairly regular basis. Things change and I don’t know that I would start this exact project over again if I had it to do over again, however it is what it is at this point and I intend to press forward with completing this project which I have started.
I would rather not need to rely on a trailer for the drag coefficient I wish to achieve, as I also plan to tow with this vehicle. It is also much more handy and maneuverable without a trailer.

Vman455,
Yes, a big part of this is for hobby/fun. I enjoy the challenge of doing something others are not doing.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Could you provide examples?

I shared some renderings years ago here at the aero forum,but after the PhotoBucket debaucle,they're probably lost forever.

[freebeard]

I was curious what slowmover was referring to. But if you're missing some of the things, these are the ones I have in https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...technical.html

[aerohead]

Thanks!
The one probably most germane would the Greyhound Bus,which was chopped by four-feet,pulling a gap-filled,full-boat-tailed cargo trailer.

[freebeard]

http://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-c.../2016/06/f.png

What I'm proposing would be like this.