Improved efficiency with ladder/rack on truck?

[gillenium]

I have a Dodge Dakota Quad Cab work truck. It has a fiberglass topper with a Yakima ladder rack and ladder. I usually take the ladder off the rack when I'm going somewhere that I know I won't need it. Being new to the site/forum, is there anything you can recommend to reduce the hit I'm taking when driving with the ladder? Would a wind deflector like those you see on the big rigs help? Any other ideas?

[bikin' Ed]

Gill... This sounds crazy to me even as I am typing it, but here goes. My quad cab seems to to sit very high-- I'd love to lower it. Is there enough room under there for a custom ladder rack? Unlless you've belly panned it, the air flow underneath is pretty dirty anyway.

[wagonman76]

Would it be possible to put the ladder in the back of the topper with the ladder hanging out a bit? Depending on the length of the ladder of course. Itd eliminate the extra turbulence up top.

[i_am_socket]

If you could get a really snug cover over the ladder, it'll clean up the airflow around it and keep the air from trying to go through it. Just be sure it'd be tight enough not to flap around too much. A deflector in front would only delay the inevitable: air hitting all those rungs causing a majority of the drag.

[IndyIan]

Well to reduce the ladders drag probably the best method is just to slow down a bit. Time is money of course but I'd bet slowing down 5mph would get the drag back down to the level with out the ladder. I can't say I've ever seen a truck with a ladder on top ever driven with FE in mind, but you could be the first!
Ian

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

If you could get a really snug cover over the ladder, it'll clean up the airflow around it and keep the air from trying to go through it.

Some sort of heavy canvas wrapped around the front rung and then tied to the last one in a way that you could tighten down any slack (see image below) would be quick and easy to put on.