02-25-2015, 10:49 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South-Western Ontario
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Hello ecomodders - help with new truck (2015 RAM 1500 3.6 V6)
Just signed up today. I have been using this website for quite awhile now to help squeeze MPG's out of my old 4 cylinder S-10 but now that truck is soon to be retired and I bought a new 2015 RAM 1500 3.6 V6. I do need a truck for work but put about 40k-50k kms a year on my work trucks so I am looking to once again squeeze out the MPG's while maintaining it's practicality. I haven't been able to find much on here for the new RAMs so if anyone has any useful advice, it would be appreciated.
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02-25-2015, 11:07 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
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Welcome to the site.
One truck is the same as the other for the most part. If you're doing that many miles, you're traveling at highway speeds a lot. Look into aeromods.
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02-25-2015, 11:18 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South-Western Ontario
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I've got a cap on the box and side steps (which do actually help with aero). Truck comes with grille shutters to help with that as well. Which is why I need vehicle specific upgrades to take load off the motor.
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02-25-2015, 12:54 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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If you can make an aero cap rather than a square cap. That'll be one of your biggest gains for reducing highway speed engine load.
I'm sure you've seen lots of examples of DIY aero caps, from pro-quality to quick-n-dirty.
EG: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...cap-30843.html
If a tapered topper doesn't work for you, then look at making tapered flaps for the rear.
Have you run down the rest of the aero mods list? Wheel covers? Rear wheel fender skirts? Belly pan?
And.. welcome to the forum! |
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02-25-2015, 01:06 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2015
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I just have a normal cap for the truck but it has recessed windows to aid with the aero. I can't modify the cap much because I need in and out for work often. I am looking into the wheel covers and possibly a belly pan. The pan seems like it would be the most effective since I could just have something that bolts up to the ladder frame that could be removed easily for maintenance. Have you heard of anyone doing a belly pan with a truck?
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02-25-2015, 01:34 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Master Novice
Join Date: Jan 2008
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__________________
Lead or follow. Either is fine.
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02-25-2015, 01:36 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Sure, there are members who put pans on their trucks, eg:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ler-26997.html
I'd taper the end of that topper. (Topper taper!) That's where your big gains are.
Food for thought:
How are your fabrication skills? |
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02-25-2015, 02:00 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Spaced out...
Join Date: Jul 2013
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You need the truck, but do you need ALL of its abilities or just a bed to keep stuff? Warm air intake would help MPG but would hurt power which is bad if you tow a lot and have hills to deal with. Lowering would help aero but might limit how much tongue or bed weight the truck can handle.
__________________
-Mike
2007 Ford Focus ZX5 - 91k - SGII, pending upper and lower grill bocks - auto trans 
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 5.3/4L80E swap - 13.67 @ 106
2007 Ford Focus Estate - 230k - 33mpg - Retired 4/2018
1995 Saturn SL2 - 256K miles - 44mpg - Retired 9/2014
Cost to Operate Spreadsheet for "The New Focus"
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02-25-2015, 02:05 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I just noticed your location - I bought Firefly #1 from a guy near Ingersoll.
A tale of two Metros - MetroMPG.com
Close to the CAMI plant where they were built. |
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02-25-2015, 04:00 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Quote:
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You need the truck, but do you need ALL of its abilities or just a bed to keep stuff? Warm air intake would help MPG but would hurt power which is bad if you tow a lot and have hills to deal with. Lowering would help aero but might limit how much tongue or bed weight the truck can handle.
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I need the truck for the bed and cab. I never tow and rarely have too much weight in the back. But I do need easy access to the box and sometimes my truck is crammed in tight spots that aero bits hanging off the end could be the difference of fitting somewhere or not.
Quote:
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I just noticed your location - I bought Firefly #1 from a guy near Ingersoll
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Yup, they were built about five minutes from my house, same with sidekicks/trackers and now equinox/terrain. My wife used to go all over north America doing quality control for GM and other companies up until 3 months ago. Let me tell you... never buy a GM product lol.... terrifying stuff. Sucks Ingersoll always gets the worst GM products.
My truck came with LT tires that weigh over 50lbs each so once they are done I can put on some LRR SUV tires that should only weight about 35-40lbs.
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