Inflatable boattail

[Gone4]

Originally Posted by bennelson

Years ago, I saw an infomercial for a car jack that was just a big plastic bag you stick under your car, then use your exhaust pipe to inflate it.

I wouldn't trust that to hold up my car, but might work great for inflatable aeromods.

Remember though, this itself will take a lot of extra fuel. As the bag inflates, pressure head increases.

[buckyball]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Back in the 90s I did a inflatable boattail for the T-100 ,when it was John Gilkison's.

You don't have any pictures or diagrams perchance?

[dremd]

Subscribed:
I Want one :-)
Bad

[aerohead]

I think I posted a pic in the Misc.Photos section over at maxmpg.I've got over 200 photos over there .I'll check when I get a chance.If I didn't,I'll try an dig up the image and re-post it.

[dremd]

I wonder if the Fun Jumps (bouncy buddies; etc) people have a forum?
I tried to get a local place that sews all of their own jumps to build me an arch (few years back) and they flat out refused on grounds that it might not work.
Anyway; those guys sew up some AWESOME inflatable stuff; I can't see why someone in that field (so Inclined) couldn't sew something up.

Any Body know Someone in the field?
Incase you guys haven't figured it out I'm really psyched on this idea.

[AndrewJ]

Heck, all you really need is an inflatable "bed" mattress and a big jar of contact-adhesive.
Get one of the inflatable beds with a built-in pump (that inflates and deflates) and cut up the mattress to make your boattail. There's plenty of material there to work with, and its rubber, so it'll glue up with contact cement wonderfully. And for tips on how to properly glue up rubber with contact cement, just watch the Mythbusters episode where they escape from Alcatraz on their homemade inflatable raft.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I think I posted a pic in the Misc.Photos section over at maxmpg.I've got over 200 photos over there .I'll check when I get a chance.If I didn't,I'll try an dig up the image and re-post it.

Here's the pic, I think.

The plan is to set up a gallery here so we can host those photos on EcoModder. It's on the massive to-do list (which we're slowly chipping away at)!

[MetroMPG]

I see you've also got the half-tonneau in that image.

[dremd]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

My biggest question at the moment is how many/ much internal braces would be required so it did not turn in to a bubble, but stayed shaped more how I'd like it to look. Do you guys think it woud be posable to have all of the braces run paralel to airflow? (reduced drag)

I am considering using pictures of Basjos's car from side, top and using that as a pattern for the top/ sides (scaled to golf size) (and ofcouse if he would give permission).

Considering convertible plastic rear window material for the upper portion to retain visibility(in a final version) Maybe visquine to start.

As far as stiffness goes, I'm not sure where/ how, but I believe that the structure could be greatly enhanced with plywood panels and / or tent poles glued/ sewn in.

And a final thought, wouldn't it be great if it could be collapsed entirely just by sucking the air out? How about using the tension from the top to hold the boat tail from hitting the ground, then having tent poles (or plywood)hinged in 2 (folding so the "V" is inverted) collapse in such a manner that the entire assembly sits between the bumper and the back window?

[Thalass]

The old Subaru Brumby (BRAT, I think they were called in other parts of the world) were quite aerodynamic with their canvas cover on (which was partly transparent so you could see out the back). One of those would only need a smallish wedge-shaped tail on the tailgate!


This would also be a great idea if you're towing a heavily-laden trailer on long trips. When I drove across the country I was lucky to get 350km to a tank (64L). Not because of my car (which was full of stuff + surf ski on the roof), but because of the heavy box-shaped trailer in back.

An inflatable tapering tail and some kind of curtain to join the car and trailer would have worked wonders.