A Practical Guide to Pickup Truck Aeromods
 

Hi, all!

After driving my F-100 across the Midwest with an aero tonneau, I decided to write an article detailing the different approaches available for pickup owners.

Hopefully this can be a useful primer for those looking to learn a bit more, or a reference guide (I provided a LOT of links) for seasoned veterans.

A Practical Guide to a Pickup Truck Aero-mods

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...8292892560.jpg

Enjoy! :thumbup:

A Practical Guide
 

Well who's the professor now?
Great presentation Tyler!
I suspect that it's gonna gain traction on the web.:thumbup:

Haha, thanks! It has 55 unique views and one "recommend" so far. Not exactly on fire (yet).

They say that teaching helps you learn, so it definitely was a nice refresher course on the subject.

I'm hoping that interspersing race trucks into the article will help hold the interest of more mainstream car enthusiasts. I like to think of it as using the powers of aerodynamics for good vs. using them for evil (not literally evil!). :)

Bookmarked. Nice job!

A good synopsis of our forum activity and the general topic - Bravo.

Future additions could include:

* Front air dams/chin spoilers.

* Belly Pans

* Lowering the vehicle

* Air Curtains both at front and at rear corners (my roof wing might have a little curtain effect to it FYI). Cab-over racing trucks in Europe would be a front corner example. I did a proposal for my rear cab corners using quarter round PVC tube but never followed through. This might be best categorized as experimental things yet to be validated.

What is nice about the document as it stands is that the modifications covered are fairly pick-up truck specific.

Whereas the additional topics proposed above may cover more vehicle types, both an advantage and disadvantage depending on how concise you like your documents.

Did your fe improve?

What did your tuft testing reveal?

I like the truth you spoke about tailgates.

Thanks, everybody. :)

I might do a couple more articles in the future, but it will be hard to organize. I think there will have to be separate articles for sedans/notchbacks/coupes and hatch/wagons. Front end mods can be shared among body styles, but the rear ends would be different. Combined, they'd make up an extremely long article.

One thing holding me back is that without the graph of modifications as a guide, it's hard to say how much certain mods would help. If I knew of such a graph, I'd be much more likely to try it.

Look at this- it's an actual scholarly paper about drag reduction, but they start out with a freaking cartoon car! It can be challenging to find trustworthy information. I'll bet Hucho has some good stuff... if I wanted to spend three weeks combing through the book for a single blog post.
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jaer...18.fig.002.jpg

Air curtains... yeah, I haven't heard of anyone successfully DIY'ing those onto their car. I only want to present mods which have a measured benefit.

The EM "65+ Efficiency Mods" is a good start, but (no offense, Darin) is really vague and sometimes misleading. For instance, no one removes their door handles for drag reduction, although that is listed with a 1 out of 3 impact on fuel consumption. I personally would not even mention that.

My FE was terrible, and one variable was the state of tune. I had some more work done in MN, so it's hard to say if the tonneau worked or not.

Tuft testing just told me that the air is indeed hitting the tonneau. Aerohead surmised that it's seeing some big longitudinal vortexes from the cab.

Just trying to spread the Good Word, lol. :thumbup:

This image may make for a good addition to your guide:


http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ae...mendations.jpg

Aerohead brought it to my attention in the thread about my Silverado.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post142830

I planned to do the panels under the cab/bed but ended up selling the truck before I had the chance. I always wondered how effective they would be.

Don't some trucks have running boards that pop out when you unlock the doors? Do they stay out until you park the vehicle?

Would they serve any purpose while the truck is in motion?

Ghost riding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_riding

I've got a deadline today, but I think I have a college paper which offers a slightly better a model for academic analysis purposes. Will post it later.

One of the images below is from that paper, a near single plane for hood/windshield.

Other images may be of interest, have forgotten where they are sourced from, but a reverse Google image search may lead you to the original source if interested (for proper crediting).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483038.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437482477.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437482500.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483051.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483071.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483151.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483162.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483168.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437483175.jpg

Don’t lower your tailgate: GM details aerodynamic design of 2014 Silverado and Sierra, debunks myths | Equipment World | Construction Equipment, News and Information | Heavy Construction Equipment

"But there are accessories you can add to your truck that will help. GM says Tonneau covers for the bed help smooth airflow over the truck, and Bloch says soft covers are more beneficial than the hard ones because they “form to how the air wants to flow.” Round, tube-style running boards can also help air flow smoothly down the truck’s sides, but flush-mount running boards are even better."

Smooth running boards are better than round ones, and even better than normal ones? What about none?

That's the way VW Type IIs came, to include the single-and double-cab pickups.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...295-327129.jpg

The belly-pan was 'optional', used mainly for structural reinforcement on the open-top models. I believe some models shipped with the left and right sections but no center section. The forward 1/3 was covered by a removable pan under the cab floor.

Running boards were an aftermarket item.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/229886.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=229886

i think the boards were removed. period! the space that would have been to the left/right of them, to the under/inside of the truck was enclosed. basically a mini belly pan, under the cab.

I think the implication was:

Best:
http://uploads.gocdn.us/245/498/Envo...ng%20Board.jpg

Good:
http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com.../4620_1_lg.jpg

Worst:
http://www.customautotrim.com/img/Ro...e/rpanels1.jpg

Having a hard time believing that running boards help...

And these are better yet?
http://50.57.10.112/SuperContainer/R...20for%20Trucks

Some of the retractable running boards nicely fill up the gap underneath. They even indicate improved fuel economy in their marketing propaganda:
Quality AMP Research Powerstep & Truck Running Boards | AMP Research
http://www.amp-research.com/wp-conte...0/02/aero2.jpg

It is light on data though...

A claim like that should invite skepticism, but in this case:

A) they have a windtunnel, and
B) GM does not manufacture running boards or offer them as a factory option on the Silverado or Sierra, so they don't have a financial interest in convincing customers to purchase them. I suppose this particular engineer could have some personal interest in propping up the aftermarket running board industry, but given that in the same interview he discourages the use of other accessories like cargo nets, I find that unlikely.

Pssst....

Optional features on the 2015 Silverado include:

• 4" Round Black tubular assist steps
• 4" Chromed tubular round assist steps
• 6" Rectangular Black tubular assist step
• 6" Chromed tubular rectangular assist steps

2015 Silverado 1500 Trims: WT - LS - LT - LTZ | Chevrolet

They aren't as common as they are on the Tahoe/Suburban, but it is an option.

none
 

In lieu of lowered rocker panel extensions combined with a belly pan,the running boards mitigate some of the unwanted mixing between the sides and bottom of a pickup.

help
 

Roger Clark of GM eluded to their benefit in his piece for Popular Science.
Here you can see GM using 'running boards' on their sub-0.14 Aero
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ntitled6_9.jpg

That's interesting--they didn't show up as options when I tried "building my own." Nevertheless, Point 1) still stands.

aerohead and Frank Lee -- Another example from the Pelican Parts thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1435720229.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1435720281.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/8690138-post30354.html

I found that exact post and linked to the article the graphic was from. A Truck That Drinks Less Than a Car? | Popular Science

It would be hard to test. I'm of the opinion that you're better off without the weight and complexity. Remove them and add some permanent side skirts.

The pickup wing image is interesting- where did you find it? The car still doesn't look even remotely real. Can't these schools afford a $100 Accord model off Turbosquid?!

Interesting; I didn't know that. Maybe something to add in. I like this photo:

http://www.equipmentworld.com/files/...l-Tailgate.jpg

I think they are assuming every truck has running boards, so they are ranking them. Rounded edges are best if you must have them. The best overall is probably similar to HydroJim's Focus: http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...0-12-12008.jpg

This discussion about running boards is why I tried to stick to the basics. It's hard enough to get people to pay attention, so I don't want to confuse them.

PS- the article has over 150 views now! It seems to be the most popular one I've written to date. :)

Sven7, just read through everything here. Nice work!

Aren't running boards supposed to serve as a step to get in and out of taller vehicles? Don't our members often lower vehicles to make them more fuel efficient?

Finally! I can afford a new car! :)

Yeah, WHO the heck put that in there!?

We're taking a fresh look at the 65+ mods list imminently. It needs work & updating.

--

PS, I'm surprised your article didn't get more traction. It's good.

But I dunno how Kinja / Jalopnik works. If it's anything like the old days on DIGG, it's more about who you know (network of up-voters and recommenders with status) than the quality of what you submit. Or a little of both.

Cool! If you would for some reason like to use any pictures from my build threads, go ahead (although they were ugly rusty piles). I would like to do an article on basic car mods, but it may be a few weeks at least. It would be nice to have reference material to give people percentages of drag reduction.

I recently was added as an author on Jalopnik's reader blog OppositeLock, so the truck aero piece is scheduled to show up there this week.

Thank you; I do try to put out quality, original content but it is unfortunately as much about who you know as it is about post quality. Getting things on "Oppo" should help get them noticed, but most posts there are pretty seat-of-the-pants, I think, so maybe people don't have the attention span for longer articles. Who knows. My presence on Kinja is a bit of an experiment (partially out of boredom) for the time being.

Also, fun coincidence. I ran into UltArc there today, both of us under different names, plugging EM! Small world.

Pseudonyms?! :)

Well, we're integrating the 65+ Mods master list with the EM garage. So, input/feedback on the list will be welcome (we will face the onslaught regardless of seeking it or not).

We also need to revise the way the garage handles "retired" vehicles, so cars like the Anal Probe need not fade away, but can continue to be a source of inspiration with its many mods perpetually connected to the 65+ Mods master list and their build threads as shining examples.

Sorry for going off-topic.

---

Glad to hear you're on Oppo and that your post will get a second kick at the can! I read Jalopnik almost daily, but don't comment (too busybusy to get sucked into that vortex). Keep us posted.

Jason Torchinsky likes Beetles. If you want to do an aero-Beetle article you may re-use the 3D renderings I posted here. In fact, if you wanted them redone to order, that might get me off my b*tt.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...four-tails.jpg

I need to take another pass at the Beetle's front wheelwell.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...23-9-48-49.png

Amen

That is excellent strategy: pander! Seriously. Not in jest. Although they already have a truck guy in Andrew Collins, so...

I have massive respect for Torchinsky for his take-down of the NY Times' scathing review of the Mirage. Because Beetle and Metro aficionados grok the Mirage. Pampered autojournos do not.

Sorry! Keep going OT.

l0l

Now I'm thinking I should delay the car article until the new Master List is out.

I don't think retired vehicles need to be taken that seriously, personally. You could easily just make a permalink for each one, then allow people to post that in the old build threads. I personally will probably get rid of two of my "retired" cars altogether if they become integrated into the rest.

Then you have the issue of people- not naming names cough cough BZP ;) - who create a new car entry every year, complicating things. How to deal with that?

--------

As far as the current article goes, I'm almost to 350 views and have gotten comments from three different people with exactly the questions and presumptions you'd expect.

One of them seems generally interested in aero/FE and I had to politely explain that we don't have many efficient cars because the average consumer doesn't care, and therefore car companies don't care. :(

Either way, I look forward to more EM plugs and efficiency discussion on my page. For as long as I decide that it's worth my time. After all, if I quit tomorrow, the articles will still be there until the Kinja servers succumb to the apocalypse. :)

Honestly, I don't know if pandering is going to do much. As you all know, I am a bit of a square peg sometimes (many times). The "reg'lar" bloggers for Jalopnik don't seem to read Oppo often either.

I think to make this worth it to me, I will just write whatever I like to, and if it gets featured, great. If it doesn't, maybe it will continue the dialogue.

I did appreciate the Mirage rebuttal, but consumers seem to be flocking to the car anyway because of its value. As someone said, many people don't realize that they don't need all the gadgets the 'mainstream' cars offer.

Now, I'd personally take that a bit further, but few would follow that reasoning.

As mused above, I don't think the Beetle stuff will even be seen by Torch, but if I find some really cool Beetle content and/or a finished build, I'd be glad to share it. So finish that boat tail and get us some MPG results! :cool:

I'm being publicly shamed. I guess I'll have to just stop posting.





...or not. I'm really better at doing things for other people than for myself. Your interest has been noted. The least I can do is go out and cut up some cardboard for templates.

But for MPG results, I'd have to have money for gas. I just spent that on car insurance.

freebeard,
Feel free to work on it if you like. I'm just giving you a poke in the side :)

A commenter on my article shared this, and I'm not sure if it's been posted in EM yet:
How Ram Games the Fuel-Economy Test with a Badge

Thanks Sven. I just looked for belting material for side skirts and a front dam on my new truck, no luck. You reminded me to do that.
I do have the steps but I figure I can go down another 6" without any negative affects. Probably go 8" below the bumper up front too.