Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Hybrids
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 07-01-2015, 02:50 PM   #1 (permalink)
B.O. Zen
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 208

Pickup - '99 Toyota Tacoma 2wd, Regular Cab, Short Bed
90 day: 34.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 130
Thanked 140 Times in 59 Posts
Stretch-Insight as Travel-Van Alternative

So I'm forever trying to think of how to travel without spending a ton of money on fuel. Van's are great for travel, but none of them seem to get batter than ~28mpg.

I imagine that an insight stretched via sheet-metal skinned tube-frame could maintain all the aero of the original car and only add a few hundred pounds to the vehicle weight, while preserving all of the factory developed crash hardware and it's enormous economy.



I really like bolt-in mods, and imagine that a "kit" could be designed that would require just specific cuts to the car chassis and drilling holes for mounting bolts. Each end would bolt onto a frame in the middle, body panels would fasten on, and electrical would be re-connected to the battery, etc, via an extension harness.

Is this a horrible idea? Has anyone seen other projects like this to reference?

__________________
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to a8ksh4 For This Useful Post:
Joggernot (08-12-2015)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 07-01-2015, 03:25 PM   #2 (permalink)
EcoModding Jack
 
nimblemotors's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 335
Thanks: 12
Thanked 58 Times in 40 Posts
There is an easy way to travel by automobile that gets you great gas mileage.
It is called a tent. Or if you are not into camping, they have things call 'motels'.

Or you could spend years and 10's of thousands of dollars, so you won't spend $2,000 on motels.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to nimblemotors For This Useful Post:
Fat Charlie (07-01-2015), jamesqf (08-12-2015), Xist (07-01-2015)
Old 07-01-2015, 03:31 PM   #3 (permalink)
home of the odd vehicles
 
rmay635703's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere in WI
Posts: 3,891

Silver - '10 Chevy Cobalt XFE
Thanks: 506
Thanked 867 Times in 654 Posts
and here I just wanted to make mine into a 4 passenger.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to rmay635703 For This Useful Post:
Xist (07-01-2015)
Old 07-01-2015, 03:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,882
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,684 Times in 1,502 Posts
I wouldn't take the risk of ruining the Insight's frame. Anyway, isn't it made out of aluminium? So, you'd also have to overcome galvanic corrosion if you'd use a steel tube structure for that stretch...
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to cRiPpLe_rOoStEr For This Useful Post:
a8ksh4 (07-01-2015)
Old 07-01-2015, 04:36 PM   #5 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Dave Cloud to the rescue.


__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
a8ksh4 (07-01-2015), Bicycle Bob (08-12-2015), California98Civic (07-02-2015), Ecky (07-04-2015), ecoTex (08-15-2015), fusion210 (07-02-2015), MetroMPG (07-01-2015), MobilOne (07-06-2015), whatmaycome14 (07-03-2015)
Old 07-01-2015, 04:38 PM   #6 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by nimblemotors View Post
There is an easy way to travel by automobile that gets you great gas mileage.
It is called a tent. Or if you are not into camping, they have things call 'motels'.

Or you could spend years and 10's of thousands of dollars, so you won't spend $2,000 on motels.
I don't think so.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 04:40 PM   #7 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr View Post
I wouldn't take the risk of ruining the Insight's frame. Anyway, isn't it made out of aluminium? So, you'd also have to overcome galvanic corrosion if you'd use a steel tube structure for that stretch...
This from the same guy that doesn't blink when recommending people swap engines and design and fabricate their own engine management systems?

Galvanic corrosion- as if nothing is made from dissimilar metals. Put a layer of paint between 'em and they're good. Look at any older snowmobile chassis with it's steel bulkhead riveted to an aluminum tunnel.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
a8ksh4 (07-01-2015)
Old 07-01-2015, 04:52 PM   #8 (permalink)
B.O. Zen
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 208

Pickup - '99 Toyota Tacoma 2wd, Regular Cab, Short Bed
90 day: 34.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 130
Thanked 140 Times in 59 Posts
I didn't realize they were made of aluminum. That does present some additional challenge. Insulators at junctions and bonding rather than welding... maybe...

I could see using polyurethane bushings where the steel frame mounts to the reinforced points on the insight unibody. Then skinning it with aluminum sheeting that could be riveted to the insight panels. Composite/poly brackets could be bonded/riveted to the aluminum paneling to attach it to the steel frame and allow it to be stressed for rigidity.

I agree about not wanting to mess up the frame... It'd be a shame to do this to anything but a beater, at least to start with.

@rmay, do you already have a first gen insight?
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 04:55 PM   #9 (permalink)
B.O. Zen
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 208

Pickup - '99 Toyota Tacoma 2wd, Regular Cab, Short Bed
90 day: 34.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 130
Thanked 140 Times in 59 Posts
Awesome photos, Frank. I really like the red metro... !
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:05 PM   #10 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,232

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 30.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,254
Thanked 2,231 Times in 1,721 Posts
I am not sure that a stretched Insight would maintain its aerodynamics. Don't you have increased skin friction on flat surfaces?

What about an aerodynamic trailer?

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
insight camper travel





Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com