ToyotaNation truck forum freakout: "would you put this (aero) cap on your truck?"

[Glee17]

First off let me say, I like bondo's cap. I don't have a truck it would work on but I think on the right truck it's cool looking and I'm of the old school car mentality; cool = good.

From what i could see on that forum most of those guys had big tire, ugly, quadcab trucks. The tires alone are killing their mileage (i'm sure they are not above 20psi).

Once upon a time i worked on NASCAR Modifieds.

http://www.racerhub.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=17641

These cars have 650+HP, 15" wide tires, are only 2" off the ground, and are faster than Cup cars when not restricted by plates. The general thought was the cars had the aerodynamics of bricks because of the huge tires. When the newer (mid 90's) interior panels were made the drivers figured out pretty quick that was not the case. The air was allowed to flow through the right side of the car more unrestricted than ever to the spoiler for rear downforce. Also around the same time work was done to the front spoiler to find the best downforce/drag combination.

The general mindset is still that they are not very aerodymanic. However, as it was previously mentioned form follows function and for a 150mph race car you want as much tire as possible for traction, and bodywork that produces downforce.

Those guys want to spend all their money on gas and toys, eventually they will come around, it's a testosterone thing with them.

[DifferentPointofView]

[QUOTE][ Those guys want to spend all their money on gas and toys, eventually they will come around, it's a testosterone thing with them./QUOTE]

They'll probably will turn around when it's too late... when oil is completely diminished.

[Chris D.]

Lets try this same inquiry on the CustomTacos (Tacoma) forum..

Their a bit more open minded..
I'll copy whats on ToyotaNation and post it on there..

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/sho...20#post1295820

I'll admit one thing tho, the windows on the areotopper are too campershell like..
Maybe if you went with some flush style glass that fit in with the theme a little more?

I'll ask a buddy of mine to do some photo editing and post it on here..

[Chris D.]

Brother Bondo..

Have you thought about a different style of windows?
Maybe if you adjusted the height of the truck, different wheels it would "appeal" to more people..

Alot of people are fixed on appearence vs aerodynamics..

I modded one of your pictures (hope you dont mind)
heres my idea.. as least for the side window..


I think the rear window needs something a bit different
style wize and I think I have an idea for that possibly.

Do you have any larger high resolution pictures?

I'd like to help you push this product because I believe in it.

See how the windows look on this?
This is the SnugTop "Top Gun"

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

Lets try this same inquiry on the CustomTacos (Tacoma) forum..

This will be interesting.

[Red]

Most of the Truck and Jeep communities are like that. Anything about improving MPG no matter what it is is met with fairly rude and ignorant comments. The pack mentality is that you buy a truck, lift it high enough to clear 37" muds, put the largest most obnoxious sounding exhaust on it then drive over curbs in the local mall. Doing anything else is criminal.

They'll only turn around when filling up their rigs cost as much as their car payment. Most are too bone headed to see otherwise.

I think its a great blend of form vs function.

[Big Dave]

I also frequent a number of diesel pickup truck forums. I would say that on one of the three (mostly a forum for Bigfoot wannabes it seems) the reaction would be 95% hostile. Another is a very large Ford diesel forum and it will get about 25% receptive, 25% hostile and 50% “Huh?” The third forum is a smaller forum devoted to pickup truck performance but they know that MPG is just another parameter of performance and they humor me. That forum will be interested.

I have had flush-top canopies before and from my experience, the visibility out of them is highly over-rated, particularly at night. Myself, I would have no windows except for two faired in windows for rearview cameras. Sooner or later the world will come to us about rearview cameras. As we have seen, there really just isn’t a whole lot you can do with those cancerous tumors hanging on the side of the vehicle. Also a solid canopy is less vulnerable to prying eyes.

When one shows these canopies to general pickup crowds, one also has to have one picture to answer the question: “Why?” Somebody on one forum posted a pic of a gas sign in So Cal advertising diesel for $4.25. I would post that and say: “This is why.”

[MetroMPG]

So far, there have been more positive comments in the Taco forum than the ToyotaNation thread. And Chris played it straight up in his intro - he didn't soften them up with extra words or explanations.

[Chris D.]

I've noticed that the newer redesigned midsize version of the 2005 and newer Tacoma people have more of the Large truck "Who cares" mentality..

Its the people that own the 1995.5 to 2004 mini trucks that care a bit more about it..
If you can make the topper a little more appealing in the looks department, people will come.

[DifferentPointofView]

I'll admit one thing tho, the windows on the areotopper are too campershell like..
Maybe if you went with some flush style glass that fit in with the theme a little more?

I remember talking to bondo about this. He said he knew totallly about the side windows, and that the only reason he had those style on there was because it was only to show practicality right now. I remember cause I told him the same thing. I told him he should make the side windows go with the flow of the door windows so it looks OEM (which I'm all about making it look factory)

He said that Thats one of the things he was going to do, and something about making the windows different to match each vehicle (one design for the f-150, one for the Tacoma, one for the ram 1500, etc.)

Oh, and bondo can chime it and tell ya more... as you can see I don't remember the whole thing..