Expedition Aerodynamics, MPG and Sleeping in Your truck

[Kiwipushrod]

Hey "Expedition" Guys,

Some of You may have seen Me around the board, Some may not have.

I've been repairing and building cars for the last 20+ years, in a small shop in Wisconsin. I've always favored Chevy trucks and still do.

Anyway, I'm in a Fuel Efficient Toyota 4x4 Pickups with Buick 3800II V6's in them Phase, for about the last 10 months, with the hope of building My "perfect" all around 4x4 truck, if thats not Your definition of "expedition"

So at first, I built this 90' Toyota 4x4 pu with a Buick 3800II engine from a 97' Camaro, on a hybird Toy, Jeep, Pontiac 5sp trans with Toy tranfercase. Thats returning 24-25 mpg hwy. As opposed to the original 22re's 16-18 mpg hwy. I have hypermiled the 90' Toy w/3800II to 41.5 mpg.



If You'd like more details on that one, heres a link to the build on Pirate.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...highlight=3800

This truck has become sort of a test truck for the final "product" truck which is a 94' Toyota 4x4 Xcab, that in the end I can sleep in, has a 500mi range (big maybe), can drive thru just about anything and is comfortable on the hwy. If You'd like more details on that build heres the link. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...highlight=3800

I've got most of it worked out in My head and think I can build this next truck to be 30mpg hwy capable,....In order to do this I'm going to have to get this truck more Aerodynamic.

So into the mix comes a picture I found on the interweb a few months ago of a 2wd 94' Toyota pu owned by a man named Phil Knox from Texas.

Mr. Knox, transformed His 94' 2wd Toyota pu from a 26hwy mpg truck, to a 32mpg truck, with the modifications pictured. Using the stock engine.




Well......I cant do all that to a 4x4 truck for obvious reasons. But that rear bed cover sure did interest Me, because I immediately thought of a flip up camper derived from that design, with hard sides and windows, using boat style Sunbrella fabric and screens between the top and sides. flip up when camping, flip down on road. With no roof top carrier, air drag crap.

Aerodynamic benefits and functionality in one.


(need a second post, hang on)

[Kiwipushrod]

Ok, I'm back,

Soo..After thinking about the dual purpose, aerodynamic/camper shell for about 2 months, I'd like to show You a picture of what I've found today searching around for aerodynamic pickups.












This is whats been in My head and what I was going to build for My truck, someone else has shared My vision also





All I know about this is it's a prototype and that the Guy wants to put in production, but has'nt yet. I think it's the future.....

I emailed who I think is the right person about more pic's and will pass them on if I recieve any. Maybe some of You guys can try some searching also, as 5 hrs is enough for Me Try "campersculptair".

So what does the "Expedition" board think about this?


Thanks, Kiwi

[Java]

looks interesting but my 20$ camper works fine for me i have a 85 yota with a 87 22re, 4.88's and 36" TSLs, and i get 19 mpg going up and down passes....
heres a pic.

[Kiwipushrod]

Well Java,

I'm not sure what to say,........uh...thanks for the info.

Kiwi

[crashnzuk]

I like the idea. I've thought about trying this with one of my trucks sometime, but just building a structure out of plywood and have the tailgate off and the slope go from the top of the cab to the end of the bed floor. I'll probably never get around to it. If I did it, it would just be an experiment to see if it made a difference.
Travis..

[Kiwipushrod]

Hey Guys,

I found a little more info on the "sculptair" camper top, over on ecomodder.com, heres a link http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...d-cap-583.html

The builder claims a 4mpg increase in fuel economy on the hwy. With the Ford F-150 in pic.

So that means I've got to try it, at least in My own redneck manner before I go thru the trouble of building My own.

I'm going to try a pcv tubed frame across My pu bed, covered with boat winterizing shrink wrap, of which I just happen to have a roll laying around.

Any Ideas for a quick easy way to test the before and after results?

I thought about 60mph to 0mph engine off, free roll/glide distance comparisons. Using a gps for mph.

Kiwi

[Java]

didnt mean to come off wrong. just saying a camper shel is easy and cheap and didint kill my gas milage. i like the idea and would like to see waht you come up with, i have been wanting to build my own pop up camper too.

[MT4Runner]

Why not just drive a 100 mile loop twice in the same day (same wind/weather) one top off, one trip top-on; and track fuel consumption?

[Kiwipushrod]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Why not just drive a 100 mile loop twice in the same day (same wind/weather) one top off, one trip top-on; and track fuel consumption?

Hey MT,

That would be a reasonable test. To do it right I should buy an OBDII Generic fuel/trip computer, like they used on Mythbusters for the pu tailgate test. But you have to calibrate them to Your specific vehicle which can take weeks for accuracy. There about $220 on ebay. Yes I'm talking to myself.

Recently, I have discovered a local tech College, with a Wind Tunnel and plan on bugging someone over there, maybe I can persaude them that in the name of science, they should figure this out........We'll see

Thanks, Kiwi

[OlBlueCJ7]

Wind tunnel would by far give you the most realistic results. It takes out all the variables of rolling resistance & boils down to whether or not you'll see a decrease in the vehicle's drag coefficient of the camper cover.

Just keep weight in mind too - too much weight (camping gear, the cover, extra fuel, water, etc) will quickly negate and gains in aerodynamics.

[Kiwipushrod]

Originally Posted by OlBlueCJ7

Wind tunnel would by far give you the most realistic results. It takes out all the variables of rolling resistance & boils down to whether or not you'll see a decrease in the vehicle's drag coefficient of the camper cover.

Just keep weight in mind too - too much weight (camping gear, the cover, extra fuel, water, etc) will quickly negate and gains in aerodynamics.

I'm with You 100%, With the stock, 105hp 22re, pulling a 1400# trailer I actually got about 10mpg hwy! I've owned 4 of them and they are not fuel efficient motors even when the trucks were empty.

When the final truck (94' Xcab) is loaded for Adventure (Guessing 4300#'s, 90' standardcab is 3450#'s empty) That is when the 280hp SC Buick motor will Shine and be less effected by the extra wieght. The Buick motor weighs 70#'s more then the 22re. Power is Economy.

Thanks, Kiwi

[The Adam Blaster]

If you could design the shell to be hinged at the front, and with enough extra fabric on the sides that when you open it up for "night-mode" the rear portion would be higher than the front, that would give you lots of extra headroom and sleeping space.
At the rear, you could build in locking posts (maybe even use aluminum tent poles) to act as supports for the rear in te "up" position?

[TOAdisco311]

I like the idea, especially the 3800 buick motor(an excellent motor by the way). Aerodynamics play a huge role in MPG's. Hell look at the any of the big trucking Co's today. For highway travel where 60+ MPH travel is common, aero all the way. BUT, for a expedition type rig that will travel on gravel or ungraded roads for hundreds of miles on end, reliability trumps aero drag any day. Keep reliability and usability in mind and you will have a good rig.

[Kiwipushrod]

Originally Posted by The Adam Blaster

If you could design the shell to be hinged at the front, and with enough extra fabric on the sides that when you open it up for "night-mode" the rear portion would be higher than the front, that would give you lots of extra headroom and sleeping space.
At the rear, you could build in locking posts (maybe even use aluminum tent poles) to act as supports for the rear in te "up" position?

I think thats how it works, I cant wait to see the details

Originally Posted by TOAdisco311

I like the idea, especially the 3800 buick motor(an excellent motor by the way). Aerodynamics play a huge role in MPG's. Hell look at the any of the big trucking Co's today. For highway travel where 60+ MPH travel is common, aero all the way. BUT, for a expedition type rig that will travel on gravel or ungraded roads for hundreds of miles on end, reliability trumps aero drag any day. Keep reliability and usability in mind and you will have a good rig.

Understood, If You dont need tons of gear and room, I think this would be an Exellent addition to a light, fuel efficient, very capable, expedition package. I've put about 10,000 hard miles on the 90' Toy with 3800 motor, and all I can tell You is........This dog will hunt!

For My expedition from Wisconsin, I will require a long hwy trip out west, perhaps to Moab or beyond. A rig thats 25-30mpg hwy, will also help trail mpg.






So the Gentelman that made this "aeroshell?", did reply to My email. I invited Him over to this thread, and post some pic's and perhaps some more info. I hope He does.

Originally Posted by Kiwipushrod

Thanks, Kiwi

[Xplorer]

That's an interesting looking shell...

[The Adam Blaster]

With the window on the top of that shell, it would make a nice skylight in your sleeping quarters, especially if it was larger.

[Kiwipushrod]

Ok,

Here are some pic's sent to Me by Brett, the Man that built it and has some patents pending on it.

It is Wind Tunnel tested, but not in production Yet. He says it brought His combined mpg up by 1.7 mpg with a gain of 4 mpg hwy.









Is it just Me........

It's going to be damn hard to make one that nice for My Toyota.

Thanks, Kiwi

[The Adam Blaster]

That's pretty slick, I would have it open even higher at the back though and have a larger window on the slanted size.
The larger window would probably add weight though...

[RoosterBooster]

Kiwi
may try a pic search with the key words like "Pajero" "Raris-Dakar" or "Rally-rides" for some more ideas on slanted rear covers....

as for building it yourself; i suggest that you may look into using aluminum or fiberglass "honeycomb composite" panels for the sides and the lid....

[crashnzuk]

Originally Posted by RoosterBooster

Kiwi
may try a pic search with the key words like "Pajero" "Raris-Dakar" or "Rally-rides" for some more ideas on slanted rear covers....

as for building it yourself; i suggest that you may look into using aluminum or fiberglass "honeycomb composite" panels for the sides and the lid....

No different than the "fastback" designs from the 60s. There is a reason the slant back was called fast.
Travis..

[Keith Armstrong]

Kin y'all spell "Talladega Torino"

[operose]

yeah except the fastbacks had that huge rear window that weighs a ton.

pop that sucker out and throw in some lexan

[85FunRunner]

Actually, it might not be too hard, or expensive, to make something nice for your rig. Find a $20 camper shell something like Java's, cut wedges out of the sides, put a hinge across the top behind the cab, some "minor" fab work, and you got it.

Of course, how "nice" would depend on how much time, effort, and $$$$, you had to put into it, but you would start with a frame and most of the material you would need.

[Mikel]

Here is my compact and economical fastback

[Kiwipushrod]

72 Toronado?

Kiwi