i want to get 35MPG out of my pick up truck

[VetteOwner]

i dunno but i do know a regular ol toneau cover has helped me (covers entire bed)

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by bobski

Anyone tried a partial bed cover? One that covers the tailgate and rear 1/3 to 1/2 of the bed? I seem to recall reading that such a setup reduces drag against the tailgate without breaking up the circulating bubble behind the cab. I imagine the ideal length to leave uncovered would be slightly more than the height of the cab, measured from the floor of the bed.
Aerotabs?

Somehow I just think that may end up operating like an open parachute.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by bobski

Anyone tried a partial bed cover? One that covers the tailgate and rear 1/3 to 1/2 of the bed? I seem to recall reading that such a setup reduces drag against the tailgate without breaking up the circulating bubble behind the cab. I imagine the ideal length to leave uncovered would be slightly more than the height of the cab, measured from the floor of the bed.
Aerotabs?

Is the circulating bubble a good thing? I thought maybe the only reason it helps anything is that it could help air get over the tailgate. If you block off the tailgate area then you may not need the circulating bubble anymore.

[Jay2TheRescue]

My understanding of the bubble is that it forces the air over the tailgate, instead of hitting it.

[GasSavers_ccrider]

some quick calculations. i figure at a 11 degree angle on a 6 ft pick up truck bed the back would only be 9" lower than the cab of my truck.

so rather than building something 9" lower in the back. does anyone have any experiece with a cap on a pick up truck and what kind of impact it makes on MPG?

[theholycow]

Yep, that'd put a damper on things. The best you could do would be to make it from clear material and shape it like a Prius/Insight with the flat rear end and Prius/Insight/CRX-style vertical rear window at the back under the sloped one.

[GasSavers_ccrider]

but to go through all the work of building somethimg like that would it have that much of an advantage over a standard cap?

[Jay2TheRescue]

There was a guy a while back that had designed an aero camper shell, I don't know if it ever went beyond the prototype stage though...

[theholycow]

Did he ever at least post some results for his prototype?

[Jay2TheRescue]

As I recall, we were discussing his cap, and he registered and chimed in on the discussion, then he kinda disappeared. We never really heard from him since. I can't find his post, or his username right now.