DTSFab.com (Desert, Trail and Sand)
Machinery, Trailers, Toyhaulers and Motorhomes => Trailers, Toyhaulers and Motorhomes => Topic started by: Nutz4sand on May 22, 2010, 09:26:20 AM
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Looking for a good quick easy (and CHEAP) way to turn that HUGE flat area above the cab of my F450 truck into something a GOOD bit more aerodynamic!
The white area measures 36 inches tall by 81 inches wide. The aluminum around the corners goes out about another 5-6 inches flat before it really starts to turn backwards along the sides.
Might be moving soon (VERY likely) and likely looking at a LONG trip so anything to help with the fuel mileage would be a big bonus.
Whatever I come up with will need to be cheaper to make than the fuel it will save me or its kinda a mute point.
I got a couple ideas now. But looking for some fresh e-y-e-s and input on it. Then I will state what I think I might try (ideas I have had) and see what yah all think of them if a better idea does not come up!
I have been looking for a Aerodynamic dome off a larger trailer but not having any real luck finding one...
I am also looking (just missed a killer deal :[ ) for a lil bus that will pull my 34 foot trailer. The bus will hold as much as my truck and once out at "other dunes" I can make the Bus into a mini RV/Toter-home. Most of the buses are kinda sloped in the front so that would help there too!
But if I do not find a Bus and sell this truck I would like to try to make it aerodynamic on that near sheet of plywood I am pushing dead thru the wind!
So how would YOU build a cheap light bubble dome and secure it??
Thanx in advance for any input! mm:
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Super Bubble bubble gum?
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If it's for a one time use just frame it up with light guage tubing with about a 45* slope and cover it with thin plywood.
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Something like that has crossed my mind (The tubing and plywood (not the bubble gum!) But I am TRYING to go a little more bubble shaped (rounded) than to pointed. But nothings set in stone yet.
I also have to try to think of too much plywood in one direction would create one hell of a load in force from the air pushing on it.
I would like to push most of it over the box. But too much being pushed up would be one hell of a load being pushed down.
I also do not want to push to much air down where it will catch the air trying to go up and over the cab perhaps.
I am also not against making the device longer and running two support tubes running down to the front bumper area if I had too. Be a nice "visor" against the sun!
(Heck at one point I was considering making it big enough to sleep in!)
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After thinking about what Fabr said and my last post I thought this pic should help as the front on pic its hard to see where the top of the box is.
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Know what a hip roof is? If so just do that on the front of the box.
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Sort of like this
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Know what a hip roof is? If so just do that on the front of the box.
Didn't know it by name. Googled it and I have seen a lot of them of course.
Might have merit. Not sure of the weight I could make it and have it survive buffeting 70 mph winds and road shocks though.
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Front view
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1/2 inch tube and 3/8 CD plywood and you're good to go. Won't add over 75#'s at most
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OR 1/2" tube and aluminum skin.Available most places in white also.
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Even if I just build a bubble or a thing like this I am wondering about air coming in (green arrows) dealing with air build-up (yellow ball)
Something like the bottom pic has crossed my mind (and like I mentioned above if it was big enough and strang a person could lay down in it but thats reaching) The yellow lines would be support bars.
But I still wonder if this would not trap a lot of air coming straight at the windshield?
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IF it were my truck, I'd take the top corner off the box. Might have to spend a little on rounded corners (don't know what they cost), but in the long run that seems like the best solution to me. I don't know how long you plan on keeping the truck, or how often you plan to take the highway either.
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Go get 2 large beach balls and about 10 rolls of duct tape. Secure the inflated balls in the center of the space about 2' apart. Use tape to form a skin over them to the body of the truck. Saw this done in a wind tunnel...........
You don't want something wedge shaped, you need something rounded.
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IF it were my truck, I'd take the top corner off the box. Might have to spend a little on rounded corners (don't know what they cost), but in the long run that seems like the best solution to me. I don't know how long you plan on keeping the truck, or how often you plan to take the highway either.
Plan to keep the truck till it dies or I find a better thing like a small toter-home or a bus I can convert.
I would prefer to keep the inside space as large as possible and just kinda add on to the outside given a choice.
Go get 2 large beach balls and about 10 rolls of duct tape. Secure the inflated balls in the center of the space about 2' apart. Use tape to form a skin over them to the body of the truck. Saw this done in a wind tunnel...........
You don't want something wedge shaped, you need something rounded.
Something very similair to this has been toyed with in the corners of my mind.
But for some strange reason I never thought of Duct tape! But the mention of that with my other idea might be the ticket!
Anyone else got any ideeee-eers? Gonna give it a lil more time till later to post a couple I have that are cheap and light. But may have flaws I am missing.
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I couldn't find any camper bubbles for cost comparison, but why not just make your own? Little foam for a disposable mold and some fiberglass.
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Balsa wood formers velcroed (yes, velcroed) to the front of the box with a doped cloth skin. Maybe 45 pounds?
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There ya go!
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that's kinda what i was thinking
or f-glass cloth
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I am not fiberglass man. Hate the stuff personnaly (working on/with it).
I mess with RC planes and am slightly familier with Balsa (anymore I do mostly foamies). But while the stuff is so light its unreal it sure aint cheap!
Unless you know better for the formers?? Enough sheets to cover the nose would be kinda $$ as far as prices I am aware of?
My two ideas I had before were to take sheet styrofoam and cut a piece smaller than the nose of the truck box. Then a smaller one yet and keep going smaller. Then a flat steel plate with two or four rods sticking off it would be mounted to the nose and the foam sheets stuck over it in a little triangle. Then using a hot wire cutter (its what they cut foam with cleanly and easily) shape it smooth as I could. Then spray it with something to help protect it for a bit. I would also secure it at the edges. been working on diff ideas for that.
The other idea I had was to make a dome shaped mold in the ground (LOTSA sand where I am at so not to tough. Then after a test to know how much would be needed get some cans of triple expanding foam sealer. Set all the cans off at once into the plastic lined mold in the sand. Once done I would likely have to flatten the backside but then just mount it on the steel rods like the above. Totally customized shape!
The idea yesterday of beachballs and Duct tape made me wonder if the foam sheets cut into a trianlge and held in place with duct tape would not do as the duct tape would smooth out a lot of imperfections and it would be quick and cheap!
The other thing I have been doing is looking for a used large commercial plexiglas bubble domed sykylight. But finding one near me with a large enough dome to be effective AND the right size is not a great chance to count on.
Thank you guys for all the input so far and any more to come!
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I can get ya a good deal on duct tape ;D
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I think nutz has lost his mind. ;D ;D rofl I LOVE the hole in the ground and expanding foam idea! ;D ;D Sorry ,nutz.
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get at least 15-20mpg out of my design. Will pay for itself in only a few miles ;D
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LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO Toooooo FUNNY!!!!
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No reason to be sorry Fabr. You are closer to reality than you know.
Other than excessive front downforce with that Punkur I am afraid it would not work as I very well may need to drive at night and the headlights are blocked!
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Or you can go all out. And you will notice I equalized the downforce with a rear wing
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You can add a light rack. And if you do the rear wing make it adjustable to aptimize the affect. ;)
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Kinda of looks like a lunch truck now. Sell a few borritos on the way there and your gas is FREE!
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http://www.nosecone.com/TrailerAps.pdf (http://www.nosecone.com/TrailerAps.pdf)
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bbbbwwwaaahahaha
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Punkur's on a roll ain't he?LOL!!! I love it!
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How bout a couple holes in the front 2'-3', then leave rollup door up and the air will flow thru.
With 2 beachballs taped to the front be sure to paint a smiley face and some blonde hair flowing off the roof. LMAO :k