A topper is a great way to keep junk dry in yer truck, or to keep thieves from thieving said junk. But they're not very aerodynamic. Some of us would like an aerodynamic topper, or maybe just one that stands out. Maybe they wish they had a car, but don't have the money. To said persons, I offer a fastback topper, complete with fully windowed hatch. It's aerodynamic, and it gives yer truck more 'fun' look. You'll save on gas while savin' yer junk. Lockable, like all toppers, it be.
-- galukalock, Mar 29 2003

(?) Improving Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Dodge Ram Pickup Truck. http://mars.wnec.edu/~ehaffner/did.htm
An engineering student at Western New England College studied the effects of drag in a pick-up truck design. [phoenix, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

(?) New Cap Design... http://mars.wnec.ed...haffner/new_cap.htm
...from above study. Looks like...well, it looks like a Porche. [phoenix, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

A.R.E. - T Series... http://www.rstruck.com/are.php3
...aerodynamic design provides for smoother air flow over and around your truck. [phoenix, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Oh yeah. Think of all the fuel you'll save if the back half of your 2 ton brick-shaped V8 PU had less drag.
Cool-lookin we can do, but no sense pretending it's for efficiency.

BTW, Fastback doesn't equal aerodynamic: the most aerodynamic shape for the back half of a vehicle is bulb shaped--like the back end of a Porsche Boxster.
-- roby, Mar 29 2003


First of all, I don't have a truck anywhere near 2 tons or V8 (your point is still valid for others). The thing is, one would like to leave one's tailgate open to save fuel, if only one didn't hafta keep his junk confined and dry.

And by the way, fastback does equal aerodynamic, even if it doesn't mean Porsche aerodynamic.
-- galukalock, Mar 29 2003


If I lived in Death Valley, that would indeed be a much more viable option. Unfortunately, however (as you must have surmised by the sarcasm), I live where rain falls, sometimes seriously (as it will in a few hours, according to the forecast).
-- galukalock, Mar 30 2003


Great links. Well, then, someone's been thinkin' along the same lines.

roby, //30% decrease in drag from baseline condition// (must...control....my...AAHHHH!!) TOLD YOU SO!! AHHH ha ha ha ha ha haaahh!
-- galukalock, Mar 30 2003


[galuka] now calculate exactly how much fuel that decrease in drag will save from a simple tonneau cover (hint, it won't be much, certainly not enough to justify the purchase price of a custom-shaped topper).
You may at one point in your life take the time to learn about airflow dynamics, at which time you will have a better appreciation of the effect different shape configurations have on drag. Much you will learn is counterintuitive, but I won't bother you with it now. Better to leave your education to the proper authorities.
-- roby, Mar 30 2003


I'm afraid I have learned a little about airflow dynamics (how did you think I came up with this?). As for fuel savings, I can tell you from my rough calculations that it won't be a lot, but it will be noticeable. And custom-shaped is nonsense as far as I can tell. A company would simply make different kinds for different model trucks (just as they do already), and that'd be it. No special deals, no CD burners, no legal blahdy-blah.
-- galukalock, Mar 30 2003


They leave it open when they want to clean it out, that’s what Charlie says, anyway.
-- pluterday, Oct 04 2003


Don't be too hard on rednecks. After all, Shakespeare is often mentioned. For instance:
"My brother bard my pickup truck."
-- thumbwax, Oct 06 2003


Today's update is provided courtesy of the "random" button.

The first two links have succumbed to linkrot, and the third may as well have, but [thumbwax]'s anno rings eternal.

Today's update is provided courtesy of the "random" button.
-- normzone, Sep 21 2016



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