OTR mileage and aero mods

[roadhard1960]

I am pretty sure I have seen this guy's ideas posted here. My 2004 Cummins truck while not a brick, is close to it. It tends to get 18-20 mpg with a high of 23.4 on a 400 mile run 60 mph on I16. I16 is about as flat a highway as you could find, Macon to Savannah. I would like better mileage out of the truck but not wanting to spend money and the fact that I only drive the truck 5-6,000 miles a year, any aero mods would not be recouped quickly. Working on my Jetta which sees 33-35,000 miles a year has a bit better return.

http://www.dieselarmy.com/news/breaker-breaker-airflow-truck-company-pioneers-trucking-innovations/

 

[Powder Hound]

Well, good luck with that. First, take your Jetta, and make it look as much as possible like a Prius. Then do some mileage runs and let us know the results.

Cheers,

PH

 

[SilverGhost]

I have seen a few Dakotas and F series p/u that people have done some simple mods to improve mileage. Biggest was modified tonneau cover and full wheel covers on a lowered or 2wd ride height. But getting into get changes and O/D boxes, the payback period is too long.

Treat this as a hobby for your own enjoyment, because modifications ROI is not practical in your case.

Part way down the page on the right is Toyota p/u LINK showing what I am talking about. Post #32 here in this thread shows something more realistic. And at this LINK they show a pretty nice looking topper along with some decent explaination on helping the shape aerodynamicly.

Something I think is interesting but will have to wait until my "honey do" list gets shorter.

Jason

 

[roadhard1960]

The truck is for hay hauling, not tooling around. I got some hay the other night and my lie o meter mpg dropped and dropped as the last course of hay was all above the roof line.

Having owned the Jetta for 11 years, not likely I am going to do anything but drive a sane speed. Well it is due for a bunch of PM odds and ends for its 400,000 mile service but nothing cosmetic or aero.

Yes, most mods have a lousy ROI. Heck even pleasure mods have a lousy ROI so you might as well get them early and enjoy them a long time. Kind of like granite counter tops in the kitchen. Might as well install them and enjoy them instead of installing them in hopes of selling the house.