Bondo

AERODYNAMICS. The two aerodynamic fuel saving products shown in these photos have been developed and tested over the last 5 years, I know because I did it single handedly. They work and they work damn good. My 2009 F150 went from 20 mpg freeway to over 28 mpg at freeway speed using the aerocap and aero bed extender all due to improved aerodynamics.


Ford knows about them, so does GM and Chrysler. No interest. I am sure marketing said they look to GD fugly. They do look different but they work. 2015 CAFE Standards ratchet up to 28.6 mpg freeway, mandated! Every truck manufacturer, all the big three and foreign too, must meet this new CAFE Standard, soon.


The 2015 F150 will easily exceed this 28.6 mpg hwy figure with the aerocap and aero bed extender I have developed installed over the bed and open tailgate, guaranteed! It will also meet and exceed the next milestone of 30 mpg hwy for a pickup truck. My next truck will be a 2015 F150 and I will test the aerocap and aero bed extender on it. This will prove out reaching the 30+ mpg hwy figure for a full sized pickup truck. Hopefully the big 3 will finally take notice and the dynamics of the industry will be such that you too can buy these new patented products for your new 2015 F150 and get 30+mpg hwy too.

PhiDeltDave

It does look ugly, but I guess if it works, it works; is there a way that a regular bed cap and an aero bed extender could be used to improve fuel eco? This would be less ugly than the sloping downwards bed cap in the picture. I also see a form of the aero bed extender on some semi trucks.

FXDX1450

I like your innovation! You are absolutely correct about aero to get to the next mpg level. I have done some aero experimenting over the years with varying degrees of success. What you have is far more refined and polished. While you may not have the attention of the big three, you should be looking to partner with aftermarket cap manufactures.

Bondo

The sloping back on the aerocap is why it has improved aerodynamics. The trick is to keep the air attached along the roof as shown in the attached photo which shows an early prototype with yarn tufts stuck to it. The yarn shows the air flow pattern and, as long as the yarn lies flat, it indicates non-turbulent air which is good, less drag.


A square back camper has the big back vertical surface where the air abruptly separates at the rear end of the regular bed cap and tailgate causing turbulence. What you see on semi truck trailers is meant to reduce the turbulence created behind the trucks trailer where it ends and goes vertical at the back doors. It is all about what happens at the rear of a vehicle to get improved aerodynamics.

Bondo

Thanks for the compliments. Keep up your aero experimenting. It is fun to see your gas mileage improve in a road test. That is how innovation happens.


I have contacted every aftermarket cap manufacturer on the planet to the point of tedium. No interest. Did have one company in Kansas ready to make the aerocap back in the fall of 2008. Then the financial crisis (theft) occurred. The company stopped all new products after that. All the other big truck cap companies have sold out to Private Equity firms just to survive. All Private Equity firms and the VC crowd want these days is a quick return on cell phone apps like Whatsapp and Candy Crush. They don't want to invest in something that requires large up front capital investment with a slow investment return, like most manufactured durable goods like an aerocap.


Excuse my rant but I am not the only inventor who watches cell phone apps get billions in valuation when things we have developed might well benefit society more than sitting around fingering your cell phone. Such are the times we live in, again excuse my rant.


Since tonneau covers are out selling truck caps these days, I have come up with a new third aero product which fits on the back of the truck cab and works with a tonneau cover. It is showing a solid 15% increase in fuel efficiency at freeway speeds in road testing. I do intend to have these ready for market this fall, right when the 2015 F150 hits the showroom floors.

PhiDeltDave

Could you show examples of the tonneau cover variations on this thread when ready?

iFord

Day, that's great! Gives me a comparison for my 5.4, 3.55 gears, except mine is two WD. I get 18 highway. Best I ever checked it was 18.04 highway! So, I'll be happy when I do get a newer truck!

Bondo

Yes. When we have the production model finished I will post some photos. It is pretty cool looking.

packplantpath

Do you have then on sale anywhere yet? Or price estimates?

I like the easy conversion from aero cap to full cap to top less . very nice utility.

Bondo

Thanks. Utility is what I had in mind. Need to a place to camp or haul taller cargo, raise the roof and drop the Jeep top like sides and hatch. Need to haul really tall cargo, remove the roof.


Have not sold any yet so no pricing available. If enough truck owners like the good folks here on F150 Forum start saying they want one, I could once again try to sell a manufacturer on the idea they should start building them, especially for the new 2015 Ford F150!