teardrop cap for pickup truck?

[Nitetimes]

No, no windows. Don't need to see out and don't want anyone seeing in. I keep my bed covered because I usually carry tools of one sort or another.

[angib]

Sorry to be negative, but I wouldn't expect that cap to work very well. Leaving out the flat top and the smooth curve into the 'fastback' slope means that there's little chance of the airflow sticking to the cap - that curve is really, really critical.

It's a shame, as you're doing some neat work to get the cross section at the front to match the truck cab, but the importance of that smooth curve is the reason that I drew the sharp-cornered section above.

Andrew

[Nitetimes]

I look at it this way, even if it doesn't do much it should be better than nothing at all, which is what I've got right now, and certainly better than the cap I had on it which was 8 -10 inches higher than the cab.
So if it looks good and keeps the weather off of my tools and doesn't hurt my current mileage I'll be pretty happy and if I happen to get another mile or 2 out of it that'll be a bonus.

I really wouldn't expect it to make a big difference anyway, after all it is a full sized pickup, which for the most part has the aero dynamics of a large brick.

[angib]

....after all it is a full sized pickup, which for the most part has the aero dynamics of a large brick.

Your new cap has to be better than one that's higher than the cab.

But, with some careful work, you might be able to get it as good as a medium-sized brick.....

Andrew

[Nitetimes]

But, with some careful work, you might be able to get it as good as a medium-sized brick.....

Andrew

Not sure if that's a good thing or not. Around here a lot of the medium sized bricks get worse mileage than mine does. Right now it does a fairly consistent 17mpg. I think it would do a bit better with the 351 instead of the 302 it's got. Under powered in a pickup is never a good thing.
At this point I'm just hoping for a reasonably good fit on the truck. Since it's been raining here pretty much constantly I haven't been able to sit it on and test fit it since I had it on there to get the front angle. Can't get the truck in the garage with the tools and wood in there soooo....... we'll see, hopefully later tonight.

[doug hodder]

Rich, on my topper on the Ranger, the rear hatch will lock, but doesn't have enough overlap on the tailgate so the gate can be dropped with the hatch locked, (if you work at it). How are you going to secure both? Or do you have a locking tailgate? Doug

[Nitetimes]

....How are you going to secure both? Or do you have a locking tailgate? Doug

No locking tailgate although I think I could get the pieces for it (??maybe). Got an idea for a pin setup off of the hatch lid into either the gate itself or a couple of flat catches. The hatch will probably get something similar to a standard cap lock with the sliding rods. Nothing you do will keep em out if they really want in tho.
I'm not really big on locking it up anyway (I rarely take the keys out of the ignition) but I want to be able to.
I figure as long as they can't see what's in there they are less likely to bother it tho.
Main reason for no windows. It will have a front sliding window in it, have to be able to get to the cooler when traveling!!

[bennelson]

Hey Nitetimes!

Those photos look great.

A Plexiglass rear cover would be great, but it can get heavy. I think a big sheet of it couldn't be cheap either.

I was thinking of having a little strip of plexiglass right at the very back kind of like how the window in the back of a Prius is.

[Nitetimes]

Made a little progress today, not as much as I'd have liked. Too many drugs to get rid of too much pain made concentrating tough.
Hopefully tomorrow night I'll get the hatch done and at least started on the corners. Need to have it done (at least under primer by Sat.).
I had considered a blacked out window towards the bottom of the hatch but I figure that's just something else to leak.
It may eventually get dark windows on the sides if I can cut them to a shape that looks good with the truck and cap.

[Nitetimes]

Finally got this done for the most part. It's all glassed, ready to sand and paint but that will get done when I do the rear wheel wells so I can paint it all at once. I've still got to seal the hatch and put in the front window, window can wait, the seal....well they are calling for rain around here again this week so gotta get on it.
It didn't come out too bad,so now we'll see if it has any effect on mileage.

[doug hodder]

That looks good Rich! Are you thinking about some sort of scallop or paint graphic for it? Because I know just how much you like that wonderful shade of seafoam green I have on my tear, I'll send you the rest of the can! How about a vertical and 3 tapered long tails evenly spaced bottom to top on the side? Doug

[madjack]

Good looking job ya done there don't think it will have the slightest effect on gas mileage...but it sure is purdy
madjack

[Nitetimes]

That looks good Rich! Are you thinking about some sort of scallop or paint graphic for it? Because I know just how much you like that wonderful shade of seafoam green I have on my tear, I'll send you the rest of the can! How about a vertical and 3 tapered long tails evenly spaced bottom to top on the side? Doug

Thanks, it turned out to be more screwing around than I anticipated but it came out ok.
Sure, send it over.... that ought to go really well with my burgundy!!!!

[Nitetimes]

Good looking job ya done there don't think it will have the slightest effect on gas mileage...but it sure is purdy
madjack

Thanks Jack and you could be right but it's different and I like different!!! Might bes cause I's a little differ'nt!!!

[bennelson]

Cap looks great!

Any idea on what it weighs?

I like how it is hinged just like a teardrop.

I know some guys hinge their teardrops with extruded aluminum rather than a true hinge. That way, the entire hatch can be removed easily by opening it really far and then just unhooking it.

If your cap is done the same way, it would make it easy just to take the hatch part off, for loading up a motorcycle or big furniture.