RE: 135mph - No More Gear - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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he answered your question dipsh1t.

the tail gate does cause drag, i'd like you to explain how it doesn't. Ever seen somone with a net in place of the gate? It certainly isn't blowing inward is it? If you think that the air going over the cab doesn't come down until beyond the gate, then your mistaken.

Mark
Forum Moderator

9/22/2003
19:27:56

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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My second post I said 'ish' sorry for the confusion. I extrapolated.

-Mark Hryckiewicz
1993 Sport RC SB 5.2L Auto
DodgeDakotas.com

b1llyw
GenII

9/22/2003
20:46:51

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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Jeremy, go f*ck yourself if you don't like my opinion. Next time I want the opinion of an ignorant moron, I'll be sure to look you up.

Bill White
'95 CC 4x2, SLT - under construction
'03 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 Hemi Off-Road

Lattimer
Dodge Dakota
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9/22/2003
21:37:53

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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QwikKota,

This is from a technical paper I read a while ago, but I no longer have the link, so some of my facts may be off--but the gist is the same.

The newer body Dakotas (97+) were designed in a wind tunnel, with some very advanced software to maximize the areodynamics available from the body. The truck is designed to have a dead space of air in the bed, such that a smooth surface flow is achieved. This is created by the shape of the back of the cab. Far from perfect, but much better than just ahving a bed of turbulent air creating all kinds of currents and additional drag. That is why some people have experienced decreased mileage driving with the tailgate down or off.

The older trucks don't have the benefit of this design work. They were designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, but the basic body design came froma square truck, and as time passed all that was done was to round the corners a bit (huge generalization here.) The Gen II trucks don't have the same sort of aerodynamics as the newer trucks. Driving with the tailgate down on the older trucks may very well increase mpg and mph, because the bed of the truck actually acts like a huge air brake--it catches the wind as you drive. Most all trucks designed prior to the early-mid 90's have similar characteristics.

jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2003
07:50:08

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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thanks for the info lattimer.

b1llyw, don't get all flustered buddy. You didn't state an opinion so don't flex man.

QwikKota
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2003
14:13:09

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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Thanks Lattimer, the body on the Gen III's is much rounder towards the edges, this could change the vortex shape of the air. Never thought of that, good bit of info there. I thought you mean the tailgate itself, I was a bit skeptical on that. As bad as our aerodynamics are, the brick like shape was smoothed out a little. I really like the shape of the Gen III's.

Here is a pic of my 02 4.7L 5spd.

http://home.earthlink.net/~qwikkota/images/field.JPG

Jeremy, you called someone a dip$hit, how did you not expect them to get mad in their reply? Its a$$holes like you that give this board a bad name and keep people from staying.

STS
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2003
17:02:10

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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Seems like I read about that subject in TruckTrend magazine. they stated that its what you call the parachute affect. With it down you get about a .5 per gallon better than up. I tried that on my Dakota and got about .7 MPG increace.

I think the Cab forward design does help with the passing air that keeps it from droping down in the bed.

ammdak
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2003
17:49:59

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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This is an interesting study on the aerodynamics of a truck with various options. Check it out.

http://mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~ehaffner/did.htm

STS
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
16:46:14

RE: 135mph - No More Gear
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I see. But who much drag is produced with mirros?

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