racprops
OBS Enthusiast
"My truck gets that now. Honestly a rectangular shaped vehicle(a van) wouldn’t be my choice for increasing mpg. Seems like you’ve been at this for a looong time without much success. I suppose eventually the wheel can be reinvented - with enough money."
In my research I have found AREO does not really make much MPG.
I also found a simple cosmetic ground effects dress up kit on my 93 Star Craft G20 Chevy Van, makes a MAJOR difference in how she handles side winds and passing Big Rigs...:
I have read and hear that statement over and over about Vans and Trucks.
If that was true then it would be impossible for that tall non-Aerodynamic Heavier 2019 Express van powered by a Gasoline 4.3 V6 even with all the super tech and a 8 speed with its final gear ratio of .65 into 3.42 Would be running about 1400RPMs @ 55MPH and 1600 @ 65MPH.
So we have a heavier, less areo Express Van underpowered with a baby engine with nearly the gears and Low RPMs I am shooting for getting a EPA rating of 19MPG City and 29MPG Highway.
HOW did that happen??
As for my 93 G20:
About the not being blown off the roads, and of Aerodynamics:
I bought my 93 Star Craft Custom Van after having stock Chevy vans for decades (1978 till around 2005 when I bought the 93,) I was concerned that with the raised roof and side ground effects would make winds worst for driving.
I drove a 74 Chevy van full time during the 80s and crossed the US on many times, in the 90s and into the 2000s it was then a 78 van. Again we did a lot of road trips all over.
I was VERY used to fighting for control with cross winds and when passing or being passed by BIG RIGS. The bow wake of air would buffer and push my vans all over the road; I am sure near every Van owner knows what I am talking about.
My first road trip showed me that was NOT a problem. Cruising at 75 MPH I was over taking a Big Rig and I braced for the fight as I over took the cab…and..and WTF no fight, I breezed by this big truck….
Must have been a trick cross wind that stopped the bow wake of the big rig, BUT it happened again and again, almost no effects of passing trucks, and even when I was over took by even faster big rigs.
OMG The stream lining ground effects of the Star Craft panels which I loved for their LOOKS really works. I have had the van for 15 years now and LOVE this effect.
I believe these ground effects keep air from under the van and I believe this nearly stops the effects of bow wakes and losers the effects of cross wind on my G20 van.
But there seems to be a catch, as far as I have been able to learn this ONLY works with the old Star Craft costume vans, the newer look alike vans are not close enough to the ground for this to work.
Also I know big rigs do everything to help their MPG, and my van looks a lot like most newer rigs, and I see deflectors on the trailers that seem to cut air from under the trailers as well.
Check out how many Big Rigs are pulling trailers with an odd panel under the trailer…these are to help block air from getting under the box…I do not know it these help with MPG or just stabilize the box from winds.
They would not add anything that did not work.
As these only came on these old van and many people really are not interested in completely rebuilding an old van my best suggestion is to either lower the newer vans or add to the front air dam and side skirting to get this effect.
Rich
In my research I have found AREO does not really make much MPG.
I also found a simple cosmetic ground effects dress up kit on my 93 Star Craft G20 Chevy Van, makes a MAJOR difference in how she handles side winds and passing Big Rigs...:
I have read and hear that statement over and over about Vans and Trucks.
If that was true then it would be impossible for that tall non-Aerodynamic Heavier 2019 Express van powered by a Gasoline 4.3 V6 even with all the super tech and a 8 speed with its final gear ratio of .65 into 3.42 Would be running about 1400RPMs @ 55MPH and 1600 @ 65MPH.
So we have a heavier, less areo Express Van underpowered with a baby engine with nearly the gears and Low RPMs I am shooting for getting a EPA rating of 19MPG City and 29MPG Highway.
HOW did that happen??
As for my 93 G20:
About the not being blown off the roads, and of Aerodynamics:
I bought my 93 Star Craft Custom Van after having stock Chevy vans for decades (1978 till around 2005 when I bought the 93,) I was concerned that with the raised roof and side ground effects would make winds worst for driving.
I drove a 74 Chevy van full time during the 80s and crossed the US on many times, in the 90s and into the 2000s it was then a 78 van. Again we did a lot of road trips all over.
I was VERY used to fighting for control with cross winds and when passing or being passed by BIG RIGS. The bow wake of air would buffer and push my vans all over the road; I am sure near every Van owner knows what I am talking about.
My first road trip showed me that was NOT a problem. Cruising at 75 MPH I was over taking a Big Rig and I braced for the fight as I over took the cab…and..and WTF no fight, I breezed by this big truck….
Must have been a trick cross wind that stopped the bow wake of the big rig, BUT it happened again and again, almost no effects of passing trucks, and even when I was over took by even faster big rigs.
OMG The stream lining ground effects of the Star Craft panels which I loved for their LOOKS really works. I have had the van for 15 years now and LOVE this effect.
I believe these ground effects keep air from under the van and I believe this nearly stops the effects of bow wakes and losers the effects of cross wind on my G20 van.
But there seems to be a catch, as far as I have been able to learn this ONLY works with the old Star Craft costume vans, the newer look alike vans are not close enough to the ground for this to work.
Also I know big rigs do everything to help their MPG, and my van looks a lot like most newer rigs, and I see deflectors on the trailers that seem to cut air from under the trailers as well.
Check out how many Big Rigs are pulling trailers with an odd panel under the trailer…these are to help block air from getting under the box…I do not know it these help with MPG or just stabilize the box from winds.
They would not add anything that did not work.
As these only came on these old van and many people really are not interested in completely rebuilding an old van my best suggestion is to either lower the newer vans or add to the front air dam and side skirting to get this effect.
Rich