Aerodynamic properties of a brick

[The Jester Race]

That describes the Gen 1's, right? My question is how will my winch plate affect the aerodynamic properties of my brick?

Id imagine that the back plate will act like an air dam. Do you think that will affect my MPG any? Should I enclose(lack of better word to describe it) it?

Side views

Should I even worry about it? Just say FUK it, gas is cheap....for now.
I'll have some real pictures tomorrow.


-Jester

 

[kunar]

i doubt that you will see any change at all. thats small compared to the many other things that act on wind resistance.

 

[Sunk]

Yeah, I really doubt you'll notice any difference.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Worried about wind resistance and MPGs, yet your adding over 100lbs to the nose of your truck...

Just keep your windows up to compensate...

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Worried about wind resistance and MPGs, yet your adding over 100lbs to the nose of your truck...

+1

 

[The Jester Race]

Worried about wind resistance and MPGs, yet your adding over 100lbs to the nose of your truck...

Just keep your windows up to compensate...

I don't see where you are getting 100 pounds. That plate weighs 22 pounds, and my winch weighs 60 pounds. And thats the reason I designed it as a multi mount winch, so I don't have the extra weight on the front all the time.

I understand I'm doing damage(again, lack of a better word) by adding the extra weight, but why make it worse then it has to be. Every little bit helps, right....if it helps? So back to my question, will that horizontal plate add enough resistance to even worry about? I don't know, I'm not an engineer, I don't want to be an engineer, I'm just a welder.

Thanks, Sunk and kunar,
thats what I was hoping to hear.

-Jester

 

[Jason]

If you wanted to fix the aerodynamics of your truck, lower it. Then cover the bottom in a smooth(ish) aluminum skin. As long as you have it up off the ground a ways with that undercarriage exposed you will not be able to make a noticeable difference.

 

[martin]

I don't believe adding a smaller brick to the front of a large brick will make a noticeable difference to the aerodynamics as long as speeds are kept reasonable.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

60lbs winch
22lbs plate
8lbs grade8 hardware
5lbs tow hooks (needed to run a snatch block)

Oops! Sorry I was 5lbs off...

Not to be a douche, but you gotta look at the whole picture.
Like how if you drive with the winch on, the inside of your tires will go bald. The extra weight makes the front sag thus, cause of the TTB design, throwing your camber out.


But to answer the question, You won't notice it. The factory airdam has more surface area and is commonly removed without any effect.

 

[97ranger4x4]

how much does the stock bumper weigh though. 20lbs? So looking at the big picture you would take your 95 lbs and subtract the stock bumper, since we are talking about ADDITIONAL weight.

But like others have said, it will not decrease your mpg at all.

 

[MAKG]

If you're worried about drag, streamline that trailing edge.

The leading edge doesn't make much of a difference at all.

 

[Loanranger]

Add a HUGE aluminum spoiler to your truck and it should compensate. The bigger the better..

 

[backslash18]

Add a HUGE aluminum spoiler to your truck and it should compensate. The bigger the better..

No No No, a huge aluminum spoiler would just make his truck way faster than it already is. It wouldn't change his MPG at all.

 

[97ranger4x4]

but it would give him the downforce he needed for when he is off roading. everyone knows downforce = traction. and traction is always needed when 4 wheeling. especially rock crawling. In fact, you should put a front splitter like on nascar to aid in getting traction on the front as well.