Air dams and wind deflectors

[punomatic]

I have read with interest the few posts on this forum about air dams on the underside of the cabover section of TCs. I have been doing a lot of thinking about the terribly un-aerodynamic (is that a word?) design of most truck campers.

In looking at my set up, I wonder if some kind of wind deflector on the side of the pickup to deflect wind around the square front of the camper that is below the roof level of the truck cab would help with A) fewer bugs squashed on that area and B) aerodynamic drag.

Then there is the flat surface where the camper extends sideways past the end of the truck bed. Mine has a sculpted profile, from the side view, which seems like it creates a trap for wind coming down the side of the truck bed.

Has anybody experimented with wind deflectors for these areas? I was wondering if an angled blade (similar to a bug deflector that people put on the front of the hood) attached to the front of the passenger doors for the back seat might help for the forward area (the front of the camper that extends beyond the truck cab), but I am baffled about what to try for the rear lateral extension area. Any thoughts?

I hope my description is not so confusing that you can't follow it.

Thanks,
Tom

[punomatic]

Very nice setup. Thanks for sharing.

[bcbigfoot]

I have the side deflectors attached to the dually brackets, the brackets will swing in at a 45 degree angle. I use a tarp strap attached to the camper leg to hold everything in place at the 45 degree angle. My quad cab has backward opening rear doors, so the door will still fully open. I usually remove the side deflectors when camper is off truck (five 1/4 in. bolts to remove) and dually brackets are extended open. To easy to walk into if I'm absent minded.

[punomatic]

Thanks, bcbigfoot. Helpful information. I read the Chet's Airfoil thread, which addresses part of the problem. I like your side deflectors. Do they attach after the camper is on the truck? Seems like it would be difficult to maneuver between the side deflectors when loading/unloading, if they are permanently affixed.

[bcbigfoot]

Effectiveness of air deflector? Hmmm

1) Reducing tinny Dodge roof noise and other wind noise - 9 out of 10
2) Reducing bugs from windshield and camper - 8 out of 10
3) Increasing fuel mileage - unknown (guess .3 to .5 mpg increase) Truck and camper has averaged 15 mpg over past 5 years and 55000 miles.

4) I forgot to mention air buffeting over 60 mph is reduced 60 to 70%

[punomatic]

bcbigfoot wrote:
I have messed around with some air deflectors, now if I can remember how to get a image up here.

Looks great! What is your appraisal of their effectiveness?

[bcbigfoot]

I have messed around with some air deflectors, now if I can remember how to get a image up here.

[Gripnriprod]

Here's a link to a discussion of this topic including instructions on building an air dam. Chet's Airfoil