what engine do you dakoda guys have?!?! cuz my s-10 with a 2.2L 5speed gets 25 26mpg and i have done zero aero mods. all ive done is cheap intake and electric fan... open bed too.

i plan to get a toneau and ive heard checkmate is one of the best. for a hard top (i want hard for security reasons) but thier still like $400 and take 5 weeks to build and ship. im thinking i could build one cheaper than that. get some aluminum bar stock build a crude frame and then get a HUGE piece of either somewhat thin aluminun or steel or somehting....get some hinges and a gas strut to hold it up and a lock mechanism and im sure i could build one for less than $400

I used 11/32" plywood, 1X4" and 1X2" wood to build. Only needed two sheets of plywood. The top one was only cut to length. The sides slanted from the outside edge of the box to 8" inside to meet the top as it turned down. The shape turned out awesome! Too bad I wasn't a body man. I got pics at home I'll have to update my Garage here.
I am currently cleaning out the garage to move the hovercraft out and the truck in. Even though I just did some engine work and a new tranny, now the rear end is toast. So once it goes in, the fuel system gets modded.

Oh yea, it only took me a weekend to build, more time to glass and paint.

I actually am kicking around using flooring underlayment for the body of it, design it so it will lock and open and coating it with fiberglass fabric. That way I'll get that bumpy paint I've been after. :) :) :cool: :cool:

Oh yeah. Almost forgot (not!). Filled up tonight and drove the 10 miles home.

28.5 mpg in rural/city driving (5 stoplights, 4 stop signs) using hyper shifting and driving. That's my personal best. Ye-haw! :D :D

Ok, Here are the pics of my AeroCap so far. $52 worth of materials.
I plan on modifying it later for easier access to the box.

that looks really good. i like the smooth flow of the back.
just a thought, have you looked into air bags for the ride height? from what i have read they work well.

I like that. Some kind of access hatch and some gas struts under there and you will be set.

That is pretty much what I have envisioned. It looks great :) . My 8 ft box will require a longer sheet or I'll end up with a seam for the pieces. That's what caulk is for :D .

Now that right there is what the heck I'm talking about. Put some fiberglas sheeting on it so it looks like one of them there hard tops and you're good to go.

Now we need some mileage stats. My Dak is a regular cab; 4.7 L H.O.(semi Hemi), 5 speed, 3.55 posi rear, towing package, 6 lug wheels, full option package and still 60 some % mpg over stock. And this thing will do mid 14s down the track, which leads to my HP/theory; HP/Torque = mileage. More HP/torque, less pedal, less gas, more mileage. I've proven it again and again. My last truck did mid 13s in the 1/4 and got 70% over stock mpg.

What we need to figure out is how much the mileage went up even with the extra weight of the cover over the weight of a vinyl cover. I'd expect that the additional mileage is way over the penalty . Then figure the payoff from the cost. With my sideskirts, front air dam and canards, I made the cost up with 2 tanks of gas.

Yea, I want to make easy access into the box but I have to build the frame for the hatch first so it doesn't lose it's shape when I cut it out.

Well for the longest time I couldn't break or even see over 18 mpg on the hwy. I got 22 in that bloody wind but only 20 on the way back.

Mine Dak has a Sport package, 3.55 posi and a 5.2 auto and is loaded with options. It had 65,000 on it when I got it. Now it has 164,000, tight engine, new tranny and soon to be rebuilt rear end.

Hey Max, maybe we should meet up in Lansing for a beer, then put my cap on your truck then do an mpg check. If it gets over 30, you're buying the beer!
I'll have to differential rebuilt first. It's in the garage now.

My box is 81" long and the top sheet is 84" long.
You gimme dimensions, I can draw it up fer ye. Inside and outside da box.