Any aero help for a 95 Rodeo?

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Any aero help for a 95 Rodeo?
Tweet Topic Started: Feb 28 2012, 12:19 PM (1,154 Views)
todaugen	Feb 28 2012, 12:19 PM Post #1
Posts: 443 Group: Valued Members Member #2,587 Joined: Jun 23, 2010 Location Kansas City Year/Make/Model 97 Geo Metro AT	[IMG][URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/p1010250l.jpg/][/URL] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG] I had a 99 Toyota Tacoma SR5 TRD 4x4 that was recalled last year due to rust. Toyota bought it back from me at a more than fair price and I am now finally replacing it with a 95.5 Isuzu Rodeo. I got an SUV because it worked out same/better than buying a truck and fiberglass topper. With the back seats removed there is the same amount of space as the old Toyota's 6' bed. Anyway, my question: would it help MPGs any to remove the roof rack and the spare tire from the back? I made a 170 mile round trip this weekend down to Pleasanton to pick up our raw milk and at a constant 60mph I got about 22mpg. That sucks and is about on par with what my truck got, and the truck had bigger tires. Any one know? Or do I just have to try it out?



Coche Blanco	Feb 28 2012, 12:33 PM Post #2
Troll Certified Posts: 21,983 Group: Valued Members Member #982 Joined: Jul 15, 2009 Location North Alabama Year/Make/Model 1993 3/5	Removing the rear tire won't help aerodynamically. But it's probably 50 good pounds hanging off the back...weights savings never hurt. Removing the roof rack won't hurt either, but if you won't be driving it that much it's going to be more of a hassle than it's worth. A grille block and air dam are the only quick and easy things you can do that will help.



dover	Feb 28 2012, 12:42 PM Post #3
Posts: 846 Group: Valued Members Member #195 Joined: Nov 11, 2008 Location Puget Sound Year/Make/Model '93 manual Metro 3-door	Did you get that raw milk on the black market?



todaugen	Feb 28 2012, 01:28 PM Post #4
Posts: 443 Group: Valued Members Member #2,587 Joined: Jun 23, 2010 Location Kansas City Year/Make/Model 97 Geo Metro AT	Coche Blanco: Thanks bro, I hadn't thought of the grill block. I was thinking that the tire hanging there in the back would create some kind of parasitic drag. (My thoughts keep wandering back to the fact that my truck got better mpgs with the tail-gate up rather than down, apparently because a bubble or vortex of air would form in the bed and allow air to pass over with less disturbance or friction.) dover: in KS you can buy raw unpasteurized milk from a farmer if you pick up the milk from their farm. They are not allowed by law to sell it offsite. Strange huh?



Coche Blanco	Feb 28 2012, 01:37 PM Post #5
Troll Certified Posts: 21,983 Group: Valued Members Member #982 Joined: Jul 15, 2009 Location North Alabama Year/Make/Model 1993 3/5	todaugen Feb 28 2012, 01:28 PM Coche Blanco: Thanks bro, I hadn't thought of the grill block. I was thinking that the tire hanging there in the back would create some kind of parasitic drag. (My thoughts keep wandering back to the fact that my truck got better mpgs with the tail-gate up rather than down, apparently because a bubble or vortex of air would form in the bed and allow air to pass over with less disturbance or friction.) Different principle. This is like putting a spare tire in the bed.



vr4	Feb 28 2012, 02:56 PM Post #6
Posts: 1,720 Group: Tech Certified Member #3,683 Joined: Nov 17, 2010 Location vancouver, wa Year/Make/Model 98 swift	spare tire wont make a difference aero wise. rack maybe .5 at best. 22mpg is actually good for a v6 suv of that generation. my montero gets about 18 hwy



aaronvincent	Feb 28 2012, 06:42 PM Post #7
Mr Mojo Risin' Posts: 3,575 Group: Valued Members Member #6,594 Joined: Aug 19, 2011 Location El Paso, Texas Year/Make/Model 1991 Metro XFi	Nice Rodeo, I drove an Amigo as a rental for awhile, they seem nice and last a long time. Put your own seats in if you prefer, those seats are somewhat uncomfortable and heavy from my experience



Bad Bent	Feb 29 2012, 02:41 AM Post #8
Facetious Educated Donkey Posts: 14,799 Group: Moderator Member #334 Joined: Dec 26, 2008 Location Native of SoCal, in Moscow, Idaho Year/Make/Model 1991 and 1996 Geo Metros	The basic aero is going to the the air dam and grill block as Coche Blanco mentioned. Take a look at vortex generators; DIY generators from gassavers.org. Seal the hood-body gaps and around the headlights. Widen the front bumper so air flows around the tires (Mr. Murf mod). A belly pan. Can you lower it at all? Might find something at http://ecomodder.com and every little 1/2 mpg adds up.



poorman1	Feb 29 2012, 04:53 AM Post #9
Posts: 568 Group: Valued Members Member #263 Joined: Nov 28, 2008 Location Brainerd Minnesota Year/Make/Model 95 metro	Chop roof 8", Lower suspension 6", And mirror delete.



vr4	Feb 29 2012, 11:06 AM Post #10
Posts: 1,720 Group: Tech Certified Member #3,683 Joined: Nov 17, 2010 Location vancouver, wa Year/Make/Model 98 swift	So.......turn it into a station wagon.



todaugen	Feb 29 2012, 11:57 AM Post #11
Posts: 443 Group: Valued Members Member #2,587 Joined: Jun 23, 2010 Location Kansas City Year/Make/Model 97 Geo Metro AT	Bad Bent Feb 29 2012, 02:41 AM and every little 1/2 mpg adds up. Yes it does. I looked for a good used station wagon and found next to nothing. Either folks are holding onto them now-a-days or they're being bought up faster than I can hunt them down. An old Corolla or Mercury Tracer would've been sweet. My original plan was to get a 4x4 because I like camping in the Rockies (and lately in NM and AZ), but if gas really does hit $5/gal-- Edited by todaugen, Feb 29 2012, 11:57 AM.



aaronvincent	Feb 29 2012, 06:40 PM Post #12
Mr Mojo Risin' Posts: 3,575 Group: Valued Members Member #6,594 Joined: Aug 19, 2011 Location El Paso, Texas Year/Make/Model 1991 Metro XFi	Damn! You were only off by a couple of weeks. My father sold off his 1991 Escort Wagon, was a good car. Those high mpg wagons are getting harder to find!



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