jollilama:

4/4 Photo:  ’03 Tacoma Prerunner - Aerodynamicized - 35mpg

This was my truck as of a year ago, towards the tail end of my “ecomodding” experiment, which is a term for modifying your ride to improve its fuel efficiency.

The design and build is mine, with advice from some aerodynamics engineers, using cheap and easy-to-obtain materials, totaling about $70. EPA estimate for this model is about 17/20. I was able to fill up three weeks in a row at 31mpg. (7.5L/km for the metric-heads.) There are no engine or transmission mods other than maintenance.

You can probably figure out why the wheels are covered, but the back needs some explanation. The optimal aerodynamic shape is a teardrop. You can see it if you trace a line over the cab, over the plexi cab extension, and over the “rear reattachment apparatus” that looks like a spoiler, but is really anything but. The radical design was necessary partly because it’s a short-bed truck. Details can be found on my thread on Ecomodder.

As it is, I’ve since returned everything to normal, and again drive like your typical CA freeway idiot. Except I refuse to do the stupid thing where you speed up to get to the stop light faster.

FREAKING AWESOME. I hate cars, so making one use less gas by future-modding it is AWESOME.