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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: replacing spoiler on rpod 179
    Posted: 30 Aug 2019 at 7:42pm
There was another guy who did some modeling also.. But I don't know where it was hosted, though I do know it wasn't you tube. I think it was a nasa server actually. It was in '11 I think when I saw it. I do not remember the guys name/handle, he traded to a vintage Shasta not long after he posted up his results. When the spoiler first appeared there was some serious arguments about the thing, it's purpose, and it's effectiveness at air flow management.

At the time we had owners who HAD been stopped and ticketed for not having proper clearance lighting, as delivered from the factory.

EDIT: also, somewhere in the way back of the site.. there was a guy who did in fact experiment with the "Air Tabs". He put hundreds of them on his pod. Claimed he saw a 15% or so increase in MPG.. Looked like crap though.. LOL
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2019 at 5:12pm
GlueGuy, thanks. 

Looks like those are the same ones I had found, I was wondering if there was something else that furpod was referring to in his post?
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2019 at 11:19am
Originally posted by offgrid

furpod, are there any links to that aerodynamics work you mentioned that you know of?
I'm not furpod, but here are the airflow videos that I saw. please note they are from 2009, and they are looking at the original R-pod (not the "big butt" versions now in vogue).

This is without the spoiler:

This is with the spoiler:
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2019 at 7:14am
Originally posted by podwerkz


That is my point....there is nothing about the spoiler on the r-pod that is done 'properly' (aerodynamically speaking)......so the OP should not worry about it at all.


Approve

I was referring to THIS  post when I pointed out that it was ALSO an opinion. 

In any case, I don't think we are having any significant disagreement, bottom line is that we really just don't know.Confused

There are 3 conventional ways to evaluate drag on a vehicle: 

cfd modelling
wind tunnel testing
coast down testing

Wind tunnel testing is crazy expensive. I had some done once on a solar array roof mount system and it was well over $100K.  

You've just added a interesting 4th option. Rather than a button to run it up and down, why not make a few runs, get the average hp data, remove the spoiler, and run another set of tests? Like with coast down testing you'd need to have a nice flat piece of road, no wind, and consistent temperature and humidity. But you wouldn't need to hold up traffic while coasting. 

There are now some free personal use cfd software packages available, I'm thinking about downloading one and trying it out. Once the model is set up it would be possible to try out different aero details and see what effect they have. It would be good geeky rainy day fun if nothing else. Geek

These are interesting but not really very enlightening, other than showing that you don't want a low mounted spoiler. 


furpod, are there any links to that aerodynamics work you mentioned that you know of?
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podwerkz View Drop Down
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Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2019 at 6:27pm
Originally posted by offgrid


You don't have data to support that statement, so its your opinion, Nor do I. 


In my post #4, that's what I said, it's my OPINION, which means: no, I don't have supporting data in this case.

Quoting myself here:

 

I have a different opinion about that spoiler, I believe it IS for looks


So yeah, its an opinion, but it is an opinion based on some experience and knowledge gained over the years, not just a random wild guess.

At any rate, if a person had a way to raise and lower that spoiler with the push of a button, a simple device like the scangauge hooked up to the tow vehicle OBD port, and reading out instantaneous horsepower, might provide some insight to the effect the spoiler has...I'm betting it slightly increases overall drag. (yes, that's an opinion!)

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Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2019 at 5:30pm
It is my understanding that the spoiler is there for the lights it contains, as required by NTSB.  IIRC, early Pods didn't have it.  Showed up in 2014-15 I believe.  I have removed it and out of necessity replaced it with a new one.  The problem was what the dealer called "the notorious leak issue."  No help at all from Forest River (it was two years old) or the dealer.  FR sold me a new spoiler at full freight.  The old one was too badly warped to reuse.  Using my own approach to sealing the thing, it has been entirely successful.  I've described the details on another post in this forum.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2019 at 4:14am
When I do my solar installation, I'll try to get some data. I''ll start with some coast down test runs with the spoiler on there, then some without, and see if there is any measurable difference at all. I want the initial data anyway to see what effect the solar array has. 

But first we have hurricane season to get through....Thumbs Down
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2019 at 5:56pm
I have seen Youtube videos demonstrating that the spoiler does break the vacuum bubble at the back of an R-pod. That is the alleged intent is my inference. Any square-back TT will have a giant vacuum bubble that will alternately build and collapse. The point of the spoiler is to induce the airstream to tumble, which is supposed to collapse the bubble. Key word in the last sentence is "supposed". Unless someone employs a wind tunnel or something, that's pretty much all we have to go on.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2019 at 2:30pm
Originally posted by podwerkz

Originally posted by offgrid

So spoilers do reduce drag if done properly.


That is my point....there is nothing about the spoiler on the r-pod that is done 'properly' (aerodynamically speaking)......so the OP should not worry about it at all.

He should feel free to modify as he sees fit...I look forward to pictures of the final result.

Approve

You don't have data to support that statement, so its your opinion, Nor do I. 

Whether the spoiler does anything or not, certainly garyd can to whatever he wants, its his trailer. No one ever said otherwise. 
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Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2019 at 1:47pm
Originally posted by furpod

note the 2 rings pods with no spoiler, no clearance lights and no fender lights.. 

Such a clean, uncluttered look.

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