rear spoiler effect on aerodynamics?

[NorCalDoug]

... if you plan on hauling anything up top like I often do (ladders, long lumber, angry girlfriends) the deflector could very much be in the way....

If you install it in the stock location (assuming you don't have one), it's pretty much out of the way unless you raise the rear hatch.

I'm talking about the US OEM one, not the fancy Japanese or Aussie ones.

 

[gregc]

Effectiveness of so-called spoliers

Your average OEM 'spoiler' is for looks only. Even the Porsche whale-tails don't generate significant downforce until 50-60 mph.

I wouldn't expect a 3" spoiler to make any kind of different on a 4000 pound Cruiser...

They're on there for looks and to keep road grime off the back window.

-G

 

[whodat]

I use it to mount my backup mirror

I thought about doing this...so I know when the hitch ball is beneath the boat trailer tongue. Anyone have other solutions? I hate having to get out of the truck six times just to hook up the boat

 

[Gumby]

I would not live in a salt state without one. It does a very nice job of keeping the back window clean. If I was to spray window washer fluid X times a day to keep it that clean, my window seams would be a rusted mess from the salt solution running down the glass.

Which leads to a thread hijack of sorts. What is the corellation between having a spoiler and having window seam rust issues? I have a spoiler, live in a rust state and have 0 tailgate rust issues.

 

[miked]

I thought about doing this...so I know when the hitch ball is beneath the boat trailer tongue. Anyone have other solutions? I hate having to get out of the truck six times just to hook up the boat

i live close enough to lake havasu that i find myself hooking up to boat trailers often. at first, there was always someone there to give me hand signals. now i find that i can come within a few inches on the first try. i guess it was the number of times i have done it that trained my brain to know where it is. maybe you could use something like a parking aid. ya know.. one of those things that beebs when you're close to it.

on the topic of this thread: thank you all for the replies. i didn't expect this to get to two pages. i have a spoiler and have been thinking of removing it. i tried once and stoped at the point i thought the tape was going to hurt the paint. i will keep it on.
now you all have me wondering if the hood deflectors are worth it. i had one on a tacoma thinking it would keep the bugs off the windshield. it did not. all it did was make me one of those people who put silly plastic things on thier ride. at least it was'nt a piece of purple straight up plexi-glass.

 

[Gumby]

I think my hood protector did keep the leading edge of the hood looking nice for a while. i did trade stone chips for little round wear marks, so it's kind of a push.

I'm not sad that's it broken and gone.

 

[Gold Finger]

I suppose one could fix one of those deflectors that caravan towers use and attach it to a gutter mounted roof bar. It would be possible to experiment with angle of inclination and overhang to achieve the desired effects, I believe that there is a range of sizes as well.