And
it's more
than just a pretty face!
“Until now,
the only way to produce a customized semi hood was to modify a standard
hood,” says
Dave Jones, owner of Jones Performance Products, Inc.. “But that
ruins its structural integrity. Truk-Rodz hoods are designed from
scratch, so they’re stronger than original equipment hoods, as
well as better-looking and more efficient.” But it’s more than just a pretty face.
“We’re acutely aware of the need for greater efficiency
in the trucking industry,” Dave says. “We always look for
ways to improve air flow over, around, and through the hood to maximize
fuel economy.”
To do this, Jones’s designers use all of their years of experience,
the latest computerized design technology, and forward-thinking creativity.
They aim at smoothing out the lines and minimizing frontal area to improve
the aerodynamics. They also incorporate functional ducts in the sides
of the hoods that create a vacuum to pull the air through the engine
compartment, helping to keep the engine cooler.
“We adapted ducts originally designed by the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics,” Dave said. “They worked very
well when the truck was at speed, but we found that the air flow reversed
when the truck was idling. So we put in one-way valves to stop that
from happening. We’re in the process of patenting them.” |
