Does anyone have experience putting a tonneau cover on and getting better MPG from their diesel SuperDuty? Just trying to squeak out every MPG I can and the dealer said the "better aerodynamics" of the truck (with a tonneau cover) will give me an extra 1-2 MPG. Is he just trying to sell me a cover or is there any truth to this?

 

I get about a half a mpg better with the tonneau cover on in my v10. But that's only on long higher speed trips. Does nothing at lower speed. My buddy with a 2wd s10, saw 4mpg improvement, but its a matchbox car.

If you're trying to justify it on fuel economy...don't. But it's nice to have the extra dry storage space.

I want a camper top...just not near enough room at only bed rail level.

 

I suggest you look at the studies conducted on tonneau covers. The aerodynamics of a bed actually work with trucks in a good way. Place a empty coke can bake there and see if it fly's out.

I personally have a cover installed on my truck and never noticed anything better. I do like it for the keep peoples eyes out and keeping my stuff dry.

 

doesn't do a thing except keep the bed of the truck dry. Running with the bed empty and the tailgate up will get you about the best fuel mileage you are going to get, the empty bed creates a bubble of air that is tear-drop shaped and the air flows over the top. A cab height topper will reduce mileage due to increase drag at the rear of the truck. We are talking tenth's here, anyway, never 1 - 2 mgp. If you think about it, 2 mpg is close to 15% for most of us in normal daily driving.

Brian

 

Mythbusters did a show on using A/C vs. driving with windows open.
I recall the A/C went farther on a gallon in their test.


The "trouble" with doing anything (tonneau cover, tail gate down, topper, etc) and comparing is the real world always changes.. wind direction/speed, humidity level, air temp (effects tire pressure too), etc.


I've watched my inst MPG and watch it jump when I get behind a semi - even NOT tailgating him. Figured out we had a big headwind. On the reverse trip home that afternoon wind changed direction and didn't see a big difference behind a semi..


You'd really need a controlled experiment to make any "real" conclusion. I would go with what look you like the most..

 

a hard shell fiberglass will give you just short of a .5 mpg improve. soft covers wont do anything.


you will never recoupe the cost of the cover with movey saved in MPG.


if you want to lower your drag....lower the truck...install ground effects kit...

 

Mythbusters did this a few years back...... they found no difference in mpg. They also did a/c on vs off and found a difference of under less than 1/2 a gallon

galaxy S4 using IB AutoGroup

 

went today and got the bed shot with line-x, had to wait so had a chance to look at the stock. saw the extang express. nice to keep things out of the rain but like said...keep other eyes off my stuff.

never thought about mpg though.

 

Thanks to all for the replies! I'll probably end up getting a cover just for the security aspect....had more than one person tell me my tailgate will be appealing to thieves. Won't be getting it for the fuel economy. Appreciate the input.

 

i have a Pace-Edwards electric roll up and love it
have had hard, soft and now this and way cool

saw an article in Consumer Reports about MPG and covers
said slight diff in sort bed, worse on long bed, and worse w/o tail gate on both if i recall

but the improvement was very minor