Well, I've had the truck since Dec 01, and I just tonight finally bought and installed a tonneau cover.

Just a soft roll up, but a cargo cover none the less. And get this. Regular price $175, clearance for $90. From Walmart. The only thing I don't like is it doesn't tilt, but I'll figure something out. Maybe build a subframe, add a hinge, and a couple shocks and latches. We'll see. Looks good though. No snaps, no drilling. Bonus.

It's a LeBra, by the way.

 

Spiffy. Do report back on the mileage changes once you get the chance.

 

Oh, yeah. About that. Though I'm not really counting on any improved mileage, I did fill up just yesterday, so we'll see what happens.

With me living 10 minutes from work now, and no highway miles at all, I get about 400 kms per tank compared to 25 minutes from work with 15 minutes of highway, and 500 kms per tank. But now, I can go to and from work for 4 weeks, compared to just 2 weeks.

 

Didn't they bust that myth on Mythbusters recently?

 

They tested the "myth" on Mythbusters but found out there is hardly a difference in mileage between using a cover and just driving with the tailgate up. Driving with the tailgate down actually hurts gas mileage. Of course, they used a hard fiberglass tonneau cover which would add weight to the truck. But I dont think it would have make that much of a difference if they used a soft, lightweight one. They also tested one of those tailgate nets, which actually improved gas mileage.

 

It would have to be tested in a wind tunnel to actually know what benefits there are if any.

 

I found that I'd pick up ~1-2 mpg highway with a tonneau cover on. Of course, usually when I'd have the cover off, it was because I was hauling something bulky or heavy, either of which could decrease MPG. Far from scientific testing, too, and the best tankful I ever measured was with the cover off, the bed full of camping gear, and a passenger...

 

...here we go again

 

Just for the record, I didn't get it for fuel savings.

 

Yeah, even with the extended cab, a cover of some sort can be nice. I had a love-hate relationship with my tonneau, mostly because it was a snap-model. How does yours fasten down?

 

I had a LeBra brand when I had a '99 flareside, really completes the look of the truck, and keeps your junk out of the rain!

 

I didnt get my fiberglass tonneau for the gas savings either, but along the same lines john112deere said about being loaded. I drove from KC to St Louis with the bed and back of my truck absolutely stuffed full of luggage and recieved the best mileage ever! Just shy of 29 MPG! I'd say not to shabby for a supercab 3.0! It's been the best visual addition to my truck as well.

 

so me deiving from clearwater florida to cape cod mass, back in november, with my tailgate down actually did me no good???????????????????????????

plus never mind the fact that when i pulled into a rest stop to get some shut i eye, i backed up into a spot that had those wire gaurdrails. a few hours later when i woke to leave, i pulled away not knowing that my tailgate was just over the top wire and the handle of the tailgate grabbed the wire. i continued to leave, and left my latch hanging on the wire, 80 bucks for new latch and labor.

long story short if i aint saving an amount worth saving im not dropping my tailgate for long trips.

 

Do your own math. I've known people get results both ways on that issue, so figure out what YOUR numbers are, and go from there. I'd bet you didn't save $80 on gas, though...

 

+1 on doing your own math. works for some, not for others