bed cover and mgp increase?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,617
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From: Denver, Co
I saw no gains with my tonneau cover. And that is hand calculated mileage over the course of close to 100,000 miles--about 6,000 of those miles were without the cover.
Hypothetically speaking...let's say:
My opinion would be that you not base the decision on any purported fuel economy gains.
Hypothetically speaking...let's say:
- $500 for a bed cover
- You were getting 15 MPG in the city
- You are now getting 16 MPG in the city
- And gas is a consistent $3.00/gallon
- @15 MPG - 40,000/15 = 2,666.667 gallons of fuel, or $8,000
- @16 MPG - 40,000/16 = 2,500 gallons of fuel, or $7,500
My opinion would be that you not base the decision on any purported fuel economy gains.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 224
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From: Trophy Club Texas
I totally agree with Deluxe. Don't get one just for mileage. I have had trucks forever...almost. Had bedcovers on some, not on others. Didn't make a big difference. I have an 05 now, in order to close the deal, the dealer gave me a hardtop cover. I've had it on/off at different times in order to haul stuff around. Hand calculated mileage wasn't affected to any degree.
Having said that, they are nice to keep things 'dry and secure'. But hauling anything that won't fit under them is a pain, especially with the hardtops. Rollups/foldups etc might be a different story, never had anything but the hardtops.
dp
Having said that, they are nice to keep things 'dry and secure'. But hauling anything that won't fit under them is a pain, especially with the hardtops. Rollups/foldups etc might be a different story, never had anything but the hardtops.
dp
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 466
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I have a low profile Truxedo roll up soft tonneau cover. Mainly for weather protection and out-of-sight- out-of-mind protection. Works great. Rolled up and secured for large items or towing a 5th wheel. Once the trailer is off, roll it out and velcroe edge fastening secures it and hides all the rest of the gear still in the bed.
It has survived several snow storms including one that dumped 3' on the cover. No stretching, sags, or tears.
Side benefit about .5 mpg increase.
It has survived several snow storms including one that dumped 3' on the cover. No stretching, sags, or tears.
Side benefit about .5 mpg increase.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
I have a Retrax and really like it. I got it for weather and satety protection only. I cannot tell any difference in mpg.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
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Didn't mybusters do a show on this? And they didn't see any mpg increase if I recall.
I never saw any increase with a bed cover nor did I see a decrease when I put a bed cap on.
I never saw any increase with a bed cover nor did I see a decrease when I put a bed cap on.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 554
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From: Everett, PA
I have yet to see a gain in fuel economy in my truck with my cover, it doesn't matter if I drive it 75-80mph or keep it around 55-60. I have a Lund with snaps and really like the look of it with the raised bars.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 285
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From: Dunmore Pa.
The myth buster guys on TV did a test and there conclusions were the best setup was no cover with the tailgate up. They said the air formed some type of bubble in the bed deflecting air over the gate. I do like the bed covered I have never seen any gain or loss in Mpg covered vs. uncovered.
Glen
05 F-350 4x4 Reg Cab PSD 6Spd.
Glen
05 F-350 4x4 Reg Cab PSD 6Spd.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Denver, Co
Negative air pressure vortex, to be specific.
Basically the air swirls around between the tailgate and the back of the cab. The air the slipstreams over the top of the cab pulls some of the air out of the box area, thus creating the negative air pressure. The vortex of air that is circling around in the box of the truck becomes a moving barrier which carries the air from the top of the cab over the top of the tailgate.
Basically the air swirls around between the tailgate and the back of the cab. The air the slipstreams over the top of the cab pulls some of the air out of the box area, thus creating the negative air pressure. The vortex of air that is circling around in the box of the truck becomes a moving barrier which carries the air from the top of the cab over the top of the tailgate.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 804
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From: Edmonton, AB
My dad has found about 1MPG on his past trucks. I personally believe there is some gains to be had but it probably varies on each bodystyle. I have one on my truck and have been getting really good MPG with it. I keep my fuel records in a tech gallery.
As to mythbusters, I dont put a lot of stock in much they do. There experimentrs usually lack good scientific procedure and usually leave to many variables in there testing in these types of experiments.
As to mythbusters, I dont put a lot of stock in much they do. There experimentrs usually lack good scientific procedure and usually leave to many variables in there testing in these types of experiments.
Last edited by duffman77; Sep 10, 2007 at 01:33 PM.
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11
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From: Southwestern Virginia
Remember reading in an engineering trade magazine about GMC doing speed record runs at Bonneville back in the 80's with the Typhoon pickups which were basically S10's with Buick Turbo v6's. Gm did a lot of wind tunnel testing with covers and tailgate variables and concluded that the least drag occurred when they covered only the last half of the bed.
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 148
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There have been numerous studies done with tonneau covers and gas savings. Every study I have read said there was some difference in gas savings. How much depended on the type of cover and the size of the truck. Here is an excerpt from an article in Tailgate Talk where they quote one of Ford's engineers:
According to many of those same experts, the best way to improve a pickup's fuel economy is to leave the tailgate up and cover the bed with a quality after market tonneau cover.
"Tonneau covers on pickup boxes reduce aerodynamic drag" said Ford's Jack Williams. "we've seen reductions of about 8 to 10 percent on the F150, which means the average fuel economy improvements for the EPA city/highway cycle(test) is about 2 percent.
"The average steady-state (cruise control) fuel economy improvement at highway speeds is close to 5 percent.."
Adding a tonneau could mean an improvement in fuel mileage that is the equivalent of a free gallon of gas for every 20 gallons used.
According to many of those same experts, the best way to improve a pickup's fuel economy is to leave the tailgate up and cover the bed with a quality after market tonneau cover.
"Tonneau covers on pickup boxes reduce aerodynamic drag" said Ford's Jack Williams. "we've seen reductions of about 8 to 10 percent on the F150, which means the average fuel economy improvements for the EPA city/highway cycle(test) is about 2 percent.
"The average steady-state (cruise control) fuel economy improvement at highway speeds is close to 5 percent.."
Adding a tonneau could mean an improvement in fuel mileage that is the equivalent of a free gallon of gas for every 20 gallons used.
