new toy
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,606
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From: Belair md
new toy
picked up a new toy last night.
long story short- got a guy at work who asked if i was interested in a fiberglass bed cover. i asked how much he said free i said sure. went and picked it up and it just so happens its the exact same color as my truck! its been sitting in a barn for about 5 years so it has a few layers of dirt on it (first glance i thought the paint was brown) she needs to be painted as there are some good scratches in it from being banged around over the last few years but it is not cracked at all and even came with the keys!
here comes the questions.....anybody running these things and did you see an increase in fuel mileage?
long story short- got a guy at work who asked if i was interested in a fiberglass bed cover. i asked how much he said free i said sure. went and picked it up and it just so happens its the exact same color as my truck! its been sitting in a barn for about 5 years so it has a few layers of dirt on it (first glance i thought the paint was brown) she needs to be painted as there are some good scratches in it from being banged around over the last few years but it is not cracked at all and even came with the keys!
here comes the questions.....anybody running these things and did you see an increase in fuel mileage?
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Belair md
wouldnt have been my choice but as you said....free. i use my bed frequently so we shall see how much of a pain in turns out to be. i am hoping for an increase in fuel economy but i dont know if it will disrupt the swirl effect that aids in aerodynamics in pick-up beds
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,313
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From: Rio Rancho NM
Lucky find Joe! Get 'er painted, mounted and post pics! I remember reading a test report in trailer life several years ago on that subject. They ran several pickups over long distances to calculate mileage. Some runs were w/ no camper shell but w/ a tailgate, some w/ no shell or tailgate and some w/ a shell. The shell and no tailgate runs were very close but I forget the actual numbers or who won. No shell w/ a tailgate got the worst mileage. I've never run w/out a shell so I can't answer from personal experience.
I removed my shell only once to have a duraliner installed. I did in myself. Back the truck into the garage and screw hooks into the joists in the garage ceiling at all 4 corners. Get 2 ratchet straps long enough to drop the shell to the floor and loop them over the hooks. Then lift each corner from inside with your back. Put a hook from the ratchet straps under each corner and ratchet the shell off the truck. Pull out and drop the shell. I actually left mine hanging in the air for a day while I had the liner installed.
I removed my shell only once to have a duraliner installed. I did in myself. Back the truck into the garage and screw hooks into the joists in the garage ceiling at all 4 corners. Get 2 ratchet straps long enough to drop the shell to the floor and loop them over the hooks. Then lift each corner from inside with your back. Put a hook from the ratchet straps under each corner and ratchet the shell off the truck. Pull out and drop the shell. I actually left mine hanging in the air for a day while I had the liner installed.
Last edited by powrstrkr; Oct 19, 2007 at 09:09 PM.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Belair md
thats odd findings. the open bed with tailgate up has been proven to be much more efficient then open bed tailgate down. i am hoping that the solid cover will aid in the vortex created just behind the rear windows and not distort it causing drag. i would have snapped a pic tonight but it is raining sideways right now
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 154
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From: Mount Juliet, TN
Hey Joe!!
I researched this alot before I bought my shell 3 weeks ago for my trip. I am unsure where you heard that no shell tailgate down was worse, but in our trucks the difference was marginal. In small trucks (courier, toyota, S-10) it made more difference.
In towing a trailer, if the shell comes close to the height of the trailer your pulling it does help split the resistance. I did notice a 2-3 mpg difference when not fighting a headwind.
hope this helps.
I researched this alot before I bought my shell 3 weeks ago for my trip. I am unsure where you heard that no shell tailgate down was worse, but in our trucks the difference was marginal. In small trucks (courier, toyota, S-10) it made more difference.
In towing a trailer, if the shell comes close to the height of the trailer your pulling it does help split the resistance. I did notice a 2-3 mpg difference when not fighting a headwind.
hope this helps.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,842
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From: hillsborough nj
in mythbusters they tested it with a new f150... no tailgate was worst, bedcover was a little better, tailgate up was best
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From: Toulon,Il.
Also on mythbusters they where going for distance on xgallons.I found there testing inconclusive due to the fact they should have done test twice w/tailgate in each postion on each truck.Two identical trucks one can get better milage due to slightly more efficiency from one to another.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Belair md
they did a revisit to that myth and used only one truck and drove the preset track miles. the tested tailgate up, tailgate down, the tailgate nets, and soft vinyl covers. they did the preset gallons and also used an inline fuel meter to measure how much fuel was being used to keep the speed
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From: hillsborough nj
Originally Posted by fuelman
Also on mythbusters they where going for distance on xgallons.I found there testing inconclusive due to the fact they should have done test twice w/tailgate in each postion on each truck.Two identical trucks one can get better milage due to slightly more efficiency from one to another.
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