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Better mpg with tonneau cover

Discussion in 'Tonneau Covers, Caps and Shells' started by deerslayer75, Aug 2, 2011.

  1. Aug 2, 2011 at 9:32 AM
    #1
    deerslayer75

    deerslayer75 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    pop-n-lock, mcgard tailgate lock, chrome tube steps, bed extender, chrome brush guard, Fold a cover (G-4) tonneau, weather tech floor mats and rain gaurds, sock monkey: TRD 3rd brake light and whitetail decals, LED bed lights, blue map & dome, 3rd brake light and license plate LED mod, illuminated 4x4 switch, fishing rod holder mod, scangauge II, Remote start & alarm, TW sticker, Flyzeye cupholder light mod
    Put a tonneau cover on about a month ago and I have noticed a difference of about 1-1.5 mpg. It seems to make more of a difference in my highway driving than it does around town. Just thought I'd share for anyone considering it. Especially if you do a lot of highway driving.
     
  2. Aug 2, 2011 at 9:54 AM
    #2
    Johns Taco

    Johns Taco I'm not 4x4, and have an open diff. So i'm 4x1

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  3. Aug 2, 2011 at 9:57 AM
    #3
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

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    Mesa, AZ
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    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    1mpg isnt really enough to pay for it over the lifetime of thevehicle
     
  4. Aug 2, 2011 at 11:33 AM
    #4
    ee1284

    ee1284 Well-Known Member

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    I recently took mine off. It came with the truck. Haven't noticed much of a difference in mpg's.

    I'm gonna leave it off for another tank or 2 and compare it with my other fuel up's on fuelly.
     
  5. Aug 2, 2011 at 1:22 PM
    #5
    TheGreekIndian

    TheGreekIndian Well-Known Member

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    I didn't notice any difference.
     
  6. Aug 2, 2011 at 2:07 PM
    #6
    jdtemple

    jdtemple Well-Known Member

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    I took mine off, didn't notice a difference with out it.
     
  7. Aug 2, 2011 at 3:33 PM
    #7
    Dustyroades

    Dustyroades Well-Known Member

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    I didn't notice a difference when I put mine on.

    Sorry but I don't buy it.
     
  8. Aug 2, 2011 at 3:45 PM
    #8
    BmanDad

    BmanDad Well-Known Member

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  9. Aug 2, 2011 at 3:45 PM
    #9
    DeeKay21

    DeeKay21 Lieutenant Dan.

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    I own a cover but its off right now. Never looked to see if I saved any gas with it on. Didnt Myth Busters have a show on tonneau covers and said they use more gas with them on? Dont quote me but someone just told me that.:cool:
     
  10. Aug 2, 2011 at 4:23 PM
    #10
    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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    I didn't notice a difference with my tonneau when I had it. For what it's worth, my mpg normally varies about 1 to 1.5 mpg between fillups.
     
  11. Aug 2, 2011 at 4:32 PM
    #11
    TacoDawgfan

    TacoDawgfan Hunker Down You Hairy Dawg!

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    I had a Dodge Ram and after adding an Undercover hard tonneau I actually lost about 1/2 mpg. I know for a fact since the truck was equipped with the overhead compass/computer and I regularly got 15 mpgs before the cover and dropped to 14.5 after.
     
  12. Aug 2, 2011 at 4:57 PM
    #12
    the619truck

    the619truck New Member

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    Didn't notice any difference. I have a soft... not sure about hard tops though?
     
  13. Aug 9, 2011 at 11:37 AM
    #13
    TruckXL

    TruckXL New Member

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  14. Aug 9, 2011 at 11:12 PM
    #14
    jdtemple

    jdtemple Well-Known Member

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    Anyone selling a product will publish results making the product look good.

    Someone selling Tonneau covers isn't going to say they don't change the MPG at all.

    Tonneau's do provide some security, but the MPG benefit if there is one, would take years to pay for itself in fuel savings.
     
  15. Aug 10, 2011 at 6:20 AM
    #15
    TruckXL

    TruckXL New Member

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    I also found this really interesting article, which I believe was part of that SEMA study. I know what you mean, if there is any difference its very little, but its still interesting. Seems like no matter how much data people put out there to prove one way or another, this topic never seems to die..haha!


    Do Tonneau Covers Really Improve Gas
    Mileage?
     
  16. Aug 10, 2011 at 6:54 AM
    #16
    Bloom

    Bloom Well-Known Member

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    OME 885+Dakars, WeatherTech mats, EGR In Channel, PopNLock, Access LE, 3M tint and clear film paint protection, Sport grille, Amsoil, Zaino once in a while.
    ^Good find!^ Thanks for posting it. It should help me win a 'tailgate down vs tailgate up' bet I have with my brother in law.

    I wonder what the "New Cap Design" looks like. A 30% reduction in Cd sounds almost too good to be true.
     
  17. Aug 10, 2011 at 7:11 AM
    #17
    Fightnfire

    Fightnfire Recklessly tired

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    You can find just as many other "studies" that show the opposite, or no gain. The last sentence in that is what seals the deal.

    "Also, it is important to remember that drag depends on the size and shape of the vehicle, and therefore a Chevrolet, a Dodge, and a Ford pickup with the same cap might have different drag coefficients because of different design features."

    Also, a $1500 tonneau cover would need to be on the truck for 134,000 miles to pay for itself. That assumes 21 gallons of gas with a 1MPG increase with the tonneau. Used $3.75 for the gas price. The mileage goes up if the price of gas goes down .. etc.
     
  18. Aug 10, 2011 at 7:54 AM
    #18
    Bloom

    Bloom Well-Known Member

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    I put on an Access LE cover before I had gone through the first tank of gas, so all my mileage is with it on. I like the cover for other reasons, but I can't say mpg is one of them.

    I'm not changing my driving habits, interstate speed, etc. and so far, my mpg is about in the middle of what the window sticker says. And that's with close to 700 miles of interstate driving, more or less all downhill from NC to Florida.

    The truck only has 2100 miles on it and some have told me the mpg will improve a bit. We'll see, but I'm not getting my hopes up. It's a truck and I don't see how you and others here are getting 20 mpg or better with the 4.0.

    I figure I'm lucky to get close to what the window sticker says. The old truck got around 16 mpg on a cool day going downhill with a tail wind, so I'm happy with the new one!
     
  19. Aug 11, 2011 at 11:16 AM
    #19
    42noTaco

    42noTaco Active Member

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    N-fab bars, extang tri fold tonneau cover, but just gettin started
    Used to have an s10 4.3 liter. After a tonneau cover I noticed the gas mileage increased slightly, but everyones right, it'd be a long time for it to pay itself back. If you add the other benifits of a cover though, like providing a cover for items in the bed, it kinda makes up for the cost.
     
  20. Aug 12, 2011 at 3:49 AM
    #20
    deerslayer75

    deerslayer75 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tim
    jersey shore
    Vehicle:
    11 TRD sport Dblcab Lngbed
    pop-n-lock, mcgard tailgate lock, chrome tube steps, bed extender, chrome brush guard, Fold a cover (G-4) tonneau, weather tech floor mats and rain gaurds, sock monkey: TRD 3rd brake light and whitetail decals, LED bed lights, blue map & dome, 3rd brake light and license plate LED mod, illuminated 4x4 switch, fishing rod holder mod, scangauge II, Remote start & alarm, TW sticker, Flyzeye cupholder light mod
    Who is paying $1,500 for a tonneau? That sound s a little steep
     

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