Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
#1558545
01/04/14 01:49 PM
01/04/14 01:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
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OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
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Have any of you seen a real world fuel mileage increase by adding a tonneau (sp?) cover/flat pickup box cover? I'm adding one to my 2011 Ram for other reasons, but I have heard that putting one of these on does help highway mileage. What have any of you seen? True or another urban legend? I remember when those nets on the back of trucks to replace the tailgate were all the rage, but then read a few years later that they didn't really help at all...?
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558546
01/04/14 02:15 PM
01/04/14 02:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325 Truckville, the capital of NY
85_Ram_4speed
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325
Truckville, the capital of NY
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I never saw any increases or decreases on our three trucks.....But we do mostly around town driving. On the highway you may see a very minor difference IMO.
I put them on to keep the weather and prying eyes out. It really bothers me around here to see pickup beds full of snow. And it's nice to know you can stick something in the back and have it stay dry to mostly dry--depending on the cover and actual weather.
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: 85_Ram_4speed]
#1558547
01/04/14 02:16 PM
01/04/14 02:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
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OP
waaaay out there in left field
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Morningside
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That's why I'm adding it to mine, to be able to keep stuff in the bed and keep it dry. Just curious on the mileage, and I'm driving this truck around 100 miles a day or about 500/week, so maybe it'll save a little gas to boot? JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558548
01/04/14 02:17 PM
01/04/14 02:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
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OP
waaaay out there in left field
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Morningside
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That said, if I saw an average of 1mpg improvement, that would be very cool! JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558550
01/04/14 02:38 PM
01/04/14 02:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,988 new jersey usa
11secdart
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,988
new jersey usa
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I`ve always had bed covers on my trucks for the same reason to keep the elements out, I don`t know if there is really a gas mileage difference, heres a not so funny story about the elements and pickup beds: A few years ago at my local track there was a quick passing shower resulting in down time and a track drying process which took an hour or so,the first vehicle to make a pass after the drying was a pick up with a bed liner and no bed cover, you guessed it when he left the line all the water in the bed from the rain came out the back all over the starting line, the track personal were not amused.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558551
01/04/14 03:31 PM
01/04/14 03:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,944 woodcrest, CA
magnum440d100
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,944
woodcrest, CA
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On my 72 d100, I have a leather snap on tonneau cover. It might be my suspension, but my truck drives better with it off. With it on, I could feel my back end wriggle around while driving. With it off, the truck tracks straight. No real mileage increase. Or decrease though. With the 318, and a230 3 on the tree, it would get real close to 20. Went with the a833od and the tonneau cover it got the same haha. But I also "upgraded" to a 4bbl. I imagine with a hard cover, it would be different. I stopped driving with my leather one. With the tailgate up, its been shown that the tailgate catches a very tiny bit of air, which rolls over/back towards the cab, which allows the rest of the air to roll over the truck. Ever drive with leaves in the bed, and the rear slider and sunroof open?
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558554
01/05/14 09:25 AM
01/05/14 09:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162 USA
360view
Moparts resident spammer
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Moparts resident spammer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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on a 1995 Ram ClubCab with a 6.5 foot long cargo box i got a 1 mpg increase on the highway with a hard ARE tonneau there was no increase in city driving US Patents are sworn to "under oath" GM swore under oath that the best aerodynamics comes when you cover about half the open bed from the tailgate forward. See this patent http://www.google.com/patents/US4573730?...ved=0CDUQ6AEwAAthis drawing and graph shows the effect http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US4573730-1.pngthere is also a good study of tonneaus on full sized GM and Ford pickups in the large wind tunnel owned by the Research Council of Canada, but unfortunately they did not include a Ram pickup
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558555
01/05/14 01:21 PM
01/05/14 01:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,828 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,828
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Back when I had my 2002 Ram 1500, I put a vinyl bed cover on it. It was one of those that had a frame with cross bars it secured to. I didn't have to undo anything to drop the tailgate which was nice. The one thing that surprised me about the cover was how much it moved. Even after sitting in the sun, it almost took two people to install it was so tight. Yet, out on the highway, in a strong crosswind, that sucker flapped around as if it wasn't fastened. Either way, mileage didn't change.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#1558556
01/05/14 03:50 PM
01/05/14 03:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,988 new jersey usa
11secdart
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,988
new jersey usa
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My Extang cover is like that as is all the covers I`ve had in the summer they are fine but in the winter they are hard to put back on after removal for cargo, My Extang has moving snap bases and even with those its hard. I try not to remove it when its cold but the looks and purpose out weigh the disadvantages.
Last edited by 11secdart; 01/05/14 03:51 PM.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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Re: Gas Mileage increase when adding bed cover?
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#1558559
01/06/14 10:00 AM
01/06/14 10:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,076 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,076
Niles , Ohio
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MythBusters did a segment on them.They used covers,open,the tailgate straps with holes etc.IIRC the best mileage came from just running it stock.Google it and it should come up.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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