tonneau cover

**Lwnwookie** · 02-12-2006, 08:37 PM

I`m thinking about getting one of those fibreglass tonneau covers for the bed of my truck. I am driving close to 40 miles one way to work 4 day a week and was wondering if it would save me a significant amount in gas each week. The cover is gonna be like 700 dollars painted to match and installed. Oddly enough I haven`t noticed that much of a difference between my little 4.0 V6 Ranger and the 5.6 V8 Titan, maybe like $10 a week.

**97F1504x4** · 02-12-2006, 08:56 PM

The MPG savings is going to be minimal 1MPG maybe 2 at best, so if your sole purpose and decision for this purchase is based on that then i would say no as it will take you years and years to get that 700.00 back in fuel mileage savings. Also driving with the tailgate down makes your mileage worse so do not do that.

Richard

**Lwnwookie** · 02-12-2006, 09:13 PM

I thought the cover would`ve made a big difference, I also didn`t know that driving with the tailgate down reduced gas mileage, I think I will just spend my money on a PC and a bunch stuff at PoorBoys then.

**shineycar** · 02-12-2006, 10:31 PM

i spent a little over $200 and just got a good lund soft cover, seems to do real good. i got the seal and peal type and it dont leek when it rains or like the last 2 days snows!!! lol
hard to get much detailing in during snow storms...

**Lwnwookie** · 02-12-2006, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by shineycar

i spent a little over $200 and just got a good lund soft cover, seems to do real good. i got the seal and peal type and it dont leek when it rains or like the last 2 days snows!!! lol
hard to get much detailing in during snow storms...

Come on down south, here in SC we had the big blizzard of 89 that dumped like 7 inches on us. Can`t wait to move downstate to Columbia though, the summers are blazing hot and the winters are just cool.

**JaredPointer** · 02-13-2006, 08:38 AM

I will add my 2 cents here... I had a fiberglass tonneau cover on my last Tacoma, and had no noticeable increase/decrease in my MPG. I doubt seriously if they would help at all in the mileage dept. due to the weight of the cover cancelling out any "aerodynamic" benefits.

FWIW, the Mythbusters did a test on the tailgate up/down scenario, and came to the conclusion that driving with the tailgate down results in worse gas mileage than driving with it up.

One more thing.... Whoooooooooooooooo!!! Haha. Love your avatar!

**Bob** · 02-13-2006, 08:43 AM

I think Myth Busters tried this and found they actually had worse gas mileage.

**Beercan31** · 02-13-2006, 08:50 PM

"was wondering if it would save me a significant amount in gas each week"
Economy is regulated by the right foot.

I have a tonneau cover on my truck made by A.R.E., as for the fuel savings there are none because it is off set by the extra weight, Mine is most likely the heaviest one I have ever seen, weighs about 200lbs. there are other out there that are lighter in weight but have seen them flutter going down the road.

Yeh there swirls...thats when I was old and foolish...I`m so much younger now.

the two advantages to mine is I can LOCK it and it has an awesome wing option with a 3rd brake light.

as for the price I spent 1,300.00 and that included the wing, the wing was a $300.00 option.