Bed cover benefits?

[Zembonez]

My truck gets the same mileage with a bare bed - a tonneau cover - or a camper shell. I have had all three versions at one time or another. Apparently altering the aerodynamics of a brick is more complicated than we thought.

 

[97madness]

I've had all three on the one truck. And it still gets crappy mileage. So i never bothered to look for a notable difference. It'll be worth the laughs to break his heart thinking not having anything will boost the mpgs.

 

[Kennyray]

Ford did wind tunnel tests on this some time back and they showed that it simply does not make a difference. Tailgate or no tailgate, cover or no cover, it's all the same due to the way the air flows over the cab and creates a "bubble" of fairly still air that the rest then flows over pretty smoothly.

That's what I was trying to say....................

 

[RedRider]

Truckin magazine did a study on this about 6 yrs ago. They found a slight gain with a tonneau cover, but the biggest gain in mileage for them came when they lowered the truck, went with smaller, less wind resistant mirrors and a body kit to keep air from under the truck.

 

[Kennyray]

Truckin magazine did a study on this about 6 yrs ago. They found a slight gain with a tonneau cover, but the biggest gain in mileage for them came when they lowered the truck, went with smaller, less wind resistant mirrors and a body kit to keep air from under the truck.

That's why you see semi trailers with the side skirts.

 

[Boilerup15]

I don't care either way, I bought a truck to use the bed, there just a pain in the ass if you ask me.

Used ours with them on i couldnt see having a hard cover though. The topper on my other truck is nice, but downsides too. Cant fit the bbq grille in the bed (dont want to lift it that high either) along with a few other taller items.

As much as I throw things in and out off the bed, I found myself just leaving mine rolled up, so I sold it. Just took to much time to roll it up.

 

[Kennyray]

I don't care either way, I bought a truck to use the bed, there just a pain in the ass if you ask me.

Used ours with them on i couldnt see having a hard cover though. The topper on my other truck is nice, but downsides too. Cant fit the bbq grille in the bed (dont want to lift it that high either) along with a few other taller items.

As much as I throw things in and out off the bed, I found myself just leaving mine rolled up, so I sold it. Just took to much time to roll it up.

That's why I bought a folding one.

 

[Boilerup15]

I don't care either way, I bought a truck to use the bed, there just a pain in the ass if you ask me.

Used ours with them on i couldnt see having a hard cover though. The topper on my other truck is nice, but downsides too. Cant fit the bbq grille in the bed (dont want to lift it that high either) along with a few other taller items.

As much as I throw things in and out off the bed, I found myself just leaving mine rolled up, so I sold it. Just took to much time to roll it up.

That's why I bought a folding one.

The one I had came on the truck when I bought it. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have had one.