Ford Engineer ....5-10% Fuel Savings

KP SCAB · #1 03-19-2005, 07:39 PM

Ford Engineer Says Tonneau Covers Provide 5-10% Fuel Savings

http://truck-bed-covers.com/Tonneau_..._save_fuel.htm

Sales Pitch or fact? what are your thoughts???

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red_candle · #2 03-19-2005, 07:44 PM

it makes sense. mine will have a cover when I get it.

dzervit · #3 03-19-2005, 08:07 PM

Old news and maybe under ideal driving conditions, but real world I'd go with 1-3%... basically, barely noticable!

kingfish51 · #4 03-19-2005, 08:23 PM

Can't say I have ever noticed a change in gas milage with any kind of tonneau I have owned. Soft or hard.
I have an Undercover, but that's more for looks and security.

Buck Henry · #5 03-19-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzervit
Old news and maybe under ideal driving conditions, but real world I'd go with 1-3%... basically, barely noticable!

I agree, percent impact improvement is probably 1 to 3% at best. It may not seem like much now, but a 3% gain in MPG could start to add up pretty quick if gas hits $4.00 - $5.00 bucks per gallon as some doomsdayers are predicting.

KCSport · #6 03-19-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kingfish51
Can't say I have ever noticed a change in gas milage with any kind of tonneau I have owned. Soft or hard.
I have an Undercover, but that's more for looks and security.

Yeah what He said.

Crash_edwards · #7 03-19-2005, 08:42 PM

I agree as well. 1 to 3% max.....

Works well for keeping stuff dry though...

Its also a great place to put the kids when they get out of control. Make sure it is a good quality lock....

Justis01 · #8 03-19-2005, 09:37 PM

I noticed the best results are obtained with highway driving. About a 1.5 mpg increase.

Scott

hades281 · #9 03-19-2005, 10:56 PM

I am a mechanical engineering undergrad at Texas Tech; about ten years ago the university did wind-tunnel testing on F-150 (scaled model) truck configurations to determine which were the best for gas mileage (greatest reduction in drag).

I think the best configuration had a tonneau cover, a small wing attached to the cab, and a small wing on the tailgate IIRC. One of the worst was with the tailgate DOWN because as the air blows over the top of the cab and drops off the tailgate, it creates more drag and "down force."

I'll try to find the report and post it, it's pretty interesting!

texaspyro21 · #10 03-20-2005, 01:13 AM

I always love seeing other Raiders around here.

J-150 · #11 03-20-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hades281

I think the best configuration had a tonneau cover, a small wing attached to the cab, and a small wing on the tailgate

No.

No wings.

I don't care what it does for mileage... it's just plain wrong.

And let's face it... if you are that worried about the cost of gassing these things up... buy a Ranger.

drug delivery · #12 03-20-2005, 11:37 PM

If I got 1% increase in fule mileage, that would allow me to drive 150 miles further a year based on what I currently drive. Nothing to be excited about. 3-5% might be worth it.

hades281 · #13 03-21-2005, 02:29 PM

Texaspyro, are you still in the L B K? The 806?!

hehe

masseyman · #14 04-04-2005, 12:03 AM

Many years ago there was a magazine called "Pickup Van and 4 wheel drive" or PV4 for short. They conducted a test with the tailgate up and with the tailgate removed, the latter showed a 6% improvement. I always tended to believe the results. I can see where the tailgate would create a great air dam.

J-150 · #15 04-04-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by masseyman
Many years ago there was a magazine called "Pickup Van and 4 wheel drive" or PV4 for short. They conducted a test with the tailgate up and with the tailgate removed, the latter showed a 6% improvement. I always tended to believe the results. I can see where the tailgate would create a great air dam.

this has been studied professionally in wind tunnels.

tailgate down or removed is worse than tailgate up. With gate up, an air bubble is created. Wind flows over the windbubble.