Has anyone done any statistical research on if and how much MPG improvement the Tundra gets with a tonneau cover installed? Specifically, I am looking at the 5.7 Liter and I am interested in purchasing a tonneau cover soon, but if the MPG doesn't improve, then I am going to wait and save up a little bit.
Also, what is your favorite tonneau cover and why? Prices?
I got an extang evolution tonneau for my 5.7 crewmax about a month and a half ago. I am averaging about .8 mpg more (now I'm at 17.2 mpg) after the tonneau. Mostly very hilly country roads but some city and highway as well.
I went with the evolution because there is no velcro and no snaps and it is quick and easy to roll up when I need the bed for something bigger. Plus it allows for adjustment to tighten the slack between the hot summers and cold winters we get in Wisconsin. I got it for about $350 if I remember right.
I got a Extang Trifecta ... its a tri-folding soft cover (10 year warranty), New install from box to truck takes maybe 5 minutes, crazy nice everyone that has seen it loves it ... does not leak a drop either, take about 5 seconds to open and fold it and can be taken totally off in about 2 minutes ... very, very wide cross bars on it and I could not be happier with it, got it Brand New on ebay for $299 ... its the same design as the Extang Solid Fold but instead of it being like the Solid Fold mine is soft ... oh and yeah and mine was about $400 cheaper lol ... I wanted the solid fold but no way could I justify paying that much more for it being hard cover (didnt want to worry about the hinges leaking on the hard cover either)... like others have said any bed cover soft or hard will keep the honest out of the bed, the theives can get into a solid fold about as easy as a soft cover.
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2008 Tundra DC 4x4 5.7 Black w/Black interior
Mythbusters did a show on this - they compared two trucks, one with tailgate down and one with tailgate up. The up tailgate formed a circular wind current in the front of the bed that provided more aerodynamics and increased MPH over the tailgate down. I would assume having the cover in place kills the aerodynamics formed as well. From their findings, I would say you should lose mileage with one installed
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2007 White Toyota Tundra
5.7liter, V-8
Mythbusters did a show on this - they compared two trucks, one with tailgate down and one with tailgate up. The up tailgate formed a circular wind current in the front of the bed that provided more aerodynamics and increased MPH over the tailgate down. I would assume having the cover in place kills the aerodynamics formed as well. From their findings, I would say you should lose mileage with one installed
Totally wrong comparison, the tailgate has nothing to do with the aerodynamics if you have a tonneau cover. The whole purpose of the tonneau is to move said bubble of air.
I've always had tonneau covers on my trucks, I get better mileage but it isn't anything huge. It's not a whole lot but it translates to 10-20 miles more per tank. I figure that over the course of a few years, it will pay for itself and save me a little bit of money.
Even though it isn''t super secure, I'd rather not have people looking at the stuff in my bed. It also prevents jerks from throwing garbage in the bed when you are parked.
Since this thread was moved, I expect it to die off soon.
Wow that's really interesting about Mythbusters. Since I can get a tonneau cover for under 500, I might go ahead and do that so I can use it and save a couple pennies earlier . Thanks for the insight.
Seems some folks are taking my post as off topic. Just trying to answer the original OPs question about mileage. My point was that since the tailgate creates the 'dam' it is logical you lose that with a tonneau since their is nothing to stop the air to circle it back to the rear window.
Again, thought I was just helping a topic out.
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2007 White Toyota Tundra
5.7liter, V-8
Chevrolet has added a factory cover to their "XFE" Silverado for mileage improvements, but with all the improvements they made for the XFE, it only gained them 1mpg, so the cover itself is probably (much) less than 1mpg. You'd likely not recover the cost of the cover in a short time. Buy the cover because you want it, not for the fuel economy.
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~Michael
2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7 2WD - Toy Hauler / 2006 Toyota Sienna Limited - Kid Hauler / 1993 Toyota MR2 - Autocross Car
Mods: Tekonsha P3; Tow Mirrors; TRD Wheels; TPMS Pipe Bomb
Mythbusters did a show on this - they compared two trucks, one with tailgate down and one with tailgate up. The up tailgate formed a circular wind current in the front of the bed that provided more aerodynamics and increased MPH over the tailgate down. I would assume having the cover in place kills the aerodynamics formed as well. From their findings, I would say you should lose mileage with one installed
I completely disagree as I had personal experience with said scenario. Mythbusters used a "fairly aerodynamic" small dodge pickup and drove at or below the speed limit. Who drives below the speed limit on the freeway? I drove around those small utility trucks around campus and it had a measly 3 cyl engine. Any extra power was perceived by the seat of your pants. Any drag upon the vehicle was immediately perceived. When I had the tailgate up... the truck would slow like I had my foot on the brakes where if I had the tailgate down my rate of deceleration was significantly slower.
I think they should retest at 60, 70, and 80 MPH. Also they should use some measurement tools to check how much lift is acted on the truck bed as I recall having the tailgate down caused the back end to lift at high speeds.
Seems some folks are taking my post as off topic. Just trying to answer the original OPs question about mileage. My point was that since the tailgate creates the 'dam' it is logical you lose that with a tonneau since their is nothing to stop the air to circle it back to the rear window.
Again, thought I was just helping a topic out.
I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just saying that the tailgate up/down thing isn't a valid comparison to have/not having a tonneau cover. The distance from the top of the cab to the top of the bed (covered) isn't the same as the distance to the bottom of the bed.
I watched an interview with the Archer brothers when they used to race a truck in the SCCA sport truck series. The reporter asked them why they raced with tailgates up. He said that it made no difference, plus it gave more real estate for sponsors. It was a short lived series but towards the end, some teams started using hard tonneau covers.
I tried it myself (years before Mythbusters came along), I drove home to FL from NC with the tailgate down and back to NC with it up, there was no difference. When I installed the tonneau, I got about 20mi more per tank both ways. It wasn't a controlled scientific test, but over the course of 650 miles it should get you some result.
If everyone watched both episodes the Mythbusters did on MPG myths, you would know they also tested a tonneau cover, on the same truck, in a "he-hash" episode.
Results...
Tail gate up was the base line
Tail gate down netted a loss
Gate net netted a loss
Canopy netted a loss tonneau cover netted a gain
Look it up, there are sites that go into more detail about the episode.
Now, all that said...I have seen an improvement after installing my tonneau cover, but I also slowed down from driving 65- 70 mph, to driving 55 mph on the freeway no matter what. 55 mph is what's giving me my biggest gain, 2-3 mpg saved. I am sure the Tonneau helps, but most of it was attributed to slowing my ash down.
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Tonneau Cover MPG improvement?
. Thanks for the insight.
they can be coaxed into retesting the myth. Your post makes sense so contact em'!
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