Tonneaus Improve Gas Mileage

Do Tonneau Covers (Truck Bed Covers) Offers Fuel Savings? Quick answer, yes the do.  Ultimately a hard or soft truck bed cover increases the aerodynamics of your pickup thus increasing your fuel efficiency.

How Much Will a Tonneau Cover Increase Gas Mileage? Well, the short answer is they do increase gas mileage but exactly how much is the question.  There are a variety of factors at play.  Most tonneau bed cover manufactures actively promote a pickup cover improves gas mileage.  As the the amount, it varies and most don’t claim exactly how much, except the the cover will pay for itself in fuel savings over time.  Some truck bed cover manufacturers offer Fuel Savings Calculators such as Access Cover or TruXedo.  Pace-Edwards boasts 11% increase in fuel economy.   View the Pace-Edwards Gas Savings Information Sheet.  ACI Access Covers promotes you will save $225.00 per year in gas money.

Changing Trucks & the Bottomless Tank of Gas:  Trucks are getting taller, heavier and engines are increasing in size so no matter how high the gas prices get, all, a truck enthusiast would much rather drive a pickup than downsize to a subcompact. You can probably hear all those huge middle eastern oil companies laughing with their barrels of cash every time you fill your bottomless tank at the gas station.  Other than boycotting all gas stations your alternative is purchasing a tonneau cover.  So if you can’t even the score with the huge oil companies, you can prolong your next fill by increasing gas mileage in your truck. Believe it or not, tonneau covers save gas! How much savings? A 5% improvement in fuel economy is the industry-wide accepted number, although up to 10% is possible.  

Aerodynamics At Work: Closed air truck beds lower air resistance (this is why they are in high demand in racecars). Less drag means you will be driving a more fuel efficient truck! As air flows over the front end of your vehicle, it careens into the your truck bed and produces opposite force to your truck. This could easily provide you with several miles of additional gas every single trip! In the past your option was to replace the standard metal truck bed door with a plastic like or rubber net to reduce the wind resistance.
Open truck beds can be a huge drag on your gas mileage. As air flows over the aerodynamic front end of your vehicle, it can swirl into your bed and catch on your tailgate — stealing several miles off your latest tank. So in looking at it logically instead of aesthetically, a tonneau cover is an investment that will continually give you a great return on investment every time you go to the pump.

Access Gas Savings Calculator
TruXedo Gas Savings Calculator
Extang Gas Savings Calculator
Torza Top Fuel Savings Calculator