Do Tonneau Covers Really Save Gas?

When we think of the term “tonneau cover,” we typically think of a car bed cover, like those seen on SUVs. But there are tonneau covers that aren’t meant to protect your vehicle from dirt and debris. Do tonneau covers really save gas, they are specifically designed to improve your gas mileage.

 

As we approach the summer months, we want to ensure that we are responsible when it comes to our car’s gas mileage. And what better way to improve our gas mileage than by installing a tonneau cover? But how much the tonneau cover will improve the gas mileage of your truck?

 

We’ll be covering everything from a quick explanation of tonneau covers to how much they can save you money and how they affect your vehicle’s gas mileage.

 

How do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage?

Following are the ways tonneau covers improve gas mileage:

 

1. Reducing Drag

 

One of the main ways a tonneau cover will help improve your gas mileage is by reducing drag. When you have an open truck bed, the air can flow through it and around your vehicle which creates drag and resistance.

 

This resistance can cause your vehicle to use more fuel as it has to work harder to overcome it. But when you have a tonneau cover installed, it helps to reduce that drag by creating a barrier between the open truck bed and the outside air. This way, your vehicle doesn’t have to work as hard which can lead to improved gas mileage.

 

2. Decreases Weight

 

Another way tonneau covers help improve gas mileage is by reducing weight. When you have an open truck bed, the wind can catch any loose items in the bed and start to drag them along with your vehicle.

 

This adds resistance and weight which can lead to your vehicle using more fuel. But when you have a tonneau cover installed, it helps to keep those loose items in the bed from being caught by the wind and dragging down your vehicle.

 

Gas mileage will be improved since your vehicle won’t have to work as hard to overcome the extra weight.

 

3. Improving aerodynamics

 

Another way tonneau covers help improve gas mileage is by improving aerodynamics. When you have an open truck bed, the air can flow through it and around your vehicle which creates drag and resistance.

 

But when you have a tonneau cover installed, it helps to create a barrier between the open truck bed and the outside air. Thus, your vehicle won’t have to work as hard, resulting in better gas mileage.

 

How much mileage can you improve with a tonneau Cover?

 

It is difficult to give an exact number of how much a tonneau cover can improve your gas mileage because there are many variables at play.

 

The type of tonneau cover you have, the make and model of your vehicle, and your driving habits all affect how much you will save on gas. Some general estimates suggest that you can save between 2 to 5% on your gas mileage by using a tonneau cover.

 

This means that if you spend $100 on gas in a month, you could save between $2 and $5 per month by using a tonneau cover. Over a year, this translates to savings of $60 to $100.

 

Although the amount that a tonneau cover will improve your gas mileage will depend on a few different factors. Some of them are mentioned below:

 

Type of truck:

 

The type of truck you have will play a big role in how much of an improvement you see in your gas mileage. If you have a smaller truck, you’re likely to see a bigger improvement than if you have a larger truck. This is because the smaller truck will have less wind resistance to overcome.

 

Design of the tonneau cover:

 

The design of the tonneau cover will also play a role in how much it improves your gas mileage. If the cover is designed to fit snugly against the sides of the bed, it will create less drag than a cover that doesn’t fit as snugly.

 

Size of the truck bed:

 

The size of the truck bed will also play a role in how much of an improvement you see in your gas mileage. If you have a smaller truck bed, the cover will create less drag because there’s less surface area for the wind to catch.

 

How you drive:

 

The way you drive will also play a role in how much of an improvement you see in your gas mileage. If you tend to drive fast, you’re likely to see a bigger improvement than if you drive slowly. This is because the faster you go, the more wind resistance you have to overcome.

 

Do tonneau covers really save gas?

 

A tonneau cover can save you money in multiple ways. The most common way is by improving your gas mileage. And while the average truck only gets around 15 miles per gallon, a truck with a tonneau cover can see an improvement of up to 5%.

 

That means that you could potentially save up to $0.75 per gallon of gas. In addition to saving money on gas, a tonneau cover can also help to keep your truck’s bed clean and free of debris. This can save you money on repairs and replacements down the line.

 

Conclusion:

 

Tonneau covers can help improve gas mileage by reducing drag and resistance. It can help improve gas mileage by reducing drag and resistance.

 

The amount of improvement you see will depend on the type of truck you have and the design of the cover. In general, you can expect to see an improvement of 2 to 5%. In addition to that, a tonneau cover can also help to keep your truck’s bed clean and free of debris. This can save you money on repairs and replacements down the line.

 

In this article, we discussed how a tonneau cover can help improve gas mileage and save money.

 

So if you’re looking for ways to improve your truck’s fuel efficiency, consider investing in a tonneau cover. We are expecting that after reading this article you will be able to decide whether a tonneau cover is the right choice for you.