How Much Does A Tonneau Cover Improve Gas Mileage?

When we think of the term “tonneau cover,” we typically think of a car bed cover that’s designed to protect your vehicle from dirt and debris. However, this isn’t the only benefit that tonneau covers offer, as they can also improve your truck’s fuel efficiency. Discover how much does a tonneau cover improve gas mileage in the following article.

 

According to the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) study, a tonneau cover can improve your truck’s gas mileage by 1.8%. However, there are some factors that can change this percentage.

 

In this article, we’ll explain how tonneau covers improve gas mileage. We’ll also discuss the factors that affect the fuel efficiency percentage of your pickup truck with a tonneau cover.

 

How do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage?

 

Tonneau covers save gas mileage by reducing drag. When you don’t have a tonneau cover installed, the truck bed acts similarly to a bucket and the air can flow through it and around your vehicle which creates drag and resistance

Flickr Image by DiamondBack Covers

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 pickup truck bed and the outside air. This way, your vehicle doesn’t have to work as hard, which leads to 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 fuel economy 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.

 

However, there’s a scientific study by SEMA, mentioned above, that explains how much mileage a tonneau cover can improve. The team tested 13 different tonneau covers using four different trucks, including Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado.

 

The goal of the study was to determine whether or not using a hard tonneau cover and a soft tonneau cover reduces drag and resistance. The results of the study showed that each truck experienced reduced drag when the tonneau cover was installed.

 

It’s important to note that the change in drag and resistance levels wasn’t big, however, it was measurable. Using a tonneau cover, on average, reduced the drag that the truck experienced while driving was 5.7 percent, and it increased the fuel economy of the truck by 1.8 percent.

 

While 1.8 percent isn’t a huge number, it’ll definitely help you save a lot of fuel in the long run. So, the verdict of the Specialty Equipment Market Association study is that using a tonneau cover will actually improve your truck’s fuel economy.

 

Factors That Affect the Fuel Efficiency Percentage of a Truck with Tonneau Cover

 

While the study shows that you can save up to 1.8 percent of fuel if you use a tonneau cover with your truck, the following are some factors that can affect this percentage.

 

1. 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.

 

2. Design Of the Tonneau Cover

Flickr Image by DiamondBack Covers

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.

 

3. 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.

 

How Does a Tonneau Cover Help to Save Money?

 

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 pickup truck with a tonneau cover can see an improvement of up to 1.8 percent.

 

For example, if you usually spend $200 on gas in a month, you could save about $4 per month by using a tonneau cover. While it doesn’t seem much, you’ll be able to save $40 to $50 within a year. Over the years, it’ll translate to hundreds of dollars that you can spend on more important necessities.

 

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 as well.

 

A tonneau cover will also help you keep things organized in your truck bed. When you don’t have a tonneau cover installed and place something in your truck bed, it’ll most likely slide around while you’re driving.

 

But that won’t be the case when you have a tonneau cover installed on your truck. It’ll keep all the items in your truck bed in place while you’re driving and will help you keep everything organized easily.

 

Final Words

 

Tonneau covers 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.

 

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

 

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Thanks for reading and happy driving.