Roll-Up Tonneau Cover Affecting MPG

[pga202]

I went down the rabbit hole and I learned something. I did not realize cold weather could have such a drastic impact on fuel efficiency. From what I found as much as 15% from 77 to 20 degrees. That's more than likely the cause of the drop in fuel efficiency as the temps in my area were in the mid 50s when I installed the bed cover, then as typical in SE United States, dropped to the lower 30's and upper 20's the next day and stayed there since.

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[pga202]

I spent many years trying to squeeze mpg out of tow vehicles. Everything seems to affect it, those ugly sunvisors, running boards, mudflaps, tonneau covers/caps etc..
I thought that I was out of my gourd when I saw better mileage with the Freedom Panels off. Then again with simply the windows down. I figured that any weird turbulence must help this brick. Pre-Gladiator I would have said that OP was nuts, now-I am not surprised.
My over-the-roof RTT DOES cut the mpg. Not so much at 60-65 mph but exponentially at speeds over that.

I have papers that prove I'm not nuts. lol.

 

[Blackjeepjk]

I just installed a roll-up tonneau bed cover, I did not think this would have much of an impact on gas mileage, but since installation I have noticed my gas mileage has decreased. It hasn't decreased drastically, just about 1-2 MPG. I guess if anything I thought it would have reduced drag and actually improved my gas mileage as a result. Anyone else experience this with a roll-up cover?

ditto

 

[KWin]

It did...

Cold air is probably your culprit.
I installed my tonneau 4 weeks ago, got one mpg better, then Temps dropped and im worse than before install.

Cold air is denser and harder to push away at highway speeds, engines are less efficient while warming up. And if you ever use 4wheel drive due to snow drive train loss is higher.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/col...conomy can drop,to 34% under these conditions.

It is a little disappointing that the f150 get better mpg than these trucks, but I try to think in smiles per mile

 

[Blackjeepjk]

ditto

let me add some clarification.
I’m not complaining about gas mileage as it is obvious that I have done a thing or 2 in my mods that were not in the best interest of mpg.

 

[ecidiego]

I just installed a roll-up tonneau bed cover, I did not think this would have much of an impact on gas mileage, but since installation I have noticed my gas mileage has decreased. It hasn't decreased drastically, just about 1-2 MPG. I guess if anything I thought it would have reduced drag and actually improved my gas mileage as a result. Anyone else experience this with a roll-up cover?

1 - 2 is drastic, it's like 10% !!!

 

[pga202]

Cold air is probably your culprit.
I installed my tonneau 4 weeks ago, got one mpg better, then Temps dropped and im worse than before install.

Cold air is denser and harder to push away at highway speeds, engines are less efficient while warming up. And if you ever use 4wheel drive due to snow drive train loss is higher.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/col...conomy can drop,to 34% under these conditions.

It is a little disappointing that the f150 get better mpg than these trucks, but I try to think in smiles per mile

Yeah, I am a life-long Jeep owner, and when I started looking into buying a Gladiator, I also looked at the Ford Ranger. The Ranger get better mileage, but it's just not a Jeep.

 

[flip willy]

I installed the mopar folding tonneau on my 2021 gladiator and it has dropped my mileage by 1.5 mpg

 

[rayvonp]

It’s funny how some people just don’t realize things like how heavy their foot is plays a big part on mpg and they look for other excuses on why they’re getting slightly less gas mileage

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mythbusters did an episode about a situation like this. They didn't have a bed cover but you will still get the point.

Yes, they actually did have a hard cover. This is the one that actually surprised them - is different from their first tests.

 

[Blaster11]

I put a soft tonneau on this weekend and immediately noticed a 2 MPG increase, diesel here. I really didn't expect it to be that drastic...not complaining!

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