charszy
Illinois
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Joined: 04/18/2006
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I have a 2006 Chev ¾ with the 6 Ltr. I love the truck and it pulls my camper fine, but the mpg and price of gas is killing me. I’ve looked into buying car to drive to work and a truck just for towing but between the payment and insurance, I’m still not coming out any better.
Does anyone have any first-hand experience with adding a tonneau cover to this truck and if it helps the mpg or have any other ideas on how I can increase it? Right now I average 13 mpg without the camper. I’m guessing the answer will be I’m stuck with 13 mpg but I had to ask.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Wow it's hard to imagine 13 MPH empty but I doubt if a cover will give you much help. About the best advice I could give is to make sure you leave the tail gate closed when driving as that's been proven to give the best MPG. I have always towed with the hard cover but it's for the lockable dry storage not fuel economy. I get 18.5 empty and about 8 towing. Good luck / Skip
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swebber
Brunswick , MD
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Joined: 02/14/2005
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Never noticed any mileage improvement but noticed a slight difference in the ride.
Steve & Tracy Webber
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Scot
Maryland
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Joined: 03/01/2005
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Just parked the 3500 and bought a used gas sipping 4 cylinder for driving to work... It pains me but I think in the end, I was able to save between fuel costs and reducing the insurance (not putting so many miles on it) from business/work to personal...
Scot & Ann
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Cabriolet86
Rochester, MN
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Joined: 09/16/2006
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13 MPG is it. Tonneau won't help. I did the math with my truck. At $3/gallon with the miles I drive every year, I'd only save $117/month by driving a car that gets 25 MPG. So at this point I can't justify parking the truck, because by the time you factor in the price of the car, maintenance, and insurance, its awfully hard to come in under a $117/month budget.
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rob85546
Hot arizona
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Joined: 03/14/2006
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I have had them on all my trucks and havent noticed a difference... even though they like to claim it helps... also get a kick out of those riding around with big trucks and the tailgates down thinking they are getting better mpg..
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vanman250
Indiana
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Joined: 01/21/2004
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Adding anything or removing anything won't help but could make it worse. I have a tonneau cover because I like having things covered in the bed of my truck. It helps with weather and out of sight of of mind. I think my truck does better without the cover with gas and handling in cross winds. I do more driving then most empty. I drive about 40,000 miles a year and Ive done the math on buy something else to drive daily and park the truck and the math says it won't save me enough to make it worth doing.
vanman250
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AUWing
Slinger, WI
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Joined: 04/10/2006
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Slow Down? Air up the tires? Install a clean air filter?
To your original question - no difference with the tonneau cover
From someplace in SE Wisconsin
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Gregfromvt
Graniteville, Vermont
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Joined: 09/28/2006
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Difference with the tonneau cover? Haven't noticed one yet but do think it looks better with it. Like they also said, I like the dry storage.
Greg
2000 Chevy Silverado 4x4 1500
2007 Heartland Trail Runner 2700 BHS TT
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philaura
Boise Idaho
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Joined: 03/01/2006
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Have a hard shell tonneau cover on my truck. Doesn't make a difference.
Phil
Nash 27 T pulled by a 2008 EC LB GMC 3500HD SLT 4x4 DMAX and Allison.
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