I heard from my dealer that if I install a bed cover, I will get 2-3 miles more per gallon? I currently do mostly freeway miles and get 19.5 mpg. Not the best but not bad I guess. Thoughts?

I heard from my dealer that if I install a bed cover, I will get 2-3 miles more per gallon? I currently do mostly freeway miles and get 19.5 mpg. Not the best but not bad I guess. Thoughts?

This subject has been discussed about a half a dozen times in multiple threads. I get 23.5 mpg consistently with the A/C off with a Tonneau cover on the freeway. My Tonneau is custom so I can't compare using mine to anyone else. Others get less mpg with a tonneau, some get the same without a Tonneau cover. Figure about 1 to 2 mpg max. Mileage has more to do with driving style, use of cruise control, and topography than it does with having a tonneau. I like how my truck looks with one, that's why I have one. If I picked up a couple of mpgs, wonderful. The dealer tonneau IMHO is a huge ripoff. No offense to anyone who bought it. If you picked up 2 mpg from it, you would have to drive 20 million miles to make up the cost of the purchase. It also leaks water from what I understand. Others seem to be happy with other brands. Please use the search function to find these other brands.

Have a nice day.

Modeyyaka, if the only reason you would buy a tonneau cover is because of the hoped for increased mileage, I would recommend against it. I don't think it will ever pencil out for that reason alone.

Love to see a picture of your truck Chris.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback. The extra milage would be a bonus. I need to do some research to see how the different covers work. My buddy has the rollout type cover. Looks great but eats into the cargo space. But he likes - and I guess, that's all that matters...

Cheers.

Love to see a picture of your truck Chris.

Here you go.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d71/themancave/Honda%20Ridgeline/100_0023.jpg

The "Myth Busters" proved that there is no significant gain from having the bed covered or the tailgate left open.

My BAKFlip cover made absolutely zero miles per gallon difference after it went on. What did make a difference for me was taking the RL on an extended highway drive and putting almost 1500 miles on at 65 - 75 mph (only saw about 18 mpg during trip, but my RL was loaded to the gills with gear). This seems to have "taught" my Ridgeline something, and I have gained about 1+ mpg over last 3 fill ups. For me, it was 16 to 17 mpg over first 16000 miles of absolutely never driving more than 30 miles continuously on the highway to now getting a post-vacation cruise 17.5 mpg consistantly (back to my never on highway style driving).

I believe by design of the Ridgeline does'nt have much drag in the bed area. This is a good thing!:cool:

The "Myth Busters" proved that there is no significant gain from having the bed covered or the tailgate left open.

No, that's not quite right. What they did on "Mythbusters" was to bust the myth that you get more MPG with driving with your tailgate down as opposed to driving with the tailgate up. They proved just the opposite. Trucks actually get better mileage when driving with the tailgate up.

I have had a Retrax cover for about 4 months now. I have not seen any significant MPG increase. Those adds for tonneaus that say you will see a %10 increase are basically....well, just trying to give you another reason to buy a tonneau for your truck. I don't think anybody has proven you will see that kinda mileage increase.

The last 2 tanks of gas where I monitored my milage were almost identical. One was with the cover on, the other off... In fact with the cover off I had tiny tiny increase.
Overall driving conditions were the same more or less.

well, as everyone may have posted, there's been alot of studies and speculation about this subject, but no real find to prove it saves or no difference in milage. It does gives anyone with a tannaue cover a second trunk to store valuables when the trunk is full or can't put inside the cabin. Or if the wife, girlfriend, fionce, mother's, sisters, or yourself decide to go shopping you have more room to store your shopping bags other than the trunk or backseats.:D
As for saving gas, there's no real study been done or anyone in exception of speculation if it does save gas, but it does look good and what i have mentioned above. Now, if you run your AC while driving, that is a totally different subject....your gas does suck and what would you rather have, a hot cabin with angry passenger wondering why does this fool think, turn the frikin AC on dude, or comfortable ride and just fill'er up at the next gas station. my 2cent :)

I was evaluating a tonneau cover and read an article in the forum that states that Honda designed the tailgate below the sides for to reduce the drag. Given this information the tonneau is a matter of preference and not a gas saver. We just took an 800 mile trip in our 06 RTS and the best milage was 23.7 with A/C on and driving 65 on interstate 95 which is relatively flat. I've noticed a significant increase in mileage as long as the RPM's stay below 2000.

I was evaluating a tonneau cover and read an article in the forum that states that Honda designed the tailgate below the sides for to reduce the drag. Given this information the tonneau is a matter of preference and not a gas saver. We just took an 800 mile trip in our 06 RTS and the best milage was 23.7 with A/C on and driving 65 on interstate 95 which is relatively flat. I've noticed a significant increase in mileage as long as the RPM's stay below 2000.

Yup, I've noticed the same thing. Go above that and mileage starts heading for the toilet. Headwinds can wreak havoc too.

I was evaluating a tonneau cover and read an article in the forum that states that Honda designed the tailgate below the sides for to reduce the drag. Given this information the tonneau is a matter of preference and not a gas saver. We just took an 800 mile trip in our 06 RTS and the best milage was 23.7 with A/C on and driving 65 on interstate 95 which is relatively flat. I've noticed a significant increase in mileage as long as the RPM's stay below 2000.

Same here... I do believe that it has been proven by wind tunnel testing that bed covers do not improve fuel mileage.

That's true, fortunately there is no evidence it makes it worse.

I believe, after having a cover and not having a cover (albeit on my old Dodge Ram), and after doing research, the only reason to get a bed cover is if you need it's benefits. Improving gas mileage is not a benefit. There have been many studies supporting that claim and I personally saw no benefits with my Dodge. JMHO.

It might help gas mileage if you drive in reverse.