Do Tonneau Covers Improve A Truck's Gas Mileage?

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The background of the product commonly known as a tonneau cover dates back to the early 1900s. The term "tonneau" is actually of French origin, with one definition being "barrel." A wine barrel, you might think? While not directly related to wine, the term can also refer to the rear seat area of a car.

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Resourceful car manufacturers started offering long leather covers that spanned the entire vehicle, protecting the open back from the elements and any debris. This also helped owners avoid complaining about their new cars getting ruined by the weather. Before cars with motors, tarps covered the opening of horse-drawn carriages. When Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats became a popular destination for speed records, racers used leather, old bedsheets, and bits of canvas to create simple covers to seal any gaps that increased drag. As cars became more widespread, the term "tonneau cover" replaced "tarp".

Conducted a rigorous test with three different trucks, and the results demonstrated a tonneau cover is actually effective in boosting gas mileage - however, there are some conditions to consider.

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Please go ahead and drape that bed with a cover.

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The company said that according to their testing in a wind tunnel with their trucks, a cover is beneficial as it makes the truck more efficient. It keeps air from accumulating in the back of the cargo box, resulting in less drag and making the engine work less hard.

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