I'm contemplating putting the canopy back on my truck (removed it almost as soon as I got it) because I don't haul dirt bikes and stuff like planned in the bed, and I'd like the storage/ease of camping etc... Has anyone run both and seen any appreciable change in mileage either way? I'm thinking more on the aerodynamic end than anything, because this thing is a very light fiberglass unit. Almost completely flat top even with the cab. I was just wondering.

 

I know mythbusters did a test with Tonneau covers, and with the gate down. not sure if they did a canopy test. I would think a canopy helps, since it smooths out the air, and helps it flow better over the truck.

 

Yeah, but it does wiegh a little more. I think it'd help out a little bit though, just only on the freeway, or speeds over 40 MPH.

 

I think it would give you less mpg. Your truck creates a swirling effect in the bed area, that actually helps move the truck along. They did this on mythbusters.

 

Your power loss would be the same if your buddy in the passenger seat. And a canopy won't help your milage or decrease it, and if it does, who cares? go buy a civic.

 

I got better milage with my canopy off on a 2wd 22r truck. Mixed driving.

 

I'm not going to decide one way or the other based on mileage, I was just wondering. Also, the canopy weighs less than most of my buddies.

 

Its already a truck which has incredibly bad wind resistance.

 

The canopy will help a little IMO because you don't get the "air dam" effect of the tailgate holding you back. If you decide to put a rack on top of the cap make sure it is a removeable one. The ones I have came with the truck but were'nt installed when I bought it, I put them back on a few weeks after I got it and noticed an immediate increase in the "drag feel" and I lost almost 2 MPG. I'm going to be removing what I have and installing some yakima landing pads (to fill the holes and provide an alternate should I need the racks again).
Your truck will drive a bit easier and you will pick up a lot of useable covered storage/camping space but as far as improving the MPG it will be annecdotal at best because of the weight of the cap.

 

For the record, Myth Busters did not test any long bed trucks, so the shorter bed probably had less of an impact. I would really like to see if the longer bed makes a significant difference.

 

Dunno but (not to get off topic..) mythbusters is full of , I've SEEN a driveshaft vault a car in person at the drag strips, and I've SEEN the rear axle get ripped out of a car by a cable tied 'round the axle, notice in the episode they used a NEW cop car, not an OLD cop car, which would have had less bolts holding the rear end, and depending on what suspension it was it would make it easier/harder to do... I have a longbed pickup, and my tailgate rusted the mounts, so it basically fell off, I took it off, no difference in town, no difference highway, same deal with exhaust, people told me without a cat, and a turbo muffler that I'd lose milage due to backpressure, what a load of crap-ola, people lose milage when they do exhaust because they want to hear the "cool sound" it makes so they give it more skinny pedal...

 

I run a canopy in the Spring, Winter & FAll monthes and I take the canopy off in the Summer monthes (because the truck is funner to drive without the canopy but I like having it on during the colder monthes for obvious reasons).

I will have to say there is very little, basically negligeable difference in mileage with the canopy on versus the canopy off for myself persoanally and I regularly check my mileage from time to time and all that. I've gotten 20 MPG with the canopy on, and 20 MPG with the canopy off doing highway driving.

I honestly think if you need to ponder this kind of crap you need a car.

 

It was just something to ponder, out of boredom. This question is just as technical as half the stuff posted here. What's everyone have against cars anyway? I couldn't own one, because I'd get in too much trouble, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't like to.

 

I run my canopy 50/50 on my '05, I don't really notice an improvement one way or another. All I know is that I can see better w/o it on....

 

I see no difference in mileage on my VW pickup with and without the canopy on. My guess is it helps a little in the air drag department but the little you gain there you lose with the added weight. I also ran it with and without a tailgate and same no MPG difference there either (6' bed).

 

Easy Co-ed... TrikeKid had a valid question, I'm sure some folks here have wondered about it, I know I have from time to time...

Trike I don't think anybody here has anything against cars per say... except when they get in our way or are driven by pinheads not paying attention and running into us... there I said it, I feel better...

 

Well if it's just a question/curiousity then that's perfectly fine & valid. I took it more as he was worried about the (potential) negative mileage difference if he put his canopy back on (which from my experience there isn't much difference). That is why I got a bit "jumpy" if it's fair to say.

As of late there have been a few individuals who have asked some questions about mileage that make me wonder why they even bought a truck.

 

Yeah, I realize fully I drive something about as aerodynamic as the house I'm typing from.