Have a truck with a tonneau cover... rack options!

[the Master Plan Dan]

Okay... I have a 3 year old Chevy S-10. Now it is not the Extreme but is just as low. I was wondering if anyone had any insight into which rach option would be better... mount to the roof of the truck, mount to the tonneau cover or hitch mount?

At this point it is splitting hairs as to saving money with any of these options.

Help!

[DaveM]

Do you have a rigid box cover? If you're as low as you say you'll have problems with a hitch mount. I've seen bike racks mounted directly to a fiberglass tonneau cover before that looked kinda cool and it still let you store gear underneath. Probably a custom setup though.

Why not just remove the tonneau cover and put them in the box?

[the Master Plan Dan]

I tried that... puting them in the back but taking the fiberglass tonneau cover on and off killed me. Also, driving without the tonneau cover makes my little truck drink gas... and I mean drink gas!

Thanks for the advice!

[corey@nsmb.com]

Get rid of the toneau. Free bike rack.

When driving, drop the tail gate, same fuel savings, again for free.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by corey@nsmb.com

When driving, drop the tail gate, same fuel savings, again for free.

i guess you missed that episode of Myth Buster.

[knowles]

I would say so

[IFO]

Originally Posted by corey@nsmb.com

Get rid of the toneau. Free bike rack.

When driving, drop the tail gate, same fuel savings, again for free.

exactly...

its a truck.. get rid of the tonneau...

use the box for what its designed.

[Loopie]

Sell the hard cover...buy a soft cover or a rollup type or something and then you'll have the versatility you are supposed to have with a truck.

[corey@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by bighitter

i guess you missed that episode of Myth Buster.

Well, since you saw it and have all the details, can you explain why a tonneau is more fuel efficient than an open bed with no tailgate?

I'd like to know how the 15" bed walls make for worse fuel consumption than running a tonneau.

[hooli]

for local shuttling i just leave the tonneau up and drive around with the bikes in the back...haven't had any problems...corey must've had his finger slammed by a tonneau as a small child...he hates them

[corey@nsmb.com]

Originally Posted by hooli

for local shuttling i just leave the tonneau up and drive around with the bikes in the back...haven't had any problems...corey must've had his finger slammed by a tonneau as a small child...he hates them

I am not a big fan of tonneau covers. Can ya tell?

Casting my bias to one side, I have seen guys mount bike racks directly ontop of tonneau covers, kinda makes it like a flatbed.

[yellowdogx]

Originally Posted by corey@nsmb.com

Well, since you saw it and have all the details, can you explain why a tonneau is more fuel efficient than an open bed with no tailgate?

I'd like to know how the 15" bed walls make for worse fuel consumption than running a tonneau.

Episode 43: Seasickness Cures, Finger in the Gun Barrel, Tailgate Gas Efficiency



Tailgate: Up or down?

Myth: Driving your pickup with the tailgate down gives you better fuel efficiency than with the tailgate up.
Test Setup

Adam and Jamie were each given identical, new model pickup trucks. They both had equal mileage, same tire pressure, and 30 gallons of gas. Jamie drove with the tailgate up and Adam the tailgate down.

The rules:

1. They have to maintain the speed limit
2. All acceleration must be done by cruise control
3. No drafting
4. Windows up, A/C must be exactly the same in both cars

The Test

After 300 miles there didn't appear to be much difference in the gas consumed, but after 500 miles Adam (tailgate down) ran out of gas. Jamie made it another 30 miles before he ran out of gas. This result was the exact opposite of the myth.
Water tunnel visualization

According to the experts, a circular pillow of air forms behidn the cab of the truck when the tailgate is up. This "separated bubble"/"locked vortex flow" keep the faster moving air from contacting the truck, and thus reduces drag. With the tailgate down, the bubble breaks down and is no longer able to keep the fast moving air out, increasing drag.

In their scale model with the water tunnel, they were able to see that the increased drag. With the tailgate down, the particles in the water were dropping down and hitting the tailgate.

mythbusted

November 16, 2005 | Permalink

[Jeff M]

One thing with that mythbusters, what model of truck did they use?

The specific aerodynamics of each truck would be different, depending on cab, bed length, and of course the brand/model itself.

I would wager to guess that the bubble effect only applies to certain trucks and that for others the tailgate down is infact more efficient.

[Bryan]

first post

Originally Posted by corey@nsmb.com

When driving, drop the tail gate, same fuel savings, again for free.

second post

Originally Posted by corey@nsmb.com

can you explain why a tonneau is more fuel efficient than an open bed with no tailgate?

i think you changed your story here.first post is sans tonneau and the second is with.......

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

[QUOTE=yellowdogxAccording to the experts, a circular pillow of air forms behidn the cab of the truck when the tailgate is up. This "separated bubble"/"locked vortex flow" keep the faster moving air from contacting the truck, and thus reduces drag. With the tailgate down, the bubble breaks down and is no longer able to keep the fast moving air out, increasing drag.
[/QUOTE]

I found that pocket of air the other night throwing some garbage out my split window. An inch below the cab roof, you could feel the air flow, just below, nothing. Still air - kinda neat.